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Monday, February 23, 2009

Woodwork Plans

A wide range of free wood working plans are available on the internet. Indeed you will get valuable information from free wood working plans that can be used for home renovation purposes. On some websites amateur wood workers share their experience, tips and ideas that make up for great free wood working plans. Some free wood working plans that are commonly used are bookcase plans, bed plans, shed plans, workbench plans and entertainment centre plans

Cherry Bookshelf plans :

It consists of 13 pieces that are screwed and dadoed together. The shaping and joinery is done with the help of drill press and a table saw. The bookshelf has slats and pyramid top posts. Cherry wood is used as it is lighter. You can use other types of wood such as quatersawn white oak. For building this bookcase you require screws, screw hole plugs, slates and shelves. The dimensions of these items will differ according to your requirements.

Break Down Chair Plans :

This high backed chair and has no wedges or pegs. You can easily make 2 chairs out of 4’x8’ sheet of good quality plywood. It is very easy to make these chairs.

Antiqued Table plan :

Clear pine is used to make this antiqued beauty. Tools that are required to make this table are trim saw or handsaw, bits and drill, spray bottles, wet rag and belt or orbital sander. Materials that are required to make this table include legs, apron, fastening strips and table top. You also require screw and washer, shellac and carpenter’s glue and 8 hanger bolts. Depending on the size of table you want, you should select the dimensions.

Circular Kitchen Table Plan :

Solid black walnut wood is used to make this kitchen table. The tabletop which has a radius of 2 feet is a perfect circle. The circular top is on a pedestal base which is constructed using laminated bridle joints. Warmth of this wood enhances as tung oil and polyurethane are used for protecting the finish. The contemporary design of this antique table is much more attractive than formal dining style. Jointer, jigsaw, hand router and some other tools are required to make this piece.

Mahogany bed plan :


This ideal master piece is ideal for any bedroom décor. The bed is made from solid mahogany. The bed with its contemporary style has convenient rail hangers A series of slats are required for supporting the bed. A box spring is not required once you use these slats. Depending on the thickness and length of the mattresses the dimensions of the bed will vary. The dimensions should be such that it should be able to handle queen size mattresses. The bed is designed in such a way that you can disassemble it easily.

Jewelry Box plans :

This elegant case has a simple design. If there are some beautiful small wooden boards in your house then you can make this box on your own. It won’t take you long to build this attractive box. This can indeed be a perfect last minute gift for a friend.



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Friday, February 20, 2009

Running A Wood Working Business

If you want to increase your income and love wood work, then you should maybe about starting a home based business. A person who has good wood working skills can easily start his or her business from home, start small and build a portfolio of your best work.

If you want to make a career in wood working then it is indeed an excellent idea. There are many examples of people who have become rich with the help of wood working business. If you are really serious then it is just a matter of time to become successful in this business. Wood working business can be regarded as a good source of income. If you love to work with wood then there should not be any problem in starting a wood working business.

Many have doubled their income by doing wood working part time. Handcrafted wood is in great demand. If the handcrafted wood has a beautiful design and is of good quality then you can simply ask the price you want from the customer. If you are good at wooden toys then it is indeed a golden opportunity to start a wood working business at home. Children simply love to play with wooden toys. Most wooden products are marketable today.



If you are a skilled worker in making furniture such as cabinets, chair then you should not think twice to start a wood working business. Cabinets and chairs are used every day and also in great demand. Hence there is no way that you will remain idle if you start a wood working business. In fact the orders of making cabinets and furniture will be so much that you will have to hire skilled workers

At present the wood working business is booming. Hence there is no reason that you will be in loss if you start a wood working business. If you have the skill and talent then you can easily make money in wood working business.

If you want to start a wood working business then you should know the requirements for opening this business. More importantly you should be clear about the type of wooden products that are going produce. From the type of wooden products you will definitive idea about the tools and supplies that you will need to start the business.

You can also advertise your business through newspapers to attract potential customers.
You can also create your own website where the clients can directly get a glimpse of your products. A website is indeed a nice way to showcase all your wooden products
You should also the name of suppliers in your city that can provide various woods as well as wood handling tools.

At any cost sub standard material should not be used in making wooden products. Quality is important especially in wooden products that would be used daily. A substandard product will definitely spoil your reputation which will have an adverse effect on your wood working business.




