woodworking

Easy Fall Woodworking Projects

Posted on September 22, 2020 by Home

Now the nights are drawing in and we are all thinking about fall and the onset of winter, it’s time to get busy in the workshop. At this time of the year, it can be fun to start new projects, and easy fall woodworking projects are always popular.

Bird Feeder

One easy fall woodworking project is to construct a bird feeder. We are coming up to winter when the birds require more feeding, so doing this will ensure that your garden or yard becomes a haven for wild birds, giving you and your family plenty of feathered interest in the garden. Bird feeders can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. A simple bird house construction or a mini park bench that you hang in the trees will attract the birds, and you can get the kids to help paint it too.

Garden Table

Over summer you may have been entertaining outdoors, so how about a new garden table? One great design is to use supports on each end connected by a supporting length of timber and make the table top out of 3 or 4 rustic straight pieces of lumber. If you leave a gap between each piece of wood on the table, it is easier to construct, and the gaps will make it easier to clean and to avoid the table getting dirty.

Patio Chairs

Patio chairs can look good too. Perhaps yours have been overused during summer, so fall is a great time to think about next year. Simple chairs are easy for the woodworking beginner as long as you ensure that the legs are plumb and straight.

Planters

Many easy woodworking fall projects are decorative. How about some new planters for the garden? Making a wheelbarrow-shaped planter is an easy enough project that can show off your winter plants and add interest to the garden.

Garden or Holiday Signs

Making a sign for your home is very rewarding and can be achieved with off cuts and basic woodworking skills. One simple way is to use pallet wood and just cut out a shape that you like. Prepare the wood with a stain and paint on the name of your house, and then varnish for protection. Fix two holes at the top of the sign and thread with rustic rope or twine before hanging the sign in place.

If you are planning a fall party or Halloween experience, you can position pumpkins and lanterns around your sign. In addition you can easily make your own sign for your home that reflects the seasons. How about a Halloween sign or a Christmas house sign that is decorated with seasonal images?

Fall woodworking projects can be as useful or as fun as you choose to make them. The great thing is that once you get the woodworking home décor bug , you will undoubtedly discover more ideas and inspiration. The homemade artisanal look is very fashionable right now, and it seems crazy to pay good money for something that looks homemade when you could so easily have the fun of making it yourself.

Things You Can Build with 2x4s

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Home

There are plenty of things you can build with 2x4s. This is a fantastically adaptable lumber size so with a little ingenuity, some left over wood plus tools and a plan, you have a wide range of useful objects open to you.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the things you can build with 2x4s.

Open Shelf Vanity

How about an open shelf vanity case unit? This is a simple wooden structure that avoids you having to make tricky things like doors. The 2x4s can provide the support structure to the unit, with the shelves themselves also constructed from 2×4 wood pieces. Once you have measured and screwed the fixings in place, you can stain or paint the structure so that all the pieces look uniform and smart.

Storage Shelves

You can create fantastic storage units and shelves for the garden or workshop. If you want to store paint for example you can tailor the width and height of the shelves to your precise needs. If it is for the workshop, it does not have to look that neat but it will tidy your work area and it will add a rustic charm to your surroundings.

Bench

How about a potting bench for your greenhouse or shed? 2x s are great for this. You can easily make a simple wooden table support, plus an integrated high wooden area for hanging things, such as garden tools and twine. A bottom shelf can be added for storing heavier items such as bags of compost.

Other Ideas

You don’t have to only look at functional garden and workshop structures. Depending upon your woodworking skills, there are plenty of things you can build with 2x4s that will look great indoors. Reclaimed wood for example lends itself very well to making rustic tables. Individual shelves and shelving units not only help keep your room looking uncluttered, but they can be great points of interest in their own right.

These types of rustic furniture options have a contemporary appeal, and even if your woodworking is not perfect, careful finishing and staining will bring them back on track, giving even the odd mistake a real wow factor.

As with all woodworking, the secret to success is to measure and to cut the wood accurately. That way your shelves or table will remain straight and be fit for use.

The best way to find things you can make from 2x4s is to decide what you need and then try and find a rough plan online. However, you don’t even need to do this if you are more confident.

 As long as you have some tools, such as a good saw, a mitre, and plenty of wood screws, you can pretty much build what you like. And the good news is that if you are using free or cheap offcuts, any mistakes are not expensive. After all, if your luxury 2×4 table does not go exactly to plan, you can always use it in the shed or the garden, or even dismantle it and have another go!

