Friday, December 31, 2010

You Can Begin Doing Woodworking Projects Right Now

You will find there are endless woodworking projects that you can make at your own pace and in your own time if you look for them. Many are looking for ways in which to have great looking furniture without spending an excessive amount of money. Creating your own furniture is a great way to do this, and to save a lot of money on every project you create.

Depending on your skill level, you will find a number of woodworking projects that you can try. For those with experience, if you want, you can create much more challenging projects. Those who are new will find that they need to start out small the first few projects. In order to get started, you will need to think about the skill level intended for your project and then ensure that you do not take on projects that are too challenging.

Making sure that you complete your projects in such a way that you finish them in a step by step fashion will help you to save time - like making sure you have all the materials and tools first. You will need to order a few extra boards just for good measure, since even the best woodworker makes errors. Try to have a guide or plan of some sort that you can look at for reference as you build. You will want to go over all your tools to be sure you have the tools you need before you begin.

To begin you may want to try your hand at the birdhouse woodworking projects first. That way you can begin to develop the necessary skills to tackle more difficult projects along the way. When you start out small like this, you are testing the waters to see if you like the hobby, but also getting a sense of the tools and skills needed to succeed.

Do not get involved in woodworking projects without giving thought to your safety as well. Try to keep your eyes well protected and that you are shielding yourself properly from stray wood fragments and sawdust as you cut. Be aware of pinch points and other hazards as you work with wood. Having a first aid kit would be a great idea just in case.

When you begin your first woodworking projects you are still going to be determining if this hobby is one that you want to continue in your spare moments. Of course you will likely be pleased with every project you complete, and will continue to grow in skill every time you do finish a project.


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Wave Shaped CD Rack.

Wave Shaped CD Rack - free plans from HGTV - cd,dvd,storage,shelving,wall mounted,free woodworking plans,projects,patterns

Here is a project for building a decorative wall-mounted CD shelf.

Link Type : free plans for woodworkers

There are other related woodworking free plans bits of information found at our web site woodworking category CD and DVD Storage Units


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Simple Woodworking For Beginners and Experts

Woodworking doesn't need to be a really complex thing to undertake, and simple woodworking is a great avenue to explore. Yeah, there will always be really ornately carved and elaborately designed pieces of woodwork being produced, but that style doesn't appeal to everyone. Simple pieces of woodwork have a lot to offer, both to look at and use, and to make. Even if you want to eventually make the overly elaborate kind of furniture and carvings, you should still ground your understanding in simple woodworking- especially if you are just starting out.

Starting out simple provides a wide variety of benefits. To begin with, simple projects just aren't as intimidating as elaborate projects. Woodworking can be a really intimidating skill set to want to learn, and if you think you have to go from no knowledge at all to producing elaborate canopy beds, then you might quickly talk yourself out of evening starting to learn. Deciding to work on simple projects first makes the whole thing seem a lot more attainable, which makes it much more likely that you are actually going to go through with learning the trade.

Simple projects also have the added benefit of not requiring a lot of tools or materials to start out. If you are just beginning to teach yourself the craft, then looking over even an moderately involved woodworking plan will reveal a long list of items that you need to make the finished product. Starting out simple ensures that you only need a bare minimum of tools to make something beautiful. It's a good idea to just get the basics at first, and to only work on projects that require things like hands tools, and not big and expensive and intimidating power tools. While there is certainly plenty of technique in using hand tools, most of us should feel fairly comfortable using them as they are easy to understand and get some measure of control over.

We all know that just because a piece of furniture or other piece of woodwork can be simple doesn't meant hat it has to be. We've all seen tables that are really complicated, even though a table doesn't have to be anything more than a few legs and a top sturdily attached. So when you look to make your first simple pieces, things like boxes, chairs and tables, make sure that they are designed for beginners or otherwise dedicated to simplicity.

Because when it comes down to it, there's no need to get overly elaborate with any woodworking project. While most design projects intended for beginners are obviously made simple to be easy, there are also plenty of designers out there who believe in creating simple designs just for the sake of creating a simple and beautiful design. There are plenty of people who reject the notion that something needs to be complicated to be attractive, and evidence of the return to simple beauty can be seen in a wide variety of modern design work. If you are so inclined, don't feel like you have to turn away from simple woodworking just because you are talented and trained enough to make complicated pieces.


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Paslode Woodworking Gun Review

It has been over a month now since I first began using the Paslode Cordless Finish Gun, and I could not be any more pleased with it. I used it again a couple of weeks back to get a door to swing in the opposite direction, and it came through for me and reminded me how much time and energy a cordless nailer saves once again. It is the perfect woodworking gun.

The Paslode is a cordless finish gun that comes in both 16 gauge and 18 gauge versions. The best thing about the this gun is that there is no need to dig a compressor out of the garage and lug it over to where the project is. No need for finagling with a tangled up rat's nest of a hose, either. When this woodworking gun is really nice is when you have a quick simple project to do. It's particularly irritating when you have to drag out a compressor and hose just to shoot a few nails. This can sometimes make the setup take longer than the actual project.

Another thing that I was amazed about with this product, is that I expected it to not have much strength and sturdiness to the nailing connections it would make. I just assumed it was like most other finish guns, which are good fro little else besides base & case (running baseboards and casing around doors). But you would be surprised ant how sturdy and strong the nails are.

