Archive for the ‘woodworking’ Category
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve long been fascinated by Grandfather Clocks. (Maybe it doesn’t take much to excite me! LOL) These clocks just are an unusual, yet useful and beautiful, accessory to any home. When it comes to woodworking, making a clock, especially a Grandfather Clock, seems to me to be a great project.
A few years ago, at Christmas time, my husband and I decided to give our sons a special treat and purchase a Grandfather Clock for each of them. (We found a great deal on them.) When their clocks arrived by truck, these two boys and their families were very happily surprised.
Now suppose we had gone even further and made these clocks. How much more do you suppose they would have been appreciated? Perhaps this is a project you might want to consider.
By the way, these clocks are beautiful and really make a statement!
If you are into woodworking, making a Grandfather Clock may very well be your next project. If not, why not? How satisfying that would be.
For years I have been fascinated by them. Quite some time ago my parents and I visited a very, very large antique shop. This particular shop had so many Grandfather Clocks that I would hesitate to even try to guess how many there were. They had all been imported from Europe, and there were numerous designs and styles. Perhaps this is where I first became fascinated and intrigued with them.
Sometime after that my parents had a Grandfather Clock made for them by an Amish man. When my parents died, I inherited this clock. What a beautiful addition it has made to my home.
If you think these clocks are neat to have in your living room, why not consider making your own? Plans are readily available.
Are you like me? Do you never seem to have enough space for all the ‘stuff’ you’ve accumulated? If so, there is hope. With the proper woodworking plans, you can build a really attractive outbuilding that will not only look great, but will also be perfect for your extra goodies.
Unless you are really, really handy (and you may be), it is important that you get a good set of building plans. These plans will be well worth their cost as they will give you every piece of information that you will need to start and finish your shed. Included will be a complete list of materials you will need to purchase. Your plans will included photos and drawings to show you step by step how your work on this building should progress. In addition, a list of tools needed for your project will be provided.
Plans can be purchased very reasonably, and you will soon be on your way to having the shed you envisioned.
As with any craft project we get involved with, when working with wood it is absolutely necessary to have the proper woodworking tools for the particular job. Having the correct tools will make your crafting efforts go much easier, and the results produced will be more professional.
Good quality tools for woodworking are readily available in stores and on the internet. Many of them come with a lifetime warranty, which is a big advantage to us, the buyers. Before investing much money in tools, it might be wise to do some reasonable research, comparing prices between brands and suppliers. Be sure to check the warranties that come with each item.
Cordless, rechargeable tools are very handy in certain instances, and you may want to consider that option. Be sure to check the battery life of the batteries included with each tool. New batteries with extended life are constantly being introduced on the market. Something else that my husband and I have noticed recently is that at least one manufacturer offers lifetime replacement of batteries with their tools. This is certainly an added benefit worth considering.
Woodworking has always been a fascinating hobby to me. To be able to take a simple piece of wood and turn it into something beautiful is a great talent. Woodworking is perhaps one of the oldest hobbies that men have been involved in. It seems that it was always (and still is) instinctive to create shelter and so many other items from such an abundant and renewable source as wood.
There is such a vast assortment of wood types to choose from. There are light woods and dark woods, hard woods and soft woods. Wood grains are so varied and beautiful that it is often hard to select the desired one.
Getting started in woodworking is rather simple and relatively inexpensive. With a good plan or two, the proper wood and a few tools, you can soon be on the way to creating some great woodworking projects.
If you have a passion for working with wood, you realize, among other things, that having and using the proper woodworking tools can save you valuable time when creating your projects. The tools you choose to use can often affect the quality of your work.
Woodworking is a method of creating true art. As with other crafts that we get involved in, there are tools available to make our job easier and to give a more professional look to our finished items. With these tools and the proper use of them, we learn to create masterpieces from what was once a simple tree.
Would you agree that woodworking designs can make the difference in how your finished item turns out? You may have a world of experience as a woodworker, and your work may be excellent, but the lack of a good design can ruin your best efforts.
There are numerous woodworking designs available in books, magazines, and online – some of them free. Do a bit of research to find one that is pleasing to the eyes and fits your needs. Then gather your supplies and begin your project.
In addition to all the woodworking tools and machinery that a woodworker needs, there are any number of woodworking supplies that must be kept on hand for woodworking projects. It is truly frustrating to be in the middle of a project and have to run to town for an item.
It goes without saying that finding the wood for your project is the number one priority on your list (assuming, of course, that you already have your plans and know what size boards to get.) What type wood you use is simply a matter of choice, whether it be oak, pine, walnut, butternut, ash, etc. ( I once had a neighbor who made a number of items from an apple tree. While the wood was beautiful, he said that it was very hard to work with. Perhaps you’ve made a similar item from a favorite tree of yours.)
Once you’ve assembled your wood, you’ll need wood glue, a vise, clamps of various styles and sizes, a square, router bits, drill bits, ruler, yardstick or measuring tape, screws, nuts and bolts, and a pencil or marker of some sort. (Hopefully I haven’t omitted anything.*) Add to this list a tool box or a set of drawers to keep all of your supplies, and you’re good to go!
*And a coffee pot?!?
As with any other crafting project we begin, the aspiring woodworker needs certain woodworking tools to accomplish his task and make a beautiful finished piece. No one (hopefully) starts a project without first researching the basic tools and equipment to finish it properly and more easily.
A few of the basic tools needed in a woodworker’s workshop would include a variety of power saws, each of which serves a different purpose. These would include a table saw, a miter saw, a scroll saw, a jig saw – to name a few. Another handy tool is a router. Planers and sanders are very necessary. And let’s not forget the small hand tools, such as hammers, screwdrivers, drills, chisels, jigs, planes, and hand saws. Of course, a woodworking lathe is a great asset to a woodworker.
I’m quite sure an avid woodworker would find many, many more woodworking tools to add to his/her workshop. (How about one of those large all-in-one pieces of machinery for working with wood?)
If you are much of a woodworker, you probably tend to finish the woodworking projects you’ve started. At least, that would be your intention.
My husband is not much of a woodworker – he’s more of a ‘woodworker-wanna-be.’ (He spends much of his time working on car and truck engines, but that’s another story.) However, one year early in our married life (years ago), he decided that he was going to build me a sewing cabinet for a gift. He had the plans, and got these gorgeous walnut boards, which he sanded to a beautiful, smooth finish – - – and the project ended there, despite his good intentions. ( Hopefully, your wood projects do not end like that.)
Oh well! We still have the walnut boards; maybe he’ll make me something yet!