DIY First Aid Tips When Working with Wood

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Health

Working with wood is not generally dangerous, but you do need to take safety precautions and to have a good first aid kit on hand. This is because however careful and safe you may be, sooner or later you will need some first aid assistance! So here are some DIY first aid tips to help you stay safe and to help you deal with minor injuries.

Eye Protection

One of the most important safety measures for woodworking is to always wear adequate eye protection such as safety goggles or glasses. Eye injuries can lead to loss of sight so failing to protect your eyes with inexpensive safety goggles or even an ordinary pair of glasses is a big mistake. These should always be left in your workshop as part of your tool kit.

When it comes to your eyes, there are no DIY first aid tips; you need to get to A and E as soon as possible!

Minor Cuts and Abrasions

Working with wood and all those sharp tools; it is very easy to cut yourself. You should keep a range of plasters and bandages in your first aid kit in order to deal with all eventualities. Antiseptic cream is also important for recovery, as this will soothe and protect against infection.

DIY First Aid Tips for Cuts

·       Run the affected area under cold water for at least 5 minutes. This will slow bleeding and also clean the wound. You can try staunching the bleeding with a wad of clean paper.

·       Once the bleeding has slowed, you can apply a plaster and an antiseptic cream.

·       Sit quietly to slow your heart rate. It is important to also elevate the wound to reduce the blood flow.

Splinters are not generally serious but they can lead to infection. To remove a splinter, you can often apply pressure around the entry point and it will pop up enabling you to remove it. Once you have removed the splinter, apply antiseptic cream to protect against infection.

For all woodworkers, a good quality and current DIY first aid kit is crucial. All Terrain is an American company which specialises in herbal and cruelty free products to target a wide range of issues and they have produced a full first aid kit that is ideal for your workshop or for taking with you on the go.

The DIY First Aid Kit by All Terrain includes antiseptic gel, gauze pads and latex free bandages so you can be assured that all products will not further irritate or damage your skin. There is also aloe gel skin relief to help sooth pain and which can be used on minor burns and abrasions.

Packed in a compact carrying case, this natural first aid kit is ideal for all the family both in the workshop, around the home or when you are travelling. Because as we all know, however careful you may be, accidents do happen, but with the All Terrain DIY First Aid Kit, you will be ready when they do!

How to Build a Tree Bench

Posted on April 26, 2020 by Garden

There comes a time in life when everyone needs a tree bench, preferably one with a great view or in a place where you can sit and watch the world go by or supervise the kids from a distance! Luckily, a tree bench is pretty to build, and you don’t need to be a furniture making genius to make one. How to build a tree bench is pretty easy as long as you have the tools and the tree to build around.

Building a Tree Bench in Steps

First up, you need some good quality lumber. Your planks should be straight with no visible flaws such as cracks or decay. Cedar is a good choice, because it is very hardy but any other weather resistant wood will be fine and will save you time on maintenance in the future.

How to build a tree bench will depend upon the size of the tree of course and the sort of plan you are following, but in general it is much easier to build a hexagonal shaped tree bench rather than circular. This is because you can build a hexagonal bench in sections with leg supports spaced out to avoid any tree roots and simply assemble it when it is in place.

First, plan the hexagonal tree bench so that it fits around the tree without impeding any future growth. The six sides of the hexagon mean you have six sections, so first cut the six inner boards. You need to set your miter saw for a 30 degree angle.

Lay two planks parallel to the inner seat board and using the same 30 degree angle, cut these so that these middle and outer seat boards are straight and at the same angle. Because this is a hexagon seat, you need to repeat the process for the six sets.

Join two seat sections together by adding the wooden supports. The supports are made up of two legs each, sandwiched at the top by a cross brace and you need six of these. You fix the seat board section to the supports with bolts.

Once you have fitted two sections together, you can put it against the tree. Fix the other two sets together and also fit them against the tree. Because at this point, the bench is in sections you can make any changes if necessary, such as leveling the ground or moving the sections around so that the leg supports are not over tree roots.

Once the bench is in the correct position, you can screw it together. It is important to leave about a quarter of an inch at least between sections to allow for wood expansion. Finally, treat the wood with a protective sealer so that it will stay looking good all year long.

This is the only way to build a tree bench. We have seen many different ideas and plans, so it is certainly worth looking through plans and ideas so that you can find the best design for you.

