Home-Dzine - Guide to woodworking and working with wood

Working with Timber & Board

	Reclaimed railways sleepers for a coffee table I was lucky enough to uncover a whole pile of Rhodesian Teak railways sleepers that someone had been using for garden steps and was throwing away. Throwing away - who throws away Rhodesian Teak...! Having now seen this project I so wish I had put them aside to make this coffee table.
	Furniture ideas using reclaimed timber or wood It's not only timber pallets that come in handy as a source of reclaimed timber. You can also find packing crates, wine crates, old flooring, timber fencing and other sources of reclaimed timber that are an excellent source of wood for DIY projects. Here are a few stunning projects using reclaimed timber...
	Uses for pruned branches I love these coat racks or hangers with wood slices. They look rustic and contemporary at the same time. Unfortunately I used up all my supply of branches for other projects, so will have to wait for winter before I can chop off some more. Here's how to make your own coat rack with wood slices...
	Hardwoods and exotic woods in SA While it's affordable to use pine and PG Bison SupaWood for a variety of projects, there comes a time when you need a hardwood or exotic wood to craft a piece that will become a vintage or heritage piece. A project that requires a special wood for a special task.
	Use liming wax for interior and exterior wood Wooden doors, floors and furniture can be transformed by the simple chalky tones of liming wax. Liming has long been used as a traditional finish on exposed timbers, floorboards and furniture. Inside the home, limed wood has mild antiseptic properties so was favoured for hygienic reasons.
	Eco-friendly products for wood care As we look for eco-friendly products to use in and around the home, it's encouraging to know there are manufacturers that continue to strive for this goal. Plascon is one of those manufacturers, and the new Plascon Woodcare range is proof that you don't have to compromise on quality when using eco-friendly Woodcare products.
	Techniques for finishing wood There are so many finishing techniques that you can use for wood, whether you are starting a project with new wood, or giving old wood furniture a revamp. Techniques for finishing wood can range from a high-gloss painted finish to a finish that is more rustic or natural.
	Restore vintage furniture Over the years, an old piece picks up many layers of wax polish. Even regular furniture polish leaves deposits on the surface. As wax polish ages it becomes opaque... dulling the surface and hiding the true beauty of the wood grain or veneer. To remove built up layers of wax polish, use mineral turpentine and a soft cloth to repeatedly wipe over the finish.
	Add curb appeal and architectural interest Exterior home improvements can be costly and time consuming, but here's how to transform a front porch from blah to blow-me-away with a simple DIY slat screen that offers shade and architectural interest. You will find all the supplies you need for this project at your local Builders Warehouse.
	Stain and seal garden table with Woodoc I recently completed a garden table project for Easy DIY magazine (keep an eye out for this issue). Having been inspired by the guys at Far Out Flora, who used reclaimed timber for their garden table, I wanted a more formal design for the garden, not to mention that I seem to have run out of reclaimed timber for the time being!
	How to finish wood trim It's so easy to give woodwork and trim a smooth, satiny finish every time with this simple three-day process. And you don't need expensive tools, special knowledge or skills to get a flawless finish - just sand, stain, seal and finish.
	Is there a way to sand faster? Sanding can be laborious and time consuming. Whilst it's an essential part of the process there's no denying that sanding is boring!
	What are the different ways to join wood When making your own furniture, or designing projects for a home, there are several ways to joint timber and board products. Knowing and understanding the various joints that can be used will help you design and assemble lasting projects.
	Faux wood grain on SupaWood To make boring SupaWood look like real wood, try woodgraining the surface. This used to be a job for the experts, but now anybody can achieve great results with the new range of finishes.
	How to apply edge to plywood As one of the more affordable ways to build a project, plywood does have its drawbacks. One of those is the fact that not everyone wants to see the raw edge. In this project we show you how to add a pine strip to plywood board, so that your shelves or cabinets have a neat and attractive finished edge.
	What hinge? Consider the fact that most hinges are designed for specific applications. By defining the exact use for your hinge you can rule out a large percentage.
	Carving wood with Dremel If you own a Dremel Rotary Tool, you can easily transform a plain piece into something unique. In this feature I'm not going to show you how to make the cabinet, but rather how easy it is to use a Dremel MultiTool for carving.
	Wood full of holes? The name may cause some confusion]. But confusion aside, woodworm can cause extensive damage to your home and furniture if left untreated.
	Sand, stain and seal hardwood floor This weekend our major goal was to re-finish the wood floors that are in pretty rough shape and covered with water stains, scuffs and scratches.
	Stain and seal raw pine furniture How to give new, inexpensive pine furniture an antique finish for a fraction of the cost than store pre-sealed - if you do-it-yourself.
	Furniture makeovers for love and money A South African living overseas has established a business where she can continue with her love for furniture and start a small business.
	Antique chair repaired Reader, Wendy Craig, tackles an intricately detailed chair and shows us the before and after.
	Quick fixes for wood touch ups No matter how carefully you look after your furniture, there will come a time when you need to fix up scratches, stains, burns or wear. Here’s what you can do about it:

