“Do It Yourself” has established itself as a trend amongst several individuals that no longer have an interest in having others do the work for them or paying for already assembled items they probably can create on their own. While this certainly comes out as the cheaper method, you’ve got to ensure you have the proper skills and techniques to efficiently “Do It Yourself.” One area that is essential for DIYers is woodworking. Knowing exactly how to handle woodwork is essential for the completion of your projects and your safety. If you’re wanting to complete your own woodworking projects then you’ll need to ensure you’ve got the best benchtop jointer, carving chisels, saws, wood planes, etc. otherwise you’ll be struggling to keep the quality of whatever you’re making high. Here are the basic woodworking skills you all should know to elevate your projects to the next level.
Drilling Holes
As simple as it seems, drilling holes is not all that simple. In fact, it requires skills and preciseness. If your project requires wood, at some point you’re going to have to drill holes into the wood. Learning to pinpoint the exact place of a hole ensures accuracy and provides consistency throughout the project. More than likely, you are probably utilizing some sort of power drill to drill your holes and learning the correct way to use that tool is another task in itself.
Cutting
Everyone thinks they know how to cut until they try DIY projects. Cutting wood isn’t like cutting paper with scissors; there’s more to it. In most cases, if you’re cutting wood for a DIY project, you’re probably using a saw. Saws come in different forms and are utilized for different measures. Some include handsaws, jigsaws, and circular saws – all of which will need to be used correctly to avoid injury. Different materials will require different saws so you need to make sure you have the appropriate tool for your material. Woodwork Made Easy says the best mini circular saws will make life easier when cutting materials as the saws are smaller but they still have enough power to make seamless cuts and serve their purpose.
Choosing The Right Screws
For those who don’t like to do projects all on their own, the products they purchase are usually already assembled; which means they don’t have to worry about selecting the proper screws. For those DIYers out there, you’re going to have to choose the right screws carefully and precisely. Screws come in all different shapes and sizes, so that means you’re going to have to do your research and determine everything you need to build your project. While wood screws are the most common in woodworking, there are screws that may confuse you such as sheet metal screws, drywall screws, and machine screws.
Painting
Painting can be a blast and also most DIYer’s favorite part of a project. After cutting the proper wood, screwing the proper screws, and whatever else is needed to build your project, adding a splash of paint is essential. When it comes to choosing paint, oil and latex paint are usually the two most used options. Although the color of wood has some aesthetic, the addition of color is what will make your project vibrant and full of life. Don’t just dip the brush and cover your creation in paint, learn to use the proper amount and the correct strokes to make it truly stunning.
Pocket Hole Joinery
If your DIY project involves more than one piece of wood, then you’re going to need to know the basics of pocket hole joinery. The simple steps of pocket hole joinery include clamping the pocket hole jig securely to your wood, drilling a pocket hole at an angle, joining the pieces of wood together, and securing all the screws. This is a commonly used method amongst furniture makers and is simply one of the easiest ways to assemble a DIY project.
These five basics are absolutely necessary to have in your repertoire if you’re a DIYer. The project you’ve always dreamed of building is only a couple woodwork skills away. If you’re taking on more advanced projects then you’ll need to know how to use more advanced techniques and use tools like a saw horse to make your life easier. If you don’t have a saw horse yet, check out this heavy duty metal saw horses Buying Guide so you can make your DIY projects much more precise. If you’re more of an amateur DIYer then you’ll just need to know the basics. If this applies to you then you might want to have a go at some beginner woodworking projects to practice your skills.
