Planning on building a career in the woodworking department? Here are five common beginner’s mistakes that you need to look out for! In this way, you could easily dodge these mishaps before they even happen.
Woodworking in simple terms is the creation of objects with solely the use of different kinds of wood and hand tools. To say the least, when steel and metal were not yet discovered, we have woodworks to thank, for building establishments and other furnishings back then. Mainly because it is easily manipulated by the use of tools and it is the closest resource found by man.
So what makes a good woodworker?
Basically, to be a good woodworker, you would have to master the basic skills and the complicated ones. Think of it as a sport. The more practice you make, the more confident you’ll be with your abilities. And that makes a good woodworker, knowing how to get the best out of any materials given to him/her.
Finishing in a dirty environment.
Although it is highly unavoidable not to be messy in construction, some aspects can be prevented. To put it lightly, being messy is one of the many woodworking mistakes of beginners.
Make it a habit to finish your work in a cleaner environment. When you’re working on wood, expect a lot of wood particles hanging around in the air. Although, it doesn’t really hurt the final output (depends on what you’re working on!) but it will definitely make a difference no matter how small it is.
Missing the nail with a hammer.
Don’t fret! This actually still happens to the best of us. It’s completely normal, however, it does have a few drawbacks. When you miss hitting the nail with the hammer, you’ll tend to hit the wood and the impact will create dents. Not only that, but in this event, you might even bend the nail sideways a little bit.
Although it might not be as obvious at first glance, it will impact the overall quality of the work. A little tip from The Spruce says that you should hold the nail not at the bottom but closer to the top. When you hold the nail in place by holding it at the bottom, this will let it lose its balance.
Meanwhile, holding it just a bit higher will let you hammer it in place will let you have more control of the nail. Moreover, you are less likely to injure a thumb or a finger in general when you do this.
Woodworking Mistakes: Cutting straight lines
The best tools for these are jigsaws. Jigsaws are best used for cutting shapes and curves in wood with its narrow blade, which is attached to the tool’s body by a spring-loaded clamp at the front. The blade’s sharp teeth are measured in TPI, or teeth per inch. A higher TPI gives a smoother cut that requires less sanding.
One of the most common beginner’s woodworking mistakes is thinking that handling a jigsaw is easy as one, two, three. However, jigsaws also have the tendency to wobble and deviate. When you’re not a pioneer in handling one yet, prepare yourself from (temporary) frustrations over this.
Keep in mind that practice makes perfect and the more you use this tool, the better you’ll get the hang of it.
Woodworking Mistakes: Being clumsy
To be fairly honest, clumsiness lives inside each and every individual. It usually takes place when you’re not paying enough attention to what you’re doing. In the art of woodworking, the most common damage you can carelessly do is laying items on top of materials. Hammers, saws, and files can all dent or scratch wood which is destined to be the focal point of a new project. Hopefully, you’ll learn from our example and avoid this behavior completely.
Woodworking Mistakes: Using the wrong tool for the job.
A common woodworking mistake for beginners is using the wrong tool for the job. Yes, the majority of woodworking tools are versatile, but this doesn’t mean that you can use them in all sorts of tasks.
This kind of work might seem to be simple in terms of procuring outputs, however, there are specific tools you need to have that are specialized to perform certain tasks. The best practice for this is to actually know firsthand what tools you need to have to properly execute your project. Moreover, obtaining such knowledge will prove to be useful in the future especially if you’re planning to build a career in the woodworking department.
On the other hand, if you’re on a budgetary project there are other options for you to obtain such tools. If you want to minimize spending, you can always try to call a friend if he/she has the specific tool you need.
Check your tools from a trusted source!
Flextool Corp is a trusted tool and equipment distributor in the Philippines. We carry known brands to aid you in construction needs whether it’s for big or small projects. Check out our list of products to know what you’re looking for! Also, if you want to know more about tools, scroll through our stories and click a topic that captures your interest.