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	Recycle old pallets If you ever come across the opportunity to pick up a few pallets take a look at some of the ideas I have come across for recycling old pallets into furniture and other practical and decorative pieces.
	Protect exterior timber Any timber surface exposed to the elements will age with time. Timber becomes dull and, if not carefully maintained, moisture penetrates and damages the wood.
	Keep your front door looking good Strip off that old varnish and give your doors some Woodoc loving for the care and attention they deserve.
	Extra protection for wood Sometimes wood surfaces need a little bit of extra protection. Protect coffee tables, sideboards and dining tables from everyday wear with a touch of Woodoc.
	Woodoc gel stain Get a high-end look for less with an easy-to-do gel stain process for wooden furniture. With 6 colours and 6 wood tints to choose from, gel stains allow you to be far more creative without the mess.
	Restore antiques While restoring a genuine antique is usually a job for a professional, it is possible to tackle wear and tear on everyday items yourself. You only need a few materials and supplies to do a project that will restore your furniture to good condition.
	Repair scratched wood The minor nicks, scuffs and hairline scratches that come with everyday wear and tear is one thing. But a water ring, an alcohol stain or a deep unsightly scratch can be relatively easy to repair without resorting to removing the finish.
	Makeover a front door Strip off that old varnish and give your doors some Woodoc loving for the care and attention they deserve.
	Restore dining table I love the rustic, farmhouse feel of this table. The more wear and tear it receives the better it will look. What I love even more is that it reminds me of something I might see in an expensive furniture store and I probably paid a fraction of the price!
	Easy coffee table This coffee table is so easy to make you can knock it together in an hour if you already have the timber cut to size. There are no measure-ments - you can make the table as small, or as large, as required.

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	Revamp secondhand Although some cringe at the thought of painting wood, not everyone's taste is the same. I like both wood and painted pieces - especially distressed furniture - as I think it transforms an old and dated piece into something beautiful and functional once again.
	Refinish a door If you have an older home that still has solid hardwood doors, you may prefer to bring the doors back to life rather than replace.
	Touch up wood Does your wood furniture need some TLC, or perhaps you want to restore an antique piece. Here are some wood repair tricks you can easily tackle as a do-it-yourself project.
	Makeover pine bookcase This project shows you how to take a plain, raw pine bookcase and - using paint techniques and a bit of DIY savve - transform it into a piece of furniture you'll be proud to have on display in a home.
	Hardwood or softwood Do you know the difference between hardwood and softwood? Or why it is essential to let wood settle in before you use it?
	Veneer or laminate Many DIY enthusiasts often confuse the terms laminate and veneer. Veneers consists of thin section of various wood types, whereas laminate is the application of papers or plastics to the surface of board products or cheaper woods.
	Restore chest of drawers White rings, stains, chips, dents and scratches. All of these can occur over time as a result of everyday wear and tear and accidents.
	Restore with Woodoc gel stain Now you can have some fun with wood and Woodoc Gel Stain. Available in six bright colours and six traditional wood tints, Woodoc Gel Stain is so easy to use, and there are so many ways to use it.
	Repair rotten wood When old timber becomes worn or rots away, reach for Alcolin QuikWood. This epoxy is made up of two components that harden when mixed together.
	Hang a new door With two grown-up teenagers I know how easy it can be to damage a door, especially if you have boisterous boys in the house. Patching up the door isn't a good idea and it is fairly easy to replace.