Things You’ll Learn in a Woodworking Magazine for Beginners

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Home

When you start a new hobby, it is important to set off on the right foot. There is a lot to learn about woodworking, so it is important not to be deterred by too much information and over ambitious projects. If you want to become a woodworker, a woodworking magazine for beginners is the best place to start.

Lessons for Beginners

The first thing to be aware of is safety. Woodworking tools are sharp, so it is easy to cut yourself, splinters of wood can get into the eye, power tools can be dangerous in many ways.

When you are embarking on DIY wood projects, always ensure you have your safety glasses on and always adopt safe working habits.

The woodworking workshop is not the place to be careless. Don’t decide to do some woodworking after drinking alcohol or using any type of drug that can impair your judgement.

Why Read Woodworking Magazine for Beginners

A woodworking magazine for beginners will tell you the best type of tools to use. If you are a complete newbie, this may be an investment, but it is worth buying good quality tools that are easy to use, rather than cheap ineffective ones that will make it difficult.

According to most advice you should invest in a jigsaw, miter saw, table saw, hammer, mallet, power drill, and screw gun. If by contrast you want to take up hand carving, a good quality set of chisels will probably be enough to get you started.

A great thing about a woodworking magazine for beginners is that it will suggest simple projects that are suitable for your skill level. Typical beginner projects may include simple household items such as a rustic candle holder, a pallet shelf (or other great pallet furniture ideas), a wall planter, a ledge, or a lettered sign. It is important to start off with projects that you can complete quite easily, rather than taking on something that you just can’t handle.

The important thing to remember about woodworking is that it is not actually that difficult. Although it can be intimidating at first with all those new skills to learn, millions of people do it and you can do it too. 

Sadly, we can all become easily discouraged and lacking in confidence when it comes to practical skills. Many women take up woodworking and find it is much easier than they ever imagined. Likewise, some men who have believed that these practical skills are easy may find it not suited for them.A woodworking magazine which is aimed at beginners will help you see that anything is possible with the right attitude, a desire to learn, and practice.

Woodworking Letters: How to Carve Words into Wood

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Home

If you love DIY wood projects, you’re in the right place! Wood carving is one of those great hobbies that is not only enjoyable; it creates extremely satisfying great results. If you are thinking of getting started on wood carving and are considering which type of project to embark on, you may hit upon the idea of making a sign for your house or your shed. Woodworking letters into a sign seems like a worthy ambition but how do you ensure that your efforts pay off with great results? Keep reading to find out!

Getting Started with Woodworking Letters

First, you need some good quality woodworking tools. To create woodworking letters by hand, you need a good quality chisel and a dummy (a mallet specially designed for carving letters). Alternatively, you can use knives or gouges or whatever you feel comfortable with.

The second thing you need of course is your wood for the sign. However, if you are new to carving woodworking letters, you should not even touch this yet. Instead, practice your carving skills on scrap pieces of wood so that you get an understanding of how deep you need to carve, the angle, and how to create the best possible effect from the wood. You can pick up free wood scraps at a local hardware store.

Which Type of Wood Should I Use?

The type of wood you use will large depend upon how you want it to look. However, some woods are far easier to work with than others.

Basswood is a great wood for beginners. It is inexpensive and easy to use and because it has very little grain and is soft, is a good one to start with.

Butternut and Aspen are also similarly priced and are easy to carve. Although these woods are all technically hardwoods, they are on the softer end of the scale.

Oak is a beautiful wood, but it is fairly hard and may be difficult for the novice hand carver. Oak works fantastically well with power tools but unless you are already experienced with power tools and creating woodworking letters it is not the best choice to start with. 

Black Walnut is beautiful. It is also expensive and not that easy to work with.

Designing the Sign

Once you feel confident with your carving skills, you need to design your sign. You can do this via your computer’s Word program. Find the font that you want with the correct line spacing and print out the word in the correct size. If your printer cannot provide this for you, a trip to your local printing or copying store will provide what you need.

Using some spray glue, stick the lettering to your piece of wood so that you can follow the pattern with your chisel. Once you have outlined the design, you can remove the paper from the wood and go it alone.

Using a Router Instead

If you don’t want to carve by hand, why not use a wood router? There are numerous router attachments specifically designed for creating woodworking letters. You can use a router freehand or use a simple plan and results can be equally impressive. 

Is it is good as hand carved sign? Yes! Is it as fun to create? This comes down to personal preference but for our money, you can’t beat hand carving for satisfaction and enjoyment.