I used the Paslode to build an outdoor shed once. I was in one of my bad moods and just wanted to get the job over with in a hurry, and the last thing I wanted to do was deal with a compressor and hose. I actually built the entire shed with the Paslode and just added screws afterwards. The entire project moved so fast.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Paslode is 100% worth the price you would pay for it. You can find them for about $250, which is fair for a comparable finish nailer, but when you factor in that all the other guns need an air compressor, which in itself costs around $300, not to mention a hose, the Paslode will actually save you money.

There is even a little hanger on the gun so you can hang it on your tool belt or jeans pocket. They do require gas cartridges, but they last fotr what seems like forever, and the batteries charge quickly and run for hours on a single charge.

Now that I have experienced for myself the benefits of using a cordless woodworking gun, I'll never go back.


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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Woodworking Power Tools - What Every Woodworker MUST Have In Their Workshop!

I know you're anxious to get to work, so I'll keep this brief. Even beginning craftsmen need basic woodworking power tools. The more advanced and skilled you become, the more power tools you will need. That's a given. This article will help you figure out what kinds of woodworking power tools are essential for all of us, and what tools you can hold off on for now.

It is 100% obvious that each woodworker across the globe is at a different level of expertise than his or her neighbor. That's okay. The general rule for acquiring tools is to only buy the tools that are absolutely necessary for the project you happen to be working on at the moment. If you haven't built anything that requires you to use a router, then don't buy a router. Simple enough, right? Once you're ready to advance to the type of project where a table saw would be a necessity, then consider making the purchase.

Until then, just stick with what you need.

There are, however, some really elemental tools that most of will want to invest in as a base of operations, so to speak. Among these essential woodworking power tools are:

* A power drill
* Orbital sander
* Circular saw
* Jig saw
* Nail gun
* Wood plane

These should get you moving in the right direction. Eventually, heavy-duty power tools will come into play. Things like a table saw, drill press, and compound mitre saw will become your tools of choice as your skill level increases and your projects become more ambitious. Until that time, however, just stick to the basics and you'll be fine.

In just a moment, I will provide you with a link to all kinds of great power tool info and resources, including an entire DEWALT woodworking power tool set that will get you completely stocked up with the basics... for a very reasonable price. In the meantime, however, I would just like to plant the seed in your mind that you should never exceed your budget if it isn't absolutely necessary.

By the same token, you should always aim for top quality tools. New, if you can afford it. Don't take a chance if you don't have to. And always aim for quality over quantity. I will gladly spend $300 on a power drill that I know will last for many years, has a long battery life, and will do any job I ask of it. And I will always turn my nose up at a $50 drill that doesn't promise any of these things.

So grow your workshop methodically. Don't rush it in the name of saving a few dollars. If you can afford to get a whole set of tools in advance, you can usually do so at a bit of a discount. But if you really don't need the stuff yet, there's no sense in owning it yet. Spend that extra money on some top quality wood... that's what's really important!


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Woodworking Toys for the Holidays

The holidays are just around the corner, and no matter your level of expertise with woodworking, now is a great time to garner some more experience and bring some holiday cheer in the process. There are many toys that can be woodworked for children. Here are several ideas to get you started, but you're only limited by your imagination!


Consider making and giving a handmade, classic board game, like checkers or chess. Checkers and chess pieces can be woodworked or, for convenience's sake, purchased as ready-made from a wood products company. Consider customizing wood spindles for use as chess pieces. The checkers and chess boards, too, can be woodworked using a thin, semi-pliable piece of wood. With a little paint, you can replicate the classic checker or chess board or you can put your own personal, creative twists on these classic board games by using your own design. Strategically placed, candid snapshots of the recipient or perhaps even a new pattern altogether is sure to be a conversation starter.


Classic building blocks, much like Lincoln Logs, are also a great way to engage a child's imagination and creativity. With various sizes and shapes, simple pieces of wood can become a house, ship, tractor, airplane, or train.


The classic wooden car or train can also be woodworked as a gift consideration. Simply select a sturdy wood, design the car or train model of your or the child's choice, apply wheels, which are available for purchase at a wood products company, and paint or finish.


Wooden puzzles can be great fun for preschoolers. This is because wooden puzzle pieces can be cut relatively largely. With the addition of a wooden knob at the center, the pieces also become easy for small hands to manipulate. Not only is the imagination at work, but so is valuable hand-eye coordination. This makes wooden puzzles not only enjoyable to the child, but also quite effective in promoting cognitive development.


With some plastic, paper, or cloth as the cover, string as the flying line, and a sturdy wood dowel as the spine, you can also make a kite quite easily. Consider customizing the cover with the child's favorite cartoon character, color, or design. What a great way to keep a child both entertained and active on blustery days!


Consider a simple, handmade version of another classic game, Ring Toss. Find a quality piece of wood to make a weighted, X-shaped base, and use a hardwood dowel for the end pieces needed to catch the rings.


So many toy woodworking projects are available. Research some of them online, in woodworking magazines, or through books at your local library for even more ideas. Or, get creative and design your own. How rewarding it would be to see your creativity and imagination bring a smile to a child's face this holiday season!


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