Archive for the ‘Woodworking’ Category
Project Wood Cabinet: The Craft Of Art And Beauty
Taken as a creative and artistic hobby, woodcrafting provides relaxation while producing useful articles. One of the all time favorite items of this breed of hobby woodcrafters is the wood cabinet. It is attempted by those who have gained some experience in the craft as a sign of expertise.
Building a wood cabinet is your way of telling people that you have arrived as a woodcrafter. This is not a stool or a table. It is much more than a desk, even. It is the single largest item of household furniture. A wood cabinet is not just popular with the woodcrafter; everybody loves the look and ‘feel’ of a wood cabinet! Maybe it reminds them of a cabinet from their childhood. For some it speaks of culture and cultural values. Wood is the sign of durability unlike plywood. Wood is the sign of nature unlike plastic and steel. Whatever be the reason, wood cabinets are never ever going out of vogue! And as long as there are woodcrafters, there’s going to be wood cabinets. The wood for these cabinets can range from pine and cherry to birch and willow.
Wood is the material of choice for cabinet-making. It is durable, unlike plywood which begins to break apart after a few years of service. Wood can also be dressed up like no other material. You can shape it and carve it and engrave it on a scale that is unmatched by any other material.
Making a wood cabinet may appear daunting at first but it is not so. That’s not to say that it is a trivial project, not at all. The important thing is to get your ideas down on paper. Document every detail of the project. Organize yourself and your work. If you do that you will surely succeed. This primary documentation of your plan, your intention is called a blue-print – a project map so to speak.
Once the plan is filed, you must decide on the finish. What finish will you use? That is simple enough. The cabinet should match the other articles of furniture in the room. So if they’re all light colored, that’s the finish for your cabinet. And if they’re all dark colored then that’s what your cabinet is going to be like.
You may want to paint the cabinet when it is done. This gives you much more control over the exact tone and shade of the cabinet. Just avoid gaudy colors and some colors that are just plain nauseous. If you have a problem with this, you ought to consult a friend who is an interior designer.
To sum up, making a wood cabinet is a great project to showcase your woodcrafting talent. A wood cabinet looks beautiful and will be very useful for many years to come. You can embellish it with beautiful curlicues or floral motifs. Your cabinet can be done in Old Americana style, or New England style or whatever catches your fancy. Try your hand at making a secret compartment in the cabinet! The result will amaze your friends! That’s how your cabinet will become a conversation piece at home and abroad!
To do any wood design right you’ll have to have the proper woodcraft supplies. Go to www.WoodcraftGuide.com to read additional information about creating with wood. And if you’re stuck for an idea for your next creation, subscribe to a high quality woodcraft magazine to receive all the information you’ll have to have.
Tags: Hobbies, Home, home improvement, wood, wood cabinets, wood crafting, wood working, woodworking
How To Prevent Dust Buildup During Woodworking
It’s wonderful to have a hobby that you really enjoy and especially if you can make it profitable as well. This should never be done however at the risk of your health. Naturally, you need to take all of the safety precautions necessary when using your tools and equipment. You need to ensure that your work area is a safe environment to protect from accidents. To go even further to this though you have to be certain that you are not being exposed to certain chemicals and pollutants. This is a fairly high risk in the woodworking hobby. One of the most common but perhaps least thought of is the dust. Predominantly sawdust but dust in general can be an issue.
So what steps can you take to handle the dust issue? There are a few options open to you. Ideally, though if you are working at your woodworking hobby a good deal of the time you may want to consider devising or purchasing some type of dust collection system.
There is always the option of wearing a respirator, which everyone should when they are working on their projects. The problem is as soon as they are through with the heavy cutting they remove the respirator but much of the dust is still present in the air and being inhaled. These types of problems that can be caused from inhaling that type of dust may not show up heath wise to later on down the road. By this time it?s too late, and many seasoned woodworkers suffer with respiratory problems as a result of this.
In many wood shops, you will find the shop vac type of vacuums, which are certainly a necessity, but they are more for cleaning up the debris that can seen. You may find it well worth you while to check out some of dust collection systems that are now on the market. Don?t be deceived into thinking that you have to have some big heavy cumbersome unit running all day while you are working. You can use a portable dust collector. These are just situated near where you are working and they consist of a hood that gathers the dust into a bag.
