Starting out in any craft, including woodworking, is full of hope, excitement, and bewilderment — to a certain degree. But it helps to have some guidance in your quest to put your hands, mind, and heart into building things. Learn to work smarter, not harder; sure we’ve all heard that adage somewhere. Here are some tips to help make your work a little easier and increase efficiency.
Use a sandpaper for easier sanding. A power sander may seem like the best tool for sanding wood, but it has its downsides. With high quality sandpaper and some special tools, sanding woodwork doesn’t have to be a chore anymore. A sandpaper can get into places the power sander can’t, doesn’t produce as much dust, and its quieter.
Know your woods moisture content for each piece of wood you will be using. Incorrect moisture content is responsible for 80 percent of woodworking problems. Too moist wood leads to shrinking or warping. Too dry, the final product will crack or swell.
For woodworking, avoid drywall screws. For better results, use traditional wood screws. Drywall screws, because of how they are made, can lead to problems when screwed into hardwood. Traditional wood screws are break resistant, softer metal, and thicker than drywall screws.
Achieving efficiency in woodwork helps you work easier and faster. On top of that, it also improves your productivity. When you can work faster and are more productive in your work, you will feel more accomplished and satisfied.