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	Paint on wood If you have painted timber that needs a facelift you need to prepare it properly – here are some guidelines.
	Common joints If you're new to DIY then chances are you're pretty confused by all the terminology out there. Here's a quick breakdown on the various jointing methods.
	Penetrating oil and wax To maintain, restore and bring out the natural beauty of wood grain, a penetrating oil or antique wax is preferable to any other type of finish as part of a maintenance programme for wood.
	Care for butchers block Butcher blocks should be finished regularly with a mineral oil and a beeswax coating to maintain their beauty and keep the wood from warping and cracking.
	How to use dowel centres If you don't own a dowelling jig, dowel centres are used to match up drilled holes to accept dowels for joining wood together.
	Woodoc gel stains Get a high-end look for less with an easy-to-do gel stain process for wooden furniture. With 6 colours and 6 wood tints to choose from, gel stains allow you to be far more creative without the mess.
	Paint interior doors It's not necessary to remove a door in order to paint it, although the advantage of laying it flat is obvious - no chance of paint runs. But the job is bound to take much longer since you will have to wait for the door to dry completely before painting the other side!

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Working with Timber & Board

I was lucky enough to uncover a whole pile of Rhodesian Teak railways sleepers that someone had been using for garden steps and was throwing away. Throwing away - who throws away Rhodesian Teak...! Having now seen this project I so wish I had put them aside to make this coffee table.

I love these coat racks or hangers with wood slices. They look rustic and contemporary at the same time. Unfortunately I used up all my supply of branches for other projects, so will have to wait for winter before I can chop off some more. Here's how to make your own coat rack with wood slices...

While it's affordable to use pine and PG Bison SupaWood for a variety of projects, there comes a time when you need a hardwood or exotic wood to craft a piece that will become a vintage or heritage piece. A project that requires a special wood for a special task.

Wooden doors, floors and furniture can be transformed by the simple chalky tones of liming wax. Liming has long been used as a traditional finish on exposed timbers, floorboards and furniture. Inside the home, limed wood has mild antiseptic properties so was favoured for hygienic reasons.

There are so many finishing techniques that you can use for wood, whether you are starting a project with new wood, or giving old wood furniture a revamp. Techniques for finishing wood can range from a high-gloss painted finish to a finish that is more rustic or natural.

Exterior home improvements can be costly and time consuming, but here's how to transform a front porch from blah to blow-me-away with a simple DIY slat screen that offers shade and architectural interest. You will find all the supplies you need for this project at your local Builders Warehouse.

It's so easy to give woodwork and trim a smooth, satiny finish every time with this simple three-day process. And you don't need expensive tools, special knowledge or skills to get a flawless finish - just sand, stain, seal and finish.

Sanding can be laborious and time consuming. Whilst it's an essential part of the process there's no denying that sanding is boring!

When making your own furniture, or designing projects for a home, there are several ways to joint timber and board products. Knowing and understanding the various joints that can be used will help you design and assemble lasting projects.

To make boring SupaWood look like real wood, try woodgraining the surface. This used to be a job for the experts, but now anybody can achieve great results with the new range of finishes.

Consider the fact that most hinges are designed for specific applications. By defining the exact use for your hinge you can rule out a large percentage.

If you own a Dremel Rotary Tool, you can easily transform a plain piece into something unique. In this feature I'm not going to show you how to make the cabinet, but rather how easy it is to use a Dremel MultiTool for carving.

The name may cause some confusion]. But confusion aside, woodworm can cause extensive damage to your home and furniture if left untreated.

This weekend our major goal was to re-finish the wood floors that are in pretty rough shape and covered with water stains, scuffs and scratches.

How to give new, inexpensive pine furniture an antique finish for a fraction of the cost than store pre-sealed - if you do-it-yourself.

A South African living overseas has established a business where she can continue with her love for furniture and start a small business.

