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Woodworking Tools: Right Selection And Care Will Save You
Money, Part 6
Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 6 - Finishing
Equipment
A civilization's maturity and intelligence is judged, in part,
by the diversity and sophistication of its tools. When it comes
to woodworking, the human race is quite advanced. There are
general tools that work well in many situations, and there are
specialty tools made for one specific purpose. There are tools
that require only manpower and a rudimentary knowledge, and
others that utilize computer programs, a wide range of knowledge,
and a powerful motor. We have even learned how to harness power
for our tools and package it in a small battery component, giving
us the freedom to take our tools wherever we need them.
It is truly amazing and wonderful to contemplate the vast
number of tools and all that woodworkers are capable of doing and
creating with the help of these tools. And for many people,
working with tools is one of the thrills, or even obsessions, of
woodworking.
Woodworking and related tools have become so popular that
there are numerous companies that manufacture these tools and
thousands of places to purchase them. Combine that with the vast
numbers of different types of tools and it can get overwhelming,
especially if you are new to woodworking. Our experts helped us
focus on the basics to develop an overview of those tools needed
to get a good start in woodworking.
In the most basic terms, a woodworker needs four kinds of
tools. They need a place to work, tools for cutting and shaping,
tools for assembly, and finishing equipment. This simple
statement provides the basis for the following discussion of
woodworking tools.
The tools listed and described here represent just the tip of
the iceberg. In keeping with the philosophy that it is best to
learn the basics first, and to not invest large sums of money
until a person is certain that they have an ongoing interest in
woodworking, the emphasis is on hand tools, with a few basic
power tools thrown in. These tools should prepare you for a
variety of beginner projects and give you a solid foundation of
equipment and knowledge to build upon.
Finishing Equipment
In order to achieve a smooth finished look, add color to a piece,
or protect wood from damage, you will need to apply some
finishing techniques. Possibilities include sandpaper and steel
wool for smoothing and polishing, as well as stains, paints,
polyurethane and other coatings. In addition, you can use power
tools to sand, buff, and provide finishing touches.
Sandpapers come in different grades of coarseness, with finer
materials used on delicate, final stages of the work. For many
beginner projects, you will not need anything more than a few
different grades of sandpaper. A variety pack with approximately
10 sheets can be purchased for under $5. A sanding block may make
it easier to hold and maneuver the paper.
There are a large variety of stains and sealants as well. Some
have no color and simply protect the wood or add a glossy finish,
while others enhance or even change the color of the wood.
Because of the differences in grain, stain absorbs differently in
each type of wood. Some darken across the entire surface, while
in others the grain becomes highly visible in contrast to the
rest of the surface. It can be fun to experiment with different
finishes.
At the beginner level, the equipment for finishing is not
complicated. Often the most challenging part is working safely
with the stains and sealants. These products are usually
flammable and can be harmful if inhaled in excess. You will need
a ventilated area and a safe place to store or dispose of
leftovers. In addition, rubber gloves are recommended when
applying the products. And it is a good idea to cover surrounding
surfaces with newspaper. Stain is virtually impossible to remove
once it soaks in.
Tool Summary
This completes part 6 of the condensed overview of some of the
tools that are commonly used in beginning woodworking projects.
As you can see, this topic could and has provided the content for
entire volumes of books and in order to fully understand the
possibilities in woodworking and create quality projects, it is
critical that you develop a more in-depth knowledge of the tools
you plan to use.
It is also important to note again that each type of tool has
its own care and maintenance needs that are often more specific
than what has been touched on here. The details have been left
out of this book to avoid overwhelming someone who is brand new
to woodworking. However, their omission does not mean they aren't
important.
"Failing to care for your tools is ridiculous from a financial
standpoint," stated shop teacher, Kevin Warner. "Why spend $20 on
a good quality handsaw or clamp and then allow it to go dull or
rust? Not only will you loose money, your work will suffer
because your tools won't perform as intended. And it will take
you more time in the long run. Taking good care of your tools is
one of the first steps in becoming a serious woodworker."
Copyright © 2005 by Ferhat Gul. All rights reserved. You
may redistribute this article in its unedited entirety, including
this resource box, with all hyperlinked URLs kept intact.
Ferhat Gul is the publisher of the brand-new "Woodworking
Beginner's Guide - Tips From Experienced Woodworkers to Help You
Get Started", made just for people who love woodworking.
This comprehensive, yet compact woodworking introduction for
beginners is easy to read and helps to save time, money and
effort.
 MORE RESOURCES updated Tue. September / 26 / 2023
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