Woodworking at home

The amount of space you need for your woodworking workshop will depend on the type of work you will be doing. Some hobbyists create long-lasting treasured pieces purely for enjoyment, whereas others earn good money from creating furniture and various beautiful and useful items.

The accepted minimum size for a well-equipped workshop is about 12 m2. However, if most of your work is done by hand, a smaller workshop of about 7 m2 should be adequate.

You should set up your workshop in a way that will save space. Other requirements include good lighting, adequate ventilation, a dust extractor and plenty of electrical plug points.

Equipment

If you are a beginner, the vast array of tools available on the market may be overwhelming. Most beginner woodworkers’ tools don’t have to be elaborate and expensive, though. Start with the basics to get the feel of simplicity, which experienced woodworkers know is the core of good work.

There are five types of basic woodworking tools for transforming raw materials into completed projects. These are the tools to measure, cut, assemble, hold wooden parts together and finish the items. These groups cover everything a starting woodworker needs for building simple to complex items.

The basics

The following are must-have tools for beginner woodworkers:

• Workbench
• Hand saws
• Power saws
• Plane/Thicknesser
• Sanders
• Drill
• Screw gun
• Screwdrivers
• Hammers
• Mallet
• Files
• Tape measure
• Square
• Clamps of various sizes
• Sawhorses
• Dust masks with filters, safety goggles and ear muffs.

Workbench

A workbench is a piece of equipment you will use all the time for every project, and it is worth buying the best you can afford. Of course, you could save money by making your own out of cheap wood, but a professional grade, quality workbench is always a worthwhile investment.

Look for these features in a professional workbench:

• Solid, hardwood construction.
• Free-standing with 360 degrees access.
• Adjustable base for accurate levelling.
• Two various sized vices.
• Large working surface with built-in stops.
• Lower drawers for storing tools.

Saws

Because every woodwork project entails cutting raw material to size and shape, saws are among the most important pieces of equipment in the workshop. Saws come in different shapes and sizes and are used for different cutting tasks.

A circular saw should be at the top of your shopping list. It has a circular blade with sharp teeth that tear through the wood. Circular saw blades come in three types:

• Ripping blades for cutting material lengthwise along the grain.
• Crosscut blades for sawing across the grain.
• Combination blades that are designed for both ripping and crosscutting.

If budget is a concern, invest in one good combination blade fitted with carbide teeth.

Jigsaws are designed to make intricate cuts that can be straight, curved or serpentine-like the lines in a jigsaw puzzle. Instead of revolving blades like the circular saw, jigsaws cut with a back and forth or up and down motion. Fine-tooth blades are used for sawing veneers, whereas coarse tooth-blades are for rough and fast work. Jigsaws are easily operated with one hand, allowing you to hold your work with your other hand. They are great for cutting small, intricate pieces, for instance, interior cuts like an inner circle or rectangle.

Compound mitre saws make accurate cuts for mitres, bevels and compound angles. Practically a compound mitre saw can cut any series of angles. They are available in models with sliding arms that extend cut lengths. Their power heads tilt to each side, allowing for a combination of mitre and bevel cuts.

Table saws are great at producing cuts that aren’t easily achieved with other saw types. They look like upside down circular saws where the blade is exposed from below the work surface or saw table. Blade angles and depth are easily adjusted for precision.

Bandsaws are a combination of circular and sabre saws, with teeth fixed on a continuously looped, flat steel band revolving around lower and upper pulleys. A flat table is mounted between the pulleys that tilt for angled cuts. Bandsaws are ideal for ripping rough stock or making intricate curved cuts.

Handsaws are simple and easy to use for quick work or where detailed, precision cuts are required. They are lightweight with no clumsy cords or batteries that die, and they’re inexpensive. In addition, a sharp blade with excellent teeth can cut wood nearly as fast and accurate as an electric saw.

• Ripping handsaws are used for cutting with the wood grain.
• Crosscut handsaws cut across the wood grain.
• Combination handsaws can do crosscuts and rips.
• Backsaws have rectangular blades with braced backs for mitre cuts.
• Carcase handsaws are bigger and stronger backsaws.
• Coping handsaws are like jigsaws and bandsaws for curved cuts.
• Dovetail handsaws are ideal for fine dovetail joint work.
• Keyhole handsaws are made to cut interior holes.

Measuring

Make sure to measure carefully before you start cutting. The old woodworker’s adage of ‘measure twice and cut once’ is good advice. Another useful tip is to buy good quality measuring equipment that is accurate and easy to read.

Good squares let you verify and create all sorts of angles. Many squares also have measuring markings engraved on the surface, so they can double as measuring rules.

Dividers, compasses and depth gauges are simple and invaluable woodworking tools which belong to the family of measuring tapes and rules.

• Retractable steel tapes are the most common measuring tools and come in different lengths.
• Folding rules are highly accurate rigid measuring sticks that fold into sections.
• Yardsticks and straight edges are handy for quick take-offs and laying straight lines.

Finishing tools

Planes and thicknessers are cutting tools that use a fixed blade to shave off wood fibres, letting them take shape and become progressively thinner and smoother. Blade depth and size are the key variables in how much material can be removed at a time.

Random orbital sanders are fast-action wood-finishing tools that take the strain out of hand sanding and do the job a lot faster. Regular orbital sanders use sandpaper pads spinning in a circle, which tends to leave swirl marks that are hard to remove. Random orbital sanders oscillate in a random manner leaving the wood surface smooth and free of marks.

Hand files and rasps are used to shape and smooth wood. They are inexpensive and last a long time if you buy ones made with quality steel. However, once dull, it’s best to replace hand files rather than trying to sharpen them.

Assembly

Once the project components are correctly sized and smooth enough for finishes, they must be assembled. You will need precision joints that fit and the right tools to assemble and securely fasten them.

Woodworking hammers need to perform two functions – to pound and to pry. There are dozens of different types, but these are the main ones you should buy as a beginner:

• Finishing hammers are all-purpose, so this should be your first purchase.
• Tack hammers are for small work and usually have two different head sizes with no claws.

Mallets have large leather or wooden heads and detachable handles to accommodate various head sizes. The difference between mallets and hammers is their striking shock and surface impression. Mallets are far softer than hammers and absorb shock rather than deliver it. They also leave minimal striking marks, so they are ideal for tapping wood joints together. Shock from steel hammers causes chisels to stab at the wood, leaving rough finishes. Using a mallet allows chisels to slice smoothly through wood with consistent pressure.

Electric power drills are not only for drilling holes. You can buy different types of attachments to turn your electric drill into other tools. For your first power drill, consider getting a corded model, which will have considerably more torque and will last longer than a cordless drill.

A powered screw gun makes driving screws faster and simpler, especially with jobs with multiple screws. Screw guns are similar to power drills, and most are now cordless.

A selection of clamps in various sizes is essential for holding components in position while fastening.

Quality

Whatever hand tools and power tools you buy, always get the best quality you can afford. Even if you don’t intend to make money out of your woodworking skills, top quality tools are a pleasure to work with. They will also outlast most cheaper tools, so you will almost certainly end up saving money in the long term.

Writer : Sarah-Jane Meyer