They are a great commodity because they can be hooked onto your power tools with a 4-inch port connector. If you feel that, the portable unit is just not strong enough for the type of work you are doing or there are more than one of you working in the workshop at the same time you may want to try a more centralized system. This type of unit drives the dust and sanding and cutting residues into a micron bag. To become even more elite you and go with one of the cyclone dust collector systems.
You must understand though reference to a dust collector is mostly referring to the collection of the residue of your work such as the wood chips, shavings and sawdust. It really is not addressing those fine particles that are floating around in the air. This is where the respirator is necessary
Tags: diy, garden, general, Hobbies, home and family, home improvement, landscaping, outdoor, recreation, shed, shed plans, woodworking
Pen Kit Plating – Woodworking Projects and Patterns
There are all kinds of pen making kits out there and they all have different metal platings, such as gold plating, as well as 24K upgrade titanium gold plating, Swiss Rose 18K gold plating, then there are chrome, platinum and black titanium platings . There is a lot of information available on the different kinds of plating options open to you when you decide to get a pen kit.
Gold plating is the usual finish for a pen however; silver has become more and more popular lately. Gold plating looks good, but it isn?t durable when it gets a lot of abrasion, but it can be made stronger with the plating method used or through additives to the gold and/or other techniques that can be found on the net.
24k gold upgrade plating means that the rack method is used and a little bit of cobalt or palladium are mixed in with the chemicals used for plating. . With the rack method, there is literally a rack that looks like a tree with parts that are separated then individually plated. This is done to enhance the strength of the gold plating. In what we have listed here, the softest is Gold plating and it is very susceptible to the effects of abrasion. With titanium gold plating, you get a more durable gold plating.
The process is called PVD, for particle vapor deposition. Here the titanium nitride is color matched TO the gold and is molecularly bonded, or splattered on the piece to get a more exact color match. After this, the parts are re-plated, resulting in parts that seem to show any evidence of wearing. A pen plating kit of this type is not something the bulk commodity kit suppliers would use.
18Karat Swiss Rose gold plating is very rare. It consists of copper and gold that will result in a plating as a result of equally mixed atoms. This plating is done on a solid layer that is very thick. with the parts being specially treated before the process begins. This produces an incredibly lustrous, but very durable finish, and, used carefully, it should last for many years.
One of the most popular platings is, of course, chromium plating.One finish that is very durable and long lasting is Chrome when used normally. It is extremely popular because the look of chromium is dazzling while, at the same time very affordable, which is why these are used. There is no doubt the popularity of Pen plating kits has grown over the years. When using a platinum plating kit, be warned that the cheaper kits use rhodium.
The ones that use real platinum produce rugged and hard finish, and, under normal usage, it should endure for many years. The next finish is black titanium, this process uses PVD, which is oxide molecularly bonded, making incredibly durable and hard plating. This unique finish adds an elegance that is matched only by its toughness that will be of value in the coming years
Tags: diy, garden, general, Hobbies, home and family, home improvement, landscaping, outdoor, recreation, shed, shed plans, woodworking
Woodworking Guide – Using Router Bits Properly
There is no doubt that if you are a novice to woodworking and are taking it seriously then you have been gaining a tremendous amount of knowledge. Much of that pertaining to your equipment and tools no doubt. You most likely have learned it doesn’t take long when it comes to using up the budget buying all of the equipment you need and what you think you need.
Most likely you are in store to purchase a router. Along with that purchase, you are going to have to consider buying some router bits as well.
The bits that you can use with your router all serve a specific purpose and no doubt you are going to want to expand your collection of bits as you progress into your woodworking hobby.
Your router is the device that simply turns your bit. It is the bit that?s going to give you the desired results.
Most of the bits that are available are carbide tipped. This is because of the hardness of the material and what it is able to endure. It?s very much like a diamond and it has many advantages to it. For one thing, it always stays sharp and it resists heat. The drawbacks to these carbide bits are they chip easily because they are brittle and they are not cheap. It?s for this reason only the tip is made of carbide and not the entire bit.