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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Popular Wood Working

If you are a homeowner who wants to buy furniture but are unable to decide on the type of furniture or you have undertaken a home improvement project then this article will solve your problem. This article will give you a brief description about the popular wood working products.

The best way to decorate your home is by buying popular wood working products. A popular wood working product for example are cabinets. If the cabinet is spacious and intricately designed then it is likely to sell fast. Elegant cabinets completely change the appearance of your room.

In fact it will give a royal touch to your room. It is the best way to impress your guests. Wooden cabinets from teak wood are especially popular as they are hard, durable and give long lasting satisfaction to its customers.

Cabinets made from teakwood are water resistant. The other reason why they are popular is that there are affordable. They are simply exquisite in any color. A cabinet is a quintessential piece for your house. Cabinets have a flat surface that is essentially used for serving food.



The dining room set is a popular wood working product. Your home furniture is incomplete without a dining room set. A dinning room set normally consists of a big table and 4 chairs. So if you really want to enjoy your lunch then you must have a dining table. Not only are they available in a variety of different sizes and shapes to suit everyones home. They are also very durable and will last for years.

Wooden Carved Swing: A variety of wooden carved swings are available in the market. These swings are attractive as they have exquisite designs. These swings are made from high quality wood and are intricately designed by skilled artisans. These artisans have given fine finishing to these swings.

Wooden Sideboard: Most wooden sideboards exhibit artistic brilliance. Beautiful designs are carved on them. Superior finish will surely lure you to buy this piece. Superior quality wood is used in making these products.

Wooden Statues: These wooden statues are known for their beautiful carvings and designs on it. These wooden statues represent a perfect reflection of mastery and creativity in wooden work. Wooden statues include figures of Goddesses and God. High quality colors are used to paint these statues which give them an elegant look.

Curtain Rods: A wide collection of curtain rods having unique designs are available today. Materials that are used making curtain rods are of superior quality. These doors are available in a variety of sizes and shapes to match your doors and windows.

Antique Doors: These doors come in exquisite designs that reflect artistic brilliance. As they are intricately carved these doors are in great demand in international market. These doors come in various designs and shapes. The attractive look of antique doors will compel you to buy these doors.




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Thursday, February 12, 2009

Woodwork Stores

Getting Supplies From The Woodwork Stores

A lot of homeowners rely on an architect and an interior designer to build a house from scratch. The only thing for the person to do after the project is completed is to buy the furniture so this can set in various locations inside the home.

If the cost of getting this from the store is too expensive, perhaps some money can be saved if the individual possesses some basic carpentry skills to be able to create a table or a chair with some tools and plywood. The ideal place that the homeowner should go for everything is the woodwork store.



A very good example is Home Depot where the customer can choose the materials and work on it at home. For the more complicated jobs, the sales clerk can even arrange for someone to go to the house and have it assembled after two or three days.

But the woodwork store is not just for those who can afford to buy a home. Those who rent can also do the same by buying a few things even if the odds of making it permanent are close to impossible.

For example, if the apartment the individual is renting is quite old, it wouldn’t hurt to replace the hinges or the screens on the window. The only thing the person will do is get the measurements and then buy these materials from the store.

Woodwork stores don’t only supply the materials to improve the home. This is because the establishment has brochures and pictures which will give the person fresh ideas just like those seen in interior design magazines.

The customer can look over a few and see if this can be done for the home. A representative will have to drop by the house to make an ocular inspection to see which ideas are possible and what needs to be changed should the first option not become suitable.

A few examples of these are the crown moldings near the ceiling or the baseboards that are a few feet from the floor. These also include the casings on the doors and the windows or the cornice boxes, which is often overlooked when constructing or renovating a home.

Some woodwork stores can even customize the kind that the customer wants. After all, not all homes follow a certain standard when it comes to making shelves, tables, closets and other things inside the home.

Traditionally, a customer will have to look through the directory to find the nearest woodwork store. The Internet has paved the way for these retailers to also have a website so a person can browse through the various designs, order something and have it delivered to the home.

The home regardless if this is big or small will always be considered as the man’s castle. The first step in making a personal touch will be to pick up certain designs, which could be from looking through a magazine or while visiting someone else’s house.

After drawing it and putting the idea on paper, only then will the individual be able to find the right things needed from the woodwork store.

Since the trends in the interior design industry change every few months, those who want to keep abreast with the times can subscribe to magazines or even get a newsletter after becoming a member.

