Wood projects can be challenging but rewarding. Many people like woodworking as a hobby or profession, but others hesitate to get started because they feel intimidated by the prospect of creating something from scratch. Building a shed, table or other woodworking project is easy, but it takes time to learn the basics and have a good understanding of woodworking terminology and techniques. With a good set of plans, you’ll have an easier time of it.
Getting the Right Woodworking Tools and Materials
Before starting any DIY wood projects, it’s important to be prepared with the right tools and material in hand. It’s also extremely important to take the time to research your chosen woodworking plan. It’s helpful to browse free woodworking plans in online resources. You can find them as printable PDF files, in magazine publications or as part of a free wood project guide. You may also want to read woodworking forums online to see what other people are making. This will give you an idea of the basic steps you’ll need to take.
When choosing your DIY plans, try to choose something you’ll enjoy for years to come. Look for plans with complete step-by-step instructions, clear illustrations and accurate measurements. If you can’t find any free plans available, there are several sources for professionally drawn plans. These can be especially useful if you’re not very familiar with woodworking. They’ll show you what needs to be done and provide you with clear images and easy-to-follow instructions.
Start with Smaller Wood Projects, then Upscale
Choose a plan that won’t require a lot of cutting, measuring and shaping, so you won’t be spending a lot of time on this task. It’s often tempting to think you’ll be able to build a complex project from a large set of plans, but you may end up wasting your time. A plan with simple drawings and detailed instructions should be enough to help you get started with any DIY project.
Woodworking projects can take a lot of different forms. Some people turn their hobby into a business; others use it as a way to create an income. Regardless of why you want to use woodworking plans, you need to choose a plan that suits your specific needs. The number of tools you need will depend on how much work you want to do. The type of wood and type of project will also determine the number of materials you need. Plan types include portable, pre-cut, closed cell and portable veneer plans.
Limited Space Woodworking
Portable woodworking plans are designed for people who are comfortable working in a limited space. You’ll need a table to work on your projects on, many different sizes of hand tools including a table saw and drill, and a few small items such as screws and nails. You’ll also need a large supply of wood, veneer or other type of material, hammer and nails, saw blades, and other specialty tools. If you’re just beginning in woodworking, you’ll likely start with a portable plan. As you get better at making things out of wood, you’ll probably move up to pre-cut plans.
Closed cell plans are similar to portable plans, except they’ll come with smaller sizes of items. You’ll still need plenty of small hand tools, a table to work on your project on, and some type of protective covering. You’ll probably also want to buy a supply of veneer or other wood veneer. You may want to buy a couple of these plans so that you have a back-up plan if the first one doesn’t produce what you wanted. Many of the plans available in stores will only show the front of the project and not the back.
Your best bet for finding a quality wood projects plan is to go to a website that offers a free trial period. This allows you to try out their plans and see if they’ll help you make your dream woodworking project. You can use a site like Scratchorkills to find a lot of great wood projects that you can work on from home.