There are high-speed steel bits and theses HSS at one time were the only type you could get. They are still available and are ok for occasional work. They are less expensive than a carbide bit but they will become dull quite fast. You will need to keep getting them retargeted otherwise they burn the surface of the wood. Sometimes you will find that these bits have been coated with Titanium Nitride. This does help them stay sharper for a longer period of time, but even this coating will wear off.
You are going to find two types of bits Pilot and Non Pilot. The pilot bits have ball bearings to keep them a specific distance from the wood. Then there are safety bits called chip-limiting bits. It reduces the chance of kickback.
The most common bit sizes are 1/4in., and 1/2in.This is the part that fits into the router. Always use the required bit for the project to ensure your safety.
Be sure to clean the pitch and tar that builds up on your bits from the wood regularly. Also regularly inspect your bits and collets to make sure they are in good condition.
Some of the terminology that you are going to see associated with your router bits are solid bit, pilot bit. Arbor, collet, shank, high speed steel, carbide, cobalt, titanium nitride, and hook and rake. Take your time and research the meanings of each of these to get the most from your bits and router. Although there is a great deal to learn about woodworking, it is a hobby that is most enjoyable. There are risk factors for accidents wherever tools are involved. Make sure your tools are kept clean and in good working order.
Tags: diy, garden, general, Hobbies, home and family, home improvement, landscaping, outdoor, recreation, shed, shed plans, woodworking
What is a Wood Working Router And How Does It Work
How does a wood working router work and what does it do
I thought I’d research the word router and this originates from a verb to rout. Rout is also a noun but this doesn’t relate to our woodworking router. The definition of the verb appears to be to rummage or to hollow out or furrow, as with a scoop, gouge, or machine. So perhaps my definition of a woodworking router would be to gouge out or machine out some part of a piece of wood. This could simply be to make a groove or round the edges of a piece of timber.
The router we know today is based on the early models developed by a company called Elu (which is now part of the Makita Power Tool company and is part of a wide range of Makita router products). Today’s router is based on a rotating cutting blade know as a spindle which can be depressed against a spring (or plunged) and hence the name plunging spindle router. The very early routers were obviously hand operated and looked more like a conventional flat wood plane with a number of interchanged differently shaped blades rather than the single flat blade.
There are two basic modes of operation for a router. The first is where we move the wood and maintain the router in a fixed position – usually to the underside of a fixed router table or bench. This mode lends itself to the larger workshop environments with the additional safety features and dust extraction systems. The alternative mode – more familiar to the DIYer – is the hand held power router or cordless router. The portable router is moved across the face of the timber, secured in a fixed position – normally with help of a guide.
The modern portable router has controls enabling the depth of cut and the position of the cut to be easily changed. If we were intending to cut a groove along the length of a piece of timber than we could either use a fence or guide on the base of the router to ensure the router blade would not move further than a specific distance from the edge of the timber. The same results could be achieved by clamping a straight edge to the timber an allowing the router to be pressed firmly against the straight edge or guide. The plunging router will have on the body of the unit a depth guage which can be set to the maximum depth of the groove or cut. For deeper cuts you would probably set this in two stages – i.e. for 3mm then for 6mm.
The router cutter blades are usually referred to as router bits or possible router blades. There are many different shapes of router bits to perform different jobs. There are two types of bits for two different jobs. The first type of bit allows you to cut a groove in a board and the bit maybe shaped to produce a groove of many different styles (a conventional rectangular groove, a Vee shaped groove or a rounded hollow type groove). The second type of router bit is for ‘edging’ cuts. This type of blade has a rotating guide machined into the bit and this will eventually prevent the cutting blades cutting any further into the edge of the board. Again these blades will enable square cuts, vee cuts, rounded edges and much more. Router bits can be expensive so you’ll need to consider you own requirements carefully. In my own case a bought a box set of around 10 basic blades and these were cheaper ones. I then purchased a couple of higher quality bits for straight cuts – example a 4 mm blade for grooves and an 8mm blade for removing larger and wider areas from a board. Blunt or damaged bits can burn the board and spoil your work – so be careful.
Most routers are still corded due very much to the long periods of time that a router maybe utilized. Porter Cable have a 19.2 volt cordless router. I suspect there will be some new additions in the next few months – perhaps with a 36 volt battery system. Conventional corded routers are available from the well known manufacturers such as Makita, Bosch, Porter Cable, DeWalt, Milwaukee and Ryobi. It is also worth considering the factory recondition routers available from some of these manufacturers.