A lot of woodwork stores do this to inform customers of new arrivals as well as special promos, which will always make the home look new.

When the person feels it is time once again to undergo some home improvement, this should be planned first so a list of the materials can be made and then purchased.

When the project has been completed, the person feel happy knowing that this was done by hand or done by someone else as well as hear positive compliments from visitors who decide to drop by and see the home.

The woodwork store is for everyone who wants to make major or minor improvements in the home. Going down to the nearest establishment is the first step to be able to get everything needed and then the rest is already up to the person.


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Monday, February 9, 2009

Woodwork Supplies

Stocking Up on Woodwork Supplies

There was a time that a carpenter relied on a saw, a hammer and a few nails to be able to assemble a table or a chair. There are people who continue to do it the old fashioned way while there are those who use power tools making the job both faster and easier.

This is one of the major technological advances in carpentry even though the principles are still the same. So those who want to get the job done quicker should check these products out at the woodwork supply store.



The person can check out what is available and even ask the sales clerk for assistance should the customer have a hard time in choosing one brand over the other. Some think that the power tools are the same but this is not true, as some products have proven to be sturdier than others.

Some of the more popular brands are Sears Craftsman tools, Rockwell, Hitachi and Rigid. These are used by hobbyists and professionals, which are all user friendly.

When the right power saw or nail gun has been bought, the person should check it out before leaving the store to avoid any returns or refunds should there be something wrong with the unit.

Those who can’t afford to buy something new can try looking in some discount stores for some pre-owned tools which can also get the job done like those that have never been used.

Aside from power tools, the person should also shop for other essentials such as nails, glue, paint, wood varnish, and the lumber. Some of these stores can already be cut according to the specifications of the customer so this will just be installed when the individual gets home.

The woodwork supply store even has exotic lumber such as African Mahogany, Burma Teak, Jarrah, Jatoba and Zebrawood for those who have a bigger budget compared to others who can only afford the local version.

The prices of these will vary so the customer should get a quote from various suppliers to be able to get good value for each of the products.

Aside from the nearest woodwork store to get these supplies, it also wouldn’t hurt to also find some retailers that conduct business online. This is the best place to shop for certain items that are not being sold in the state then having it delivered to the home making that design still possible.

There may be times that the supplies needed are not available since these are out of stock. Luckily, some retailers allow the customer to have it ordered online then delivered to the house when these become available.

All the customer has to do is sign up for free to become a member to get updates by email or by parcel.

The completion of one woodworking project will surely not be the last for the individual. This is because certain parts of the house will need to be fixed due to wear and tear or these are no longer basically trendy anymore.

When this happens, the customer will have to shop again for woodworking supplies at the nearest store. It will be a good idea to come up with a checklist to know what items are available and what should be purchased.

This will surely save some money as long as the tools used in the previous project are stored properly preventing it from getting dirty or rusted.

The next thing to do after that is draw up the plan and execute it with precision so less time is wasted and the project can be completed.

It is always a good idea to buy some more nails, a few extra pieces of lumber and a can of paint or vanish. This will surely come in handy when the initial estimate of the materials needed exceeds the projections thus saving the time and effort of going back to the woodwork store.

Woodwork supplies are needed in any project no matter how small or big it may be. The person should look at the plan and then see what is needed to be able to buy everything in one trip to the hardware store.


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Friday, February 6, 2009

Woodwork Tools

Tools for Woodwork

The process of building products using wood as the primary material is called wood-working. This may also include the process of carving something from wood.

Wood was one of the first materials to be used by our ancestors. Along with mud, stone and parts from animals, wood were turned into tools. As civilizations develop, so did their tools. This is proportional to the degree of skills involved by the people of the civilization.


Wooden tools created by our primitive ancestors were located in Lehringen. Some spears were found in Germany. Wooden weapons for hunting and flint tools for carving show that primitive people were already knowledgeable on how to create materials that would help them obtain their needs.

There are two ancient civilizations that are often mentioned when woodworking is the subject matter. These are the Egyptians and the Chinese. This is because woodworking has been shown in their ancient sketches and drawings.

Also, a vast amount of Egyptian furniture like chairs, tables, beds, stools and chests have been encased in tombs. Preservation of such materials shows that the ancient Egyptian people were inclined to use wood. Coffins that were located in the tomb were also out of wood.

