Sanding with the Grain:
This is a woodwork tip that just about anyone with a little bit of woodworking experience should know and it is sanding with the timbers grain. By sanding with the grain and not against it you are able to create a smooth face while not leaving any scratches behind.
Going through the grades:
This next woodwork tip also involves the use of sandpaper and is called going through the grades. This is when you use multiple grades of sandpaper to create an extremely smooth surface.
You start with a small number such as 80 and work your way through each grade until you get to a number such as 200 and this will ensure that your piece of wood is incredibly smooth. These grade numbers are also located on the back of your pieces of sandpaper.
Loosening Sandpaper Fibres:
This woodwork tip is also a tip that many people who regularly hand sand should know and it is loosening up the sandpapers fibres or abrasives.
When you buy sandpaper it is fairly stiff and if you sand with it straight away with a sanding block the sandpaper will get large creases in it and will wear out in half the usage.
A method to prevent this is to find a straight edge such as on a piece of timber or furniture and buy grabbing two corners of the sandpaper and running it along the edge a few times the sandpapers abrasives will loosen and the sandpaper will curl slightly.
This is when you know it is ready for use and it will fit more easily around the sanding block.
Preventing Splintering:
This woodwork tip involves cutting timber either with a hand saw or drop saw although you are most likely to encounter this problem with a drop saw.
There are timbers that are more prone to splintering such as Meranti and cutting it with tools such as a drop saw may cause the edge to splinter.
An easy way to prevent this from happening is by putting masking tape along the area that will be cut and this will help to prevent the wood fibres from splintering.
Another way to prevent splintering is to cut along a marked out line first with a marking knife, this should slice the top fibres creating a straight cut.
Countersunk Holes:
Another woodwork tip for when you are constructing something such as a piece of furniture and you are using screws it is best to make a countersunk hole first to conceal the screw.
You start with a small number such as 80 and work your way through each grade until you get to a number such as 200 and this will ensure that your piece of wood is incredibly smooth. These grade numbers are also located on the back of your pieces of sandpaper.
Loosening Sandpaper Fibres:
This woodwork tip is also a tip that many people who regularly hand sand should know and it is loosening up the sandpapers fibres or abrasives.
When you buy sandpaper it is fairly stiff and if you sand with it straight away with a sanding block the sandpaper will get large creases in it and will wear out in half the usage.
A method to prevent this is to find a straight edge such as on a piece of timber or furniture and buy grabbing two corners of the sandpaper and running it along the edge a few times the sandpapers abrasives will loosen and the sandpaper will curl slightly.
This is when you know it is ready for use and it will fit more easily around the sanding block.
Preventing Splintering:
This woodwork tip involves cutting timber either with a hand saw or drop saw although you are most likely to encounter this problem with a drop saw.
There are timbers that are more prone to splintering such as Meranti and cutting it with tools such as a drop saw may cause the edge to splinter.
An easy way to prevent this from happening is by putting masking tape along the area that will be cut and this will help to prevent the wood fibres from splintering.
Another way to prevent splintering is to cut along a marked out line first with a marking knife, this should slice the top fibres creating a straight cut.
Countersunk Holes:
Another woodwork tip for when you are constructing something such as a piece of furniture and you are using screws it is best to make a countersunk hole first to conceal the screw.
A counter sunk hole can be made for any screw but it is best to use countersunk screws. The best way to make the countersunk hole is with a mounted bench drill or pedestal drill but a cordless drill can be used although more precision is required.
It is best to start with the larger whole drilling down just enough to conceal the screw and then using the smaller drill bit as it should easily centre due to the already pre drilled large hole.
After the screw is put in you can cover it with some dowel to fully conceal the screw or make a feature out of the holes.
It is best to start with the larger whole drilling down just enough to conceal the screw and then using the smaller drill bit as it should easily centre due to the already pre drilled large hole.
After the screw is put in you can cover it with some dowel to fully conceal the screw or make a feature out of the holes.
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