Once you’ve mastered the use of a router you’ll be amazed how many tasks can be improved by using a router.
Tags: diy, factory reconditioned router, home improvements, home refurbishing, plunging router, professional wood worker, reconditioned router, refurbished router, spindle router, table router, wood working router, woodworking, woodworking router
Here Is How To Start A Woodworking Hobby
Woodworking is a fascinating hobby. Who doesn’t love the look of wood products? But it can be a daunting task when you first get started. Here are some tips to kick-start your woodworking hobby.
Start small. While we all love hand-finished oak paneling, it’s best to start with a simple project, like a napkin holder or door stop. This will give you a chance to learn about working with wood. Go online to search for easy woodworking projects. They will tell you all you need to know.
Really good projects will not only talk you through the projects step-by-step, they will also teach you terminology and techniques as you go. Just be sure you read and understand all instructions carefully and have all the materials on hand before you start. Also be sure you know how to use the equipment. Read the instructions and even mime them out before you start work. If something doesn’t make sense to you, ask for help.
Once you get started, you will be pleased at how easy woodworking plans are to follow. For the most part, you simply insert this tab into that slot. You may have to do some sanding in between to make sure the pieces fit but most projects are readily understandable.
As you complete your first projects, you will get excited and ready for more advanced work. Why not take a class at your local community college or at a home improvement store to learn how to enhance your skills. Think about what kind of woodworking project you would like to do. While you may not have the time, money or skills to do the project of your dreams right now, over time you can save your money and learn the skills so you can do it eventually. Woodworking is great in that you can learn by doing. Practice really does make perfect.
As you learn more techniques, you will be able to add your own style to projects. You will be able to combine multiple plans to incorporate the look of several of them. For example, use the scrollwork on one pattern to enhance the basic shape of another pattern. The result will be a one-of-a-kind piece that anyone would be proud to own.
As with any craft, the more you advance, the more people will value your work. You may enjoy woodworking so much, you will be able to sell your creations online or at local craft shows. It is very gratifying as people stop to admire your work. You may make eventually make enough money to pay for all those tools you bought. But don’t let that be your goal. Get into woodworking to enjoy this age-old hobby. The money will come later.
Tags: Home, woodworking
Hobby wood working projects
If we need extra income because of the lack of income opportunities we may need to make some extra income from our hobbies. There are as many hobbies as there are things that people do.Woodworking is a hobby done by people who love to be creative & to build things out of wood.
Engaging in woodworking as a hobby involves a lot of processes such as wood turning. In order to do this you will require a reliable wood work bench. To complete all the steps of the anticipated process you need all of the necessary equipment
A wood work bench is also a staple for this kind of hobby. This could come in handy for wood turning and wood cutting and will make the job a lot easier for you. Always check your hobby kits before you start on a woodworking project to make sure that you have everything you need.
The projects are varied ranging from small toys, important functional items to large structures such as beds, play houses and dining tables. It calls for one to follow specific woodworking patterns that are vital to the specific projects one is undertaking e.g. perfect play house plans or furniture plans in place. A woodworking pattern plays a very imperative role in your woodworking hobby.
If for instance you want a specially designed piece of furniture, a pattern can show you how to enhance the aesthetic value of it. If you want a safe, reliable playhouse for the children, a pattern can give you guidance on safety measures. In order to complete a successful wood project you need to have all the supplies and equipment on hand.
This hobby could give you lots of fun-filled times especially if you really enjoy what you are doing. Aside from the fun, self-fulfillment, satisfaction, peoples admiration, and gratitude you could get from woodworking. You could even turn this hobby into a source of income by selling your products to stores or directly to potential customers.
The parts you need for a playhouse for example, will need to be not only endearing but also long lasting. You want it to be both charming and sturdy so it will stand up to the rugged use of playing children. Some people may want a hobby to give them not only a sense of satisfaction but they may also expect it to bring in some revenue.
Tags: furniture, Hobbies, hobby wood working, home improvements, home;improvement, hoppy pneumatic wood tools, pneumatic tools, wood turning, wood working, wood working bench, wood working patterns, wood working supplies, woodworking
Woodworking Tools for Measuring and Marking
Woodworking isn’t just a skilled trade, it’s also an enjoyable hobby for many. Woodworkers are often happiest when working with their tools. There are numerous kinds of tools you might need in your craft, depending upon your specific requirements.