Egyptians used metal for their woodwork. Copper and bronze were the main tools for woodworking. These were turned into adzes, pull saws, axes, chisels and bow drills.

Ancient Egyptians were the first civilization to do veneering. They were also the first to use varnish, therefore resulting to what is now termed as “finishes.” They used native acacias and the wood from the sycamore and tamarisk trees.

As for the Chinese, wood working was said to have started when Lu Ban and his wife Lady Yun brought plane and chalkline to China. This was during the Spring and Autumn period. From them on, Lu Ban’s teachings were said to have been recoreded in the book “Lu Band Jing” or “Manuscript of Lu Ban.”

This was written 1500 years after he died. The book is complete with elaborate descriptions of the necessary dimensions in building different kinds of furniture like tables, altars and flower pots.

In the modern times, these are the tools a woodworker must possess :

* Measuring and Marking tools

_ protractor, tape measures, rules
- scratch awls, marking knives, marking gauges
- plane gauges in order to figure out how flat the surface it
- hygrometers in order to figure out how much water the wood has
- levels
- winding sticks
- combination squares, try squares, straightedges

* Cutting tools

- hands saws like the rip saw, cross cut saw, keyhole saw, bow saw, coping saw, tenon saw, gent’s saw and dowtail saw
- power saws like the chainsaw, radial arm saw, miter saw, band saw, scroll saw, hole saw, table saw and circular saw.

* Shaping tools

- hand planes like the smoothing plane, shoulder plane, spear plane, rabbet plane, scrub plane, block plane and jointer plane.
- jointer and thickness planer
- router
- rotary tools
- gouge and chisel
- drill press and chisel mortiser
- knifer
- rasp
- lathe
- other hand shaping tools like the adze, axe, froe, drawknife and spokeshave

* Assembly tools

- screwdriver
- mallet and hammer
- hand or power drills
- clamps like the F-clamp, G-clamp, C-clamp, miter clamp, bar clamp, band clamp and sash clamp

* Finishing tools

- sandpaper that can be used alone. It can be used with power sanders like belt sander, palm sander, orbit sander, disc sander or sanding blocks
- steel wool or bronze wool for polishing and applying stain
- file
- scraper
- spray guns used to apply lacquer
- brushes for applying varnish

* Accessory tools and furniture

- workbench or the bench or table where one sits or stands. This is where the woodworking process takes place
Kinds of workbench
1. dog hole or a round or square hole that allows clamping and holding devices to be attached
2. bench dog or a peg that is inserted into a dog hole that lets in the clamp pressure
3. hold fast or the rod that is bent when put into the dog hole. It is used to put boards into position
4. vise or a clamping apparatus that holds wood in various positions during woodworking
5. bench hook that is laid against the wood that can be pushed during woodworking.
- Sawhorse is the four legged stand that often comes in pairs. It supports long boards, sheets and panels.


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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Value Of A Woodwork

Realizing the Value of a Woodwork


There are things in life that we value so much. These are the priceless things that we take care of ever since we have become conscious of this world we live in.

There are also things that we do not recognize right away. These are things that have so much value in them, only we do not have that realization even if that thing is right before our eyes.

Take the woodwork for example.



You may have great plans for your household and it is a good thing to actually aim for improvement in your abode. However, if you have not paid attention at all, these endeavors will actually require some good amount of money to be put into action.

Definitely, cabinets and furniture items are not that affordable to the ordinary household if all these details have to be fulfilled. There would be some good amount of sacrifice to give way to this.

Now, if you will only go out in the market and check out these embellishments you want for the household, you will realize that they are mostly woodwork and these woodworks do not come off cheap.

Then you realize that there must be so much value in a woodwork considering that it has to take some considerable amount in your budget just to bring home one.


What Is Woodwork?


Woodwork will pertain to anything or any item that is made out of wooden material. It can include doors, tables, benches, windowsills, cabinets and furniture.


Woodwork Value


What really is the value of a single woodwork? Is it really worth your every cent? Has the market only taken advantage of the changes in the economy to justify the high prices?

There is no definite formula to get the exact value of a woodwork but it will help if you start by acknowledging that woodwork is done by woodworking or generally speaking, carpentry.

Woodworking is a craft. As such, it requires more than just materials and labor. The whole project will require some considerable amount effort, dedication and skills on the part of the person doing the woodwork.

