How To Start Woodworking
How To Start Woodworking
Getting Into Woodworking
So are you interested in wood or have a passion for working with it? Well then you have come to the right place because this is where you can get all of your wood info. Not only will you find plenty of information on things such as timber, joints, finishes and adhesives, but you'll also find info on components, tools and I'll even throw in some handy facts and quick tips just to give you that little bit of extra help.
The info you will find on this website is about general areas related with wood which includes things such as some carpentry, cabinet making and furniture. So if you like working with wood then you should be able to find plenty of information to help you out before you start your next wood project.
Solid Timber
Solid timber is rapidly becoming scarce and expensive due to logging and the long periods of time it takes for most trees to grow. There are many different timbers on the market that range in price, characteristics and strength.
The two categories that timber can be put into are hardwoods and softwoods and the two can be defined by their differences in the woods microstructure which determines its density and strength. This timber is an excellent choice for any sort of woodwork but if you want a good quality timber with minimum flaws, be prepared to pay a bit extra due to the reasons above.
Cheaper timbers such as pine can be good but don't compare in aesthetics and quality to dearer timbers. In my opinion solid natural timber is the best type of timber for cabinet making and furniture use because it has the best features and characteristics. Manufactured boards are also good but nothing compares to solid natural timbers.
Advantages:
• It is the most aesthetically pleasing type of timber
• There are a vast amount of types for example Tasmanian oak, pine, Jara
• It is suitable for all woodwork joints
• Its long lasting
• There are a range of colours, textures and grains available
• Takes adhesives and finishes well
Disadvantages:
• Can be expensive
• Can be difficult to find the timber you are after
• Has natural defects such as knots
• Can warp, shrink, twist or swell
Particle Board
Particle board is a manufactured board that is often used in furniture because it can be made cheaply and is more affordable than solid timber but has a similar look. It is mostly found in furniture that require large pieces such as table tops, desks and TV cabinets, this saves people from having to bond two pieces of timber together to achieve the same size. This type of manufactured board is made from wood chips which are glued together and then compressed under heat in a large board shape, it is then dried and cut into various sizes to be sold.
These boards can either be bought bare or it can be covered with thin sheets of veneer or a plastic laminate, these two materials give the board a solid timber look and feel while costing marginally less. Particle board is a good alternate option when buying furniture to a budget because it gives the impression of solid timber and it usually lasts for long periods of time if looked after and taken care of well, like all solid timber.
Advantages:
• Cost effective
• It is available in large sizes
• Veneer or plastic laminate can be applied to make it look more like solid timber
• It doesn't have natural defects and It doesn't swell
• Renewable
Disadvantages:
• Still doesn't quite match the quality of solid timber
• Can be prone to chip or flake
• It isn't available in very thick sizes
• It isn't suitable for many joints
WOODWORKING TOOLS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS
As a Builder, hand and power woodworking tools essential parts of your trade. To be a proficient woodworking craftsman, you must be able to use and maintain a large variety of field and shop tools effectively. To perform your work quickly, accurately, and safely, you must select and use the correct tool for the job at hand. Without the proper tools and the knowledge to use them, you waste time, reduce efficiency, and may injure yourself or others.
Power tools not only are essential in performing specific jobs, but also play an important role in your daily work activities. Keep in mind that you are responsible for knowing and observing all safety precautions applicable to the tools and equipment you operate. For additional information on the topics discussed in this chapter, you are encouraged to study Tools and Their Uses, NAVEDTRA 10085-B2.
Because that publication contains a detailed discussion of common tools used by Builders, we will not repeat that information in this chapter.
In this chapter, several of the most common power tools used by Builders are briefly described.
Their uses, general characteristics, attachments, and safety and operating features are outlined. To become skilled with these power tools and hand tools, you must use them. You should also study the manufacturer’s operator and maintenance guides for each tool you use for additional guidance. We will also be covering materials and methods of woodworking.
POWER TOOLS
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Upon completing this section, you should be able to determine the proper use and maintenance requirements of portable power tools.
Your duties as a Builder include developing and improving your skills and techniques when working with different power tools. In this section, we’ll identify and discuss the most common power tools that are in the Builder’s workshop or used on the jobsite. We’ll also discuss safety precautions as they relate to the particular power tool under discussion.
You must keep in mind and continually stress to your crew that woodworking power tools can be dangerous, and that safety is everyone’s responsibility.
SHOP TOOLS
As a Builder, you might be assigned to a shop. Therefore, you will need to know some of the common power tools and equipment found there.
Shop Radial Arm Saw
Typical shop radial arm saw. The procedures used in the operation, maintenance, and lubrication of any shop radial arm saw are found in the manufacturers’ operator and maintenance manuals. The safety precautions to be observed for this saw are found in these same manuals. The primary difference between this saw and other saws of this type (field saws) is the location of controls.
Tilt-Arbor Table Bench Saw
A tilt-arbor table bench saw is so named because the saw blade can be tilted for cutting bevels by tilting the arbor. The arbor, located beneath the table, is controlled by the tilt handwheel. In earlier types of bench saws, the saw blade remained stationary and the table was tilted. A canted (tilted) saw table is hazardous in many ways; most modern table saws are of the tilt-arbor type.
To rip stock, remove the cutoff gauges and set the rip fence away from the saw by a distance equal to the desired width of the piece to be ripped off. The piece is placed with one edge against the fence and fed through with the fence as a guide.
To cut stock square, set the cutoff gauge at 90° to the line of the saw and set the ripping fence to the outside edge of the table, away from the stock to be cut. The piece is then placed with one edge against the cutoff gauge, held firmly, and fed through by pushing the gauge along its slot.
The procedure for cutting stock at an angle other than 90° (called miter cutting) is similar, except that the cutoff gauge is set to bring the piece to the desired angle with the line of the saw.
For ordinary ripping or cutting, the saw blade should extend above the table top 1/8 to 1/4 inch plus the thickness of the piece to be sawed. The vertical position of the saw is controlled by the depth of cut handwheel, shown in figure 3-2. The angle of the saw blade is controlled by the tilt handwheel. Except when its removal is absolutely unavoidable, the guard must be kept in place.
The slot in the table through which the saw blade extends is called the throat. The throat is contained in a small, removable section of the table called the throat plate. The throat plate is removed when it is necessary to insert a wrench to remove the saw blade.