Some woodworking tools are suitable for general purpose use, and others are quite specialized in nature. They are a compact, useful means of carrying out a woodworking project. Many jobs are easier than in the past thanks to the introduction of motorized woodworking tools.
Woodworking tools are generally categorized into cutting and shaping, assembly and finishing. For cutting and shaping, measuring and marking tools are required. This is because they show you where to cut.
Rulers are one way you can measure your woodworking project. The common types of rulers are the wooden folding, the metal tape measure, and the wooden zigzag ruler. Tape measures are most useful in the process of measuring long pieces of wood.
When purchasing a ruler, look for a durable, well made product with standard markings. It should also have a lock to hold it where desired. Take care of the ruler and wipe it after every use. This is particularly important if it’s a metal product, which is prone to becoming rusted.
In woodworking, a square is utilized to create an angle. Similar to rulers, there are many kinds of this product. Squares also have markings and are also used to check the true and square joints. Miter squares are best for a 45 degree angle. Try squares, which are L-shaped, are used for 90 degree angles. For either 45 or 90 degree angles, you’d use a combination square.
Wood squares are less expensive than metal and slightly less accurate but are sufficient for most DIY woodworking. Check them for rust or rot and wipe them after every use to keep them in good condition.
For the purpose of marking in woodworking, a sharp pencil is used. However, a marking knife is a favorite of many woodworkers because of its higher level of accuracy. Other tools which are used for measuring are a compass, divider, and gauges. Make sure your tools are accurate, and keep them in good shape with regular cleaning.
It’s important to take good care of your woodworking tools. Clean them after each use and check them for rust or rot. Your performance depends upon them.
Tags: woodworking, woodworking tools
Mitre Saws: The Craftsman’s Friend
For many years, craftsmen and others who took on woodworking projects used the mitre box, generally a wooden box with slots pre-cut at certain angles. This allowed the user to insert the mitre saw to cut 45-degree angles, 90-degree angles or one of several other corner angles necessary. The manual process using the mitre box helped prepare picture frames, wall and corner mouldings, trim and much more. This tried-and-true method is still used by those who employ mitre saws on a daily basis.
Others, however, have chosen to employ new technology and power, even with such basic concepts as mitre angles and corners. Power saws provide a very clean, quick cut that is sometimes preferable to the cut made by a hand saw. As craftsmen, carpenters and others adopted power tools over the past few decades, the mitre saw and other table saws with angle settings, have become very popular.
A saw on a mitre saw stand is one way to employ power and newer technology for those special angle cuts. A radial saw also allows the user to adjust the cut angle, using a guide that is adjustable by single degrees. Most of these newer saws have standard “stops” at 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 degrees. With a select piece of lumber against the guiding “fence” the cut will match the angle selected almost perfectly.
But there is more to the mitre saw concept than this. In recent years, adjustable saws and special blades have made it possible to cut quickly and smoothly when installing table tops, counter tops and assorted furniture items. Some have taken quite quickly to the compound mitre saw for counter and table work, because they can get a nice bevelled edge (making sharp corners nearly a thing of the past). New saws provide more gradual angles that, with a little sanding, can be very, very smooth.
Radial arm saws make it possible to achieve a perfect, custom cut with minimal passes of the blade at various angles. For example, the Dewalt radial arm saw was very popular in the United States for years. However, the company stopped production on this particular equipment more than two decades ago. Yet, some craftsmen still employ this standard machinery in their workshops.
For those requiring something that will produce special projects, the panel saw can be an ideal addition to the workshop. This particular saw is most often used for cutting large panels or sheets of wood into varying sizes for cabinet-making. The mitre saw is generally employed after this to shape the front of the cabinet or a drawer face, for example. The better hardwoods used for the cabinet doors, drawer faces and other decorative outer pieces must usually be cut with a good mitre saw so that good bevelled edges complete the decorative front.
A number of different types of saws can be employed in the well-equipped workshop, ranging from the basic mitre saw/box version, to the more complex table saws and radial arm saws. It’s a matter of choice and work comfort.
Tags: Home, Improvement