Furthermore, this woodwork is not the typical commercial item that you see in the market that is mass-produced.

A woodwork is unique in itself. There may be other items that are of the same kind, but there will definitely be a unique quality in one woodwork that you cannot see in another.

This can be attributed to the fact that the carpenter or woodworker came up with the product with his bare hands. Thus, there is only the perseverance of human industry and none of the mechanical but impersonal precision.

Thus, when you look at one piece of woodwork, it is like looking at the work of art of the woodworker. Every little detail in it, including the curves, the cuts and the contours will be something that came out of the hard work of one person.


Realize It Yourself


You may want to engage in woodworking yourself. Try doing your own woodwork and you will realize just how valuable this thing could be considering the aspects taken into account just to finish a project.

Start studying a woodworking plan. You will see the details that have to be comprehended before one proceeds with the work. This will help you realize that mental processes are involved in woodworking. It is not all manual labor.

Do a survey of the materials needed in various stores and shops. Determine the rate and prices of every material that you have to use. You will realize that these do not come cheap.

If ever there are some affordable materials in the market, you have to take the initiative and extra effort to locate them.

Try executing the woodworking plan with the materials at hand. You will see how much estimations and measurement you have to take care of before you finally get it right. Of course, this goes only for those who are not well-trained in the field.

If you do want to get the right training, you still have to take up a woodwork course.


Conclusion


Evidently, woodworking is no small matter. There are many elements involved and so many skills employed. The value of a woodwork is definitely something that you cannot underestimate.



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Sunday, February 1, 2009

Woodwork Repair Tips

Basic Woodwork Repair Tips for DIY Homeowners

House repair and maintenance is not a seasonal job. Throughout the year, you will encounter all sorts of problems related to your house and neglecting just one of them can certainly have disastrous consequences. Delegating everything to a professional, however, can be quite costly, so if you wish to save on money and time as well, you can start by learning various simple to do woodwork repair tips and turn yourself into a DIY homeowner.

Woodwork Repair Tip #1: Deciphering the Writing on the Wall

Scratches and other noticeable flaws on your walls is always a great eyesore. Unfortunately, it’s something that you have to bear with for a long time or until all your children have sufficiently grown up enough to understand that desecrating the home walls in an absolute no-no.


In the meantime, you can rely on DIY woodwork repair tips to resolve this predicament. Small and slight scratches can be easily remedied with a bit of sanding and refinishing. If large scratches occur on paneled walls, your biggest problem would be finding a perfect match for your wall’s colors after removing the scratches. One possible solution is applying wax that has the closest shade to your walls’ color.

Woodwork Repair Tip #2: Allowing Inner Beauty to Shine

Be aware that a surface layer of wood finishing is generally applied as protection for interior woodwork. If you wish to clean them, you need to ensure that you don’t destroy its finishing while doing so. Interior woodwork makes use of various types of finishing and each type has its respective way of cleaning.

Firstly, woodwork that makes use of natural oil as protection should be wiped clean with one that makes use of natural ingredients as well. Woodwork that relies on wax protection can also be cleaned with all-natural polishers or one that’s specifically designed for waxed surfaces. Lastly, plastic wood can be cleaned in the ordinary way: that is, with water and soap as well if you so prefer.

Woodwork Repair Tip #3: Hole in the Wall

If your wall – or any woodwork object for that matter – is suffering from a holed identity, there are several things you can do to address this problem effectively. If it’s only suffering from small holes, you can fill it up with putty – which, by the way, is also used to repair glasswork – then even out the surface from excess putty by sanding. Apply the appropriate wood finish if necessary.

Big holes on the other hand can also use putty or other filling substances. When relying on filling alone, your biggest problem is finding one that could match your woodwork’s original shade. If however you prefer to glue a new piece of wood to cover the hole, make sure that you get rid of any excess substance from all sides and end the process by applying finishing once more.

Woodwork Repair Tip #4: At the Sidelines

Trimmings and moldings, primarily because of their location and the amount of exposure that they’re subjected to damaging factors, are usually the first ones to require repairing. Although they are not as burdensome as other woodwork repairs, they do however require an advanced level of precision and skills from you. Just take your time considering the extent of damage and you’ll figure out by yourself the best thing to do.

DIY woodwork repair around the house doesn’t only help you save money and time but also represents a significant contribution in your part in ensuring that your home continues to be safe and comfortable for everyone.


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