Reader, Wendy Craig, tackles an intricately detailed chair and shows us the before and after.

No matter how carefully you look after your furniture, there will come a time when you need to fix up scratches, stains, burns or wear. Here’s what you can do about it:

If you ever come across the opportunity to pick up a few pallets take a look at some of the ideas I have come across for recycling old pallets into furniture and other practical and decorative pieces.

Any timber surface exposed to the elements will age with time. Timber becomes dull and, if not carefully maintained, moisture penetrates and damages the wood.

Strip off that old varnish and give your doors some Woodoc loving for the care and attention they deserve.

Sometimes wood surfaces need a little bit of extra protection. Protect coffee tables, sideboards and dining tables from everyday wear with a touch of Woodoc.

Get a high-end look for less with an easy-to-do gel stain process for wooden furniture. With 6 colours and 6 wood tints to choose from, gel stains allow you to be far more creative without the mess.

While restoring a genuine antique is usually a job for a professional, it is possible to tackle wear and tear on everyday items yourself. You only need a few materials and supplies to do a project that will restore your furniture to good condition.

The minor nicks, scuffs and hairline scratches that come with everyday wear and tear is one thing. But a water ring, an alcohol stain or a deep unsightly scratch can be relatively easy to repair without resorting to removing the finish.

Strip off that old varnish and give your doors some Woodoc loving for the care and attention they deserve.

I love the rustic, farmhouse feel of this table. The more wear and tear it receives the better it will look. What I love even more is that it reminds me of something I might see in an expensive furniture store and I probably paid a fraction of the price!

This coffee table is so easy to make you can knock it together in an hour if you already have the timber cut to size. There are no measure-ments - you can make the table as small, or as large, as required.

Although some cringe at the thought of painting wood, not everyone's taste is the same. I like both wood and painted pieces - especially distressed furniture - as I think it transforms an old and dated piece into something beautiful and functional once again.

If you have an older home that still has solid hardwood doors, you may prefer to bring the doors back to life rather than replace.

Does your wood furniture need some TLC, or perhaps you want to restore an antique piece. Here are some wood repair tricks you can easily tackle as a do-it-yourself project.

This project shows you how to take a plain, raw pine bookcase and - using paint techniques and a bit of DIY savve - transform it into a piece of furniture you'll be proud to have on display in a home.

Do you know the difference between hardwood and softwood? Or why it is essential to let wood settle in before you use it?

Many DIY enthusiasts often confuse the terms laminate and veneer. Veneers consists of thin section of various wood types, whereas laminate is the application of papers or plastics to the surface of board products or cheaper woods.

White rings, stains, chips, dents and scratches. All of these can occur over time as a result of everyday wear and tear and accidents.

Now you can have some fun with wood and Woodoc Gel Stain. Available in six bright colours and six traditional wood tints, Woodoc Gel Stain is so easy to use, and there are so many ways to use it.

When old timber becomes worn or rots away, reach for Alcolin QuikWood. This epoxy is made up of two components that harden when mixed together.

With two grown-up teenagers I know how easy it can be to damage a door, especially if you have boisterous boys in the house. Patching up the door isn't a good idea and it is fairly easy to replace.

If you have painted timber that needs a facelift you need to prepare it properly – here are some guidelines.

If you're new to DIY then chances are you're pretty confused by all the terminology out there. Here's a quick breakdown on the various jointing methods.

To maintain, restore and bring out the natural beauty of wood grain, a penetrating oil or antique wax is preferable to any other type of finish as part of a maintenance programme for wood.

Butcher blocks should be finished regularly with a mineral oil and a beeswax coating to maintain their beauty and keep the wood from warping and cracking.

If you don't own a dowelling jig, dowel centres are used to match up drilled holes to accept dowels for joining wood together.

Get a high-end look for less with an easy-to-do gel stain process for wooden furniture. With 6 colours and 6 wood tints to choose from, gel stains allow you to be far more creative without the mess.

It's not necessary to remove a door in order to paint it, although the advantage of laying it flat is obvious - no chance of paint runs. But the job is bound to take much longer since you will have to wait for the door to dry completely before painting the other side!

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