Woodworking – Planes That Weren’t Meant to Fly?

Well, yes in woodworking, planes are used to smooth wood by shaving very thin layers from whatever surface the tool is pushed against. They don’t fly unless thrown!

Working with wood can be an enjoyable hobby, a lucrative profession, or both. And, nothing beats the excitement and the sense of accomplishment you get when you create something out of wood with your own hands.

Woodcrafting projects are not only fun, but it is an activity that allows you to build things that are useful. Whether your goal is to pass on your creations as gifts to others, or choose to keep them for yourself, you can certainly find a project to fulfill your desire.

Creating something from wood is a great way to satisfy the need to be creative. It takes some skill and patience but even you can do it. If you are new to crafting with wood, be confident that with each completed project, your skill level will increase. The key to improvement lies in choosing appropriate projects that match your skill level and the tools you have available. Even if you consider yourself a beginner, many fun and creative projects can be tackled.

Personalized Projects

Perhaps the most satisfying thing about wood crafts is being able to give a unique and personalized gift to someone you love. Whether for a birthday, anniversary or for Christmas, a handmade gift is unforgettable. Handmade toys are also a great gift idea for children who seem to have everything.

For example, building a rocking horse or rocking cow is a surprisingly simple project that most all children would enjoy. There are really only three parts to the construction, the rockers, the handles and the footrests.

A great woodworking project intended for a girl is a dollhouse. Almost every little girl dreams of having her own beautiful dollhouse that she can play with for endless hours. This is a simple project that allows you to be as creative as you like. You may find yourself getting carried away with all the possible little details and intricacies of this project. It is up to you to decide whether you want to create a simple dollhouse or one that is detailed and elaborate; either way, this project is great fun to tackle.

Backyard Projects

Perhaps you would like to try a project that your family can enjoy outdoors. Projects for the garden can be easy and will make your yard area more attractive and comfortable. If you consider yourself a beginner, building a trellis is easy and simple. And, you can complement your trellis with an easy-to-build planter. Constructing a privacy screen is also a nice addition.

Building a picnic table is not really any more difficult, but it does require more time. So, if you are looking to undertake a simple project and you have no time restrictions, a picnic table is a wonderful backyard furniture item.

Woodworking Tools

Like technology, woodworking tools have evolved substantially over the years. From wood adhesives to drills to saws, woodworking tools are numerous and come in every way shape and form. Because there is so much one can do with a piece of wood, countless woodworking tools have been created.

The most basic wood shop tool would be a handsaw. But most woodworking projects require more than just a handsaw. One could break down wood shop tools into two categories. The first category would be the hand tools. For example: handsaws, planes, chisels, files, hammer, and the list goes on and on. The second category would be power tools. Anything from a power drill, sanders, to an old fashioned table saw; they are all considered power tools. For most projects, you will use both hand and power tools.

We also can’t leave out wood stains and adhesives as requirements for the well equipped shop. These things’ are just as important as any hand tool or power tool.

Home Business

If you love to work with wood and want to increase your income, then a great way to do this would be starting a home based business. Anyone who has reasonable wood shop skills can easily start his or her own business. Start small and build some great examples of your work. The purpose of this is to have something to show your potential customers.

Handcrafted wood is in great demand these days and always will be. Handmade toys make for a great way to start a business at home. Children always love to play with wooden toys. You can sell your toys on eBay and ETSY.com.

If you become a skilled worker and are able to manufacture furniture, such as cabinets, chairs and tables then you should not think twice about starting a woodworking business. Cabinets, chairs and tables are used every day and are in good demand.

A good idea when you start, is to advertise your business through free classified ads to attract customers. You could also create your own website where you can showcase your products to your potential customers. A website is also a nice way to showcase all your wooden products

Safety

For woodworking, you will need tools. Remember that these tools are designed to cut wood so they are very sharp. Power tools for woodworking have been known to cause serious or even fatal injuries.

Whether you are using hand tools or power tools, they should be handled with care. These safety tips will considerably lessen the chances of you injuring yourself.

First, before cutting wood, think before you actually do it. Why are you cutting this way? Where are my fingers in relation to the blade? Is this position really the best position for cutting? Thinking of the way you cut and the cutting movement will save your fingers from being cut.

Be sure that your shop is clean. This hobby creates quite a mess and a cluttered shop is very prone to accidents. Organize your tools and always throw away the garbage. Watch out for stray wires. These can trip you.

Concentrate to what you are doing. In fact, woodworking demands your full attention. Do not put a TV or a radio on your workshop. Watching a TV while cutting something can result in your hand inadvertently making contact with the blade. Ouch!

In line with concentration, do not rush to complete a project. Rushing can make you stressed. When you are stressed, you tend to lose focus and mistakes happen when focus is lost. Take a break when you need it.

Woodworking is one hobby where you need to wear proper protective gear. When working, be sure to wear goggles, ear protection, gloves, an apron and a dust mask. Also, long hair caught in power tools can really hurt.

If you follow these precautions, woodworking should be fun and exciting.

Finishing Up

Now that I have put the fear into you, I want to assure you that with some care and planning when working around you shop, you will be safe. As with many things we do the hazards exist when we are inattentive or become distracted. Woodworking is a great hobby with and endless list of fun things to build. You will never be bored with this one!

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