I've been dabbling in woodworking for about ten years, but honestly, I don't feel I've gotten very good at it. I'm not trying to be overly humble; I just haven't had enough practice, and many of my projects have flopped. Now that my wife and I are considering starting a family, I really want to build some furniture for our home, but I know it'll be disappointing if I can't step up my skills first. What are the best ways to learn essential techniques like cutting straight, making basic joints, understanding wood movement, and finishing? I'm flexible with tools and have a drill, an orbital sander, a circular saw, and some basic hand tools like chisels and a measuring tape. Are there any simple projects or exercises I can do to build these skills without diving into big failures?
1 Answer
I’d recommend starting with good quality plywood for your projects, especially for interiors. You can kind of ignore wood movement for boards that aren't wider than 6 inches. What really matters is practice. A circular saw can be tricky for precise cuts, so consider getting a hand plane and making a shooting board. This way, you can make your cuts a little longer and fine-tune them with the plane for accuracy. Check out Ana White’s woodworking plans for some beginner-friendly projects! Remember, focus on getting that craftsman look instead of shooting for perfection right away. You can also use common materials, like making a frame to hold thrift store furniture and turning it into a built-in piece.
Thanks for the tips! I never thought about using a marking wheel for precise cuts, that's a game-changer for me. I’ve completed a couple of small projects, like a shelving unit and a workbench, but I'm excited to get my hands on some plywood next!