Woodworking Tools: Power or Hand?
The first thing that you need to do when getting started with woodworking is to get some good woodworking tools. There is a variety of tools out there, depending on what you want to do. If you are interested in doing hobby craft type woodworking then you may be looking for woodworking hand tools or more traditional tool options than someone who is looking at building furniture. There are also power tools that can assist in woodworking, depending on the type of work you are doing. Following is a sampling of some of the woodworking tools available and what to look for when choosing them.
Having a solid clamp is one of the most important things for the casual or serious woodworker. The only way to guarantee a solid fit and cut is with a great clamp. Without being able to hold your wood in place, the products you make will suffer. There are many woodworking clamps out there to choose from so selecting the right one is important. There are a number of clamps used to squeeze pieces of wood together, particularly during assembly and gluing. Bar clamps consists of two jaws mounted on a length of steel bar, usually I-shaped in section. A pipe clamp is similar except that it substitutes a pipe for the I-bar and is less ridged.
Next up on our list of woodworking tools is the Jet 1014I Mini Lathe. This lathe keeps the solid cast iron foundation of its bigger brother, but houses it in a smaller package for easier home use. It offers an easy to use and control motor for dependable and highly adjustable speeds. Coupled with the solid base, this tool allow for great control and accuracy when working on wood. Also, the Jet has a twenty four position indexing wheel that uses a simple system. The spindle locks in well and the push pull button is located for easy use. This mini lathe is a very solid product for the serious woodworker.
Always purchase a good set of wooden-handled bench chisels (one-quarter, three-quarter and one inch) and a quarter inch mortise chisel. Wooden handles are more comfortable and more visually appealing than plastic and if they ever split or get chipped you can replace them with little effort. Western chisels are preferred to the Japanese chisels, which some say requires too much work, especially if you’re just getting started in woodworking. If you can afford it, buy a two inch wide bench chisel in addition to the four smaller ones. Its extra-wide blade is ideal for paring tenons.
A combination square is a useful tool for any woodworker. It usually comes in a twelve inch size and will mark out stock at ninety and forty-five degrees. It can double as a ruler and a marking gauge. Buy the best you can afford because you will be using it the most.
A lot of the forms of woodworking that can be accomplished at home or with a small workshop are going to comprise both power tools and hand tools. This allows for user-friendliness in larger projects as well as for the rough start, detail and finish work. The kind of woodworking tools you use will be decided by the type of work you’re doing and the room you have on hand.
Every experienced woodworker has had to become familiar with the fundamental principles of woodworking. Certain skills and techniques are at the foundation of this ability, be it pastime or profession. Discover more at DIY Woodworking.
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