The top 5 Best Tools to Get You Started with a Home woodwork DIY Projects

We will be going through some of the fundamental tools and their uses for anyone interested in having at least some basic knowledge of working with wood.

19/08/2019

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Most often, when we see well-designed furniture or a well-crafted piece of woodwork. We are usually engulfed in the wonder of how such a bit came about.

But little do we know of the time, dedication, skill, and effort put into that piece of furniture to bring it to life.

The use of wood for making furniture, buildings, bridges---and even using it to make a fire, has been a tradition as old as the existence of humanity.

And over the years, as we humans have evolved, so have the tools and skills required to keep up with the ever-changing trends changed.

The need for better-crafted furniture keeps skyrocketing, and this has made the furniture industry to become a very lucrative one, but with one catch.

There are not enough people with the skill required to meet up with the demand, especially since most jobs out there demands that you sit on a desk with a screen all day.

It is not as if there aren't folks out there with a burning desire to acquire such skills either as a hobby or as a profession. But the methodology or process of starting seems very overwhelming.

Whichever the category you find yourself---there is something for you in this article. We will be going through some of the fundamental tools and their uses for anyone interested in having at least some basic knowledge of working with wood.

The significant challenge, facing newbies and even some so-called professionals within the carpentry industry is usually the choice of what tools to buy or the quality of the instruments.

Another Issue facing aspiring carpenters is that of skill-building. They are usually in confusion as regards which exercises or projects are suitable for sharpening the skills of an aspiring woodworker.

You don't need to go all out in buying big or different machines when starting in woodworking. The best thing you can do for yourself as a beginner is to start with hand tools you can use at home.

And here is why: the use of hand tools when working with wood can be an absolute pleasure. It is an activity that has the combo of both freehand shaping with accurate joinery and pleasurable exertion with self-expression.

It is, however, important to note that while hand tools can be pleasurable to work with, it requires a lot of effort, practice, consistency, and for some, trial and error.

So back to where and how to acquire some set of hand tools. Well, thanks to technology and the internet that has made the world a global village, in which we can now seek tools online. We can now source for quality hand tools online. A good example of such an internet space for quality products is Homethods.

Combination Square

If you have ever attended woodworking schools or boot camps, the first few days or weeks are spent with experimenting with different essential hand tools like a saw, chisel, etc. and various layout tools.

It doesn't take very long before you discover that the combo square is perhaps or arguably the most important of them all.
And this tool is exceptionally useful because it can be used for layering out joinery, or for looking to see if the corners of a case are square.

They are also invaluable in discovering why a joint won't clamp together of close up without gaps. It can also be used to check how precise a joint is, after an assembly. If you are able to go through the grueling pain of learning to master this tool---you will find that you will have a better outcome with your jobs.

Stud Finder

You might be wondering what and why a stud finder is on this list? Well, this a device used in finding frame studs beneath the final and finished surface of a wooden wall. And it is included on this list because as soon as you start getting used to working with wood, you will have to start earning money for yourself which will most likely be at building sites----and we all know that drywall is inevitable in home buildings.

They are mainly classed into two types, which are: magnetic type and the electronic stud finders. The first series that were invented were the magnetic types that work by tracing the frame using a magnetic field within the stud-finder in locating the nails or metal straps attached to the studs within the wall.

Following the magnetic stud finder was the electronic and radar sensitive stud finder with sensors that make a precise form of the image behind the wall.

Cabinet Scraper

A cabinet scraper is similar to the popular card scraper but differs in its function, in that, it is a rougher tool used to remove tear out or machine marks made by jointer, planer, and tracks left behind by hand planes before the penultimate surface preparation using a sandpaper or a card scraper.

It can best be described as a wacky tool, even though the blades looks like a card scraper and cuts with a hook, it is a tard thicker and mounted in a body very close in looks to the spokeshave.

The sole is bigger than that of a spokeshave though but has an advantage to it. The larger sole prevents you from making a divot, which can usually happen with a card scraper if one concentrates too much on any one spot----owing to the fact that it forces you to work a wider area of a surface.

Cutting Gauge

This is one tool that every woodworker should have in their possession because tight joints begin with a crisp, and precise layout. This is the reason why a cut line is much better than a pencil line for most layout activity.

Many carpenters make use of a knife and square for most layout jobs, but you will find that a guage is more efficient and accurate.

There are three main gauges used for woodworking, they are: Marking gauge, the mortise gauge, and the cutting gauge.

The marking and mortise gauges uses a pointed pin to scribe lines with the grain, while cutting gauges has a knifelike blade that cuts fibres across the grain.

Japanese handplanes

This tool is a very controversial one, in that, there has been a bit of a contention as whether it is necessary for a beginner. But the truth be told, it is not an easy tool to get accustomed to, but if you have the dedication and tenacity to be skilled in the use of this tool---then you will be greatly rewarded.

The benefit of a shimmering surface which this Japanese tool creates is a very gratifying one.

Japanese planes cut on the pull stroke, and it can take a while to get used to this, but when you eventually do, you will discover it gives you more power and more control.

The only downside to this tool---I won’t use the word downside---but rather, the main challenge with this tool is that it doesn’t come out of the box ready to use.

In totality, learning to become good at any pursuit in life requires consistent practise and dedication. The same goes for woodworking. Unfortunately you will find that most carpenters shun practise, and this is why there is a shortage of skill that we talked about earlier on. You need to practise with much discipline until the tools become an extension of yourself. Not only that, practise reinforces muscle memory, letting you perform those carpentry tasks with ease turning them to basic elements of technique.

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