BE CREATIVE WITH WOODWORKING

INTRODUCTION

So you’re thinking you want to learn woodworking? Woodworking can be a fun and satisfying hobby, but it can also be quite frustrating. In a world filled with mass-produced, poorly crafted pieces of furniture, it can be a thrill to produce a piece made with your own two hands.

Take a few pieces of wood, some tools, and your imagination, and you can make beautiful pieces of furniture. The possibilities with carpentry are endless. Even the most inexperienced person can learn woodworking and turn out gorgeous pieces that can become heirlooms.

Woodworking as a hobby is growing in popularity – especially among the female population. More and more women are taking a new interest in jig saws and power drills as they turn out accessories and furniture for their homes.

The term “woodworking” literally refers to the process of building, making or carving something using wood. Kind of obvious, isn’t it? But there are all types of pieces that can be made using wood – not just furniture! You can make toys, toy boxes, or carved figurines.

It can truly become an art form.

So where and how does an aspiring woodworker begin? Many people benefit greatly from taking a class at the local college or community center. Others prefer to read a book or magazine. Still others prefer to just jump right in. There’s no one right way to start. It depends on how much experience you have with using the tools essential to woodworking.

Woodworking is not nearly as daunting as it may seem. It is not necessary to spend a fortune on tools and supplies. Many projects can be done with a minimum investment and your imagination!

Woodworking is a huge hobby, with the number of active participants estimated by some within the industry at between seven and eleven million strong. Each brings their own set of capabilities and interests that often make specific techniques more applicable in their situation. As long as the techniques chosen are safe, and produce the desired results, they are right for them.

This book is intended to introduce you to basic woodworking terms, getting started with a stocked shop, carving out your workspace, and introducing you to some basic woodworking projects. We will concentrate mainly in here on building pieces of furniture. Once you get the hang of this, you can get more in-depth with carving, etc. as you learn to better use your tools.

This is not a comprehensive, definitive guide, but a good way to get started crafting your own projects and learning the satisfaction of making your own furniture, toys, and much more!

We’ve included a section on shop safety, and some easy projects we found to get you started!

So let’s start with your eBook "BE CREATIVE WITH WOODWORKING"!

YOUR SPACE

The first thing you need to consider is where you’ll be crafting your projects. Most people take up woodworking in their garage or basement. This is fine; just remember that you’ll need some space to store materials and the finished product. You’ll want a space that is easy to move around in and that you can keep organized.

If you’re using power tools, you’ll need easily accessible power outlets. Remember that power tools can be quite noisy, so take into consideration the comfort of your family and your neighbors.

You’ll need a workbench which doesn’t necessarily have to be elaborate. It’s a space for you to work on and keep your plans out in the open.

You can buy commercially made workbenches at most home supply stores. When choosing a workbench, look for one with a wood top, or another smooth, non-marking top, so that the surface doesn’t scuff the wood you use for your projects. Storage underneath the bench is nice if your budget allows a model with built-in drawers and cabinets.

Choose a workbench that fits comfortably in your shop space and that matches the types of projects you think you’ll be working on. A small workbench will do for crafting toys, but you’ll need a larger space if you’re making armoires.

But you’re getting started with woodworking as a hobby. Why not make your own workbench? This will give you valuable experience and will become one of the most useful items in your shop! We’ve included a simple workbench plan in this book. Try diving right in with and start your workshop out with a piece you made yourself!

It’s a good idea to have a bin where you can place operating manuals from your tools. This way, you won’t lose them and they’ll be easily accessible.

We also recommend a good tool box to store your tools and a box such as a tackle box to sore nails, screws, etc. in.

As with most any projects, the better organized you are, the more efficient you’ll be. You’ll also save yourself a lot of stress by being able to locate what you need easily.

Some people like to have a peg board over their workbench to hang their tools on. This is a good idea as is to have a bulletin board so you can hang the plans for your current project.

Last, you’ll need good lighting. You can get shop lights inexpensively at discount stores like Wal-Mart or Home Depot.

Now that you have a place to work, what do you need to get started? The obvious answer would be wood, which we’ll talk about a little later. What’s the second obvious answer? Tools!