Carved Rocking Horse an Enticing Woodwork Project

Expert woodworker Frederick Corrigan has written a great article describing a woodwork project in which he chopped down a tree, cut and aged the lumber, designed a carved rocking horse and then built the project from start to finish  Frederick's young granddaughter became the lucky recipient of this item which is bound to become a family heirloom.

That is the beauty of hand crafted woodworking. The end result is something that cannot be purchased . The value lies in the craftsmanship as well as in the sentimental components associated with knowing you did it yourself, or that your doting grandfather made it for you!

The complete article, including four photographs, are at this link:  Woodcarving: from Tree to Rocking Horse.

Woodwork: Modern Machinery or Hand Tools?

Is it better, somehow, for diy woodworkers to use hand tools or modern machinery?

Seemingly there is a controversy around this topic. Some artisans believe that hand made projects are the scope of a true woodworker and that is it somehow "cheating" or less good to accomplish projects using machinery. They point to the woodworkers of yore who created amazing works of art by hand.

On the other hand, other woodworkers point out that the woodworkers of olden days were using the most modern tools available to them at the time, so today's woodworker is justified in doing the same.

There's quite a discussion about this topic here and there on the Net.

In the meantime, the link below goes to a good video. It's the first in a series of three that shows a woodworker making an oak blanket chest. Take note of the discussion underneath the video

http://worldtouristdestination.com/lifestyle/woodworking-howto-oak-blanket-chest-part-1-of-3/94416/

DIY Woodworking Requires Good Woodworking Plans

Some woodworkers know how to draw their own woodworking plans.  Others, especially the less experienced, prefer to start out with a good set of plans that someone else has used successfully.

  If you are new to woodworking and enthusiastic about learning this wonderful craft, then you need to know that it is not as easy as falling off a log.

  Sure, it looks easy when experienced woodworkers do it.  Let's be honest here. Anything looks easy once you know how – and the pros that you see turning out wonderful items have usually acquired years of experience under their belt.

  For the rest of us, there are skills to be learned, and undoubtedly there are mistakes to be made before you become skilled at what you are doing.

  It's fun, though, and well worth the effort.  The learning curve does tend to be a smaller one, though, if you have some help and guidance along the way.

  If you're not lucky enough to have an accomplished woodworker in your family or in your circle of friends, do not despair. You can still find the help you need on the Internet.

Woodworking Resources on the Net
 
The Internet is a wealth of information.  You can find plans, blueprints, how to's, videos and forums where people ask questions and get answers. Nobody is suggesting it's as good as having a professional woodworker standing by your side and mentoring you at every step – but who knows, perhaps that would get tiresome after awhile anyway.

  When you decide to use plans or blueprints that you have found on the Internet, it is important to find a source that is reliable and trustworthy. The Internet has much to offer – but not all of it is valuable. Some plans and information that you find will be useless at best and at worst will lead you to wasting time and money on poorly created plans.

  Another consideration is the complexity of the plans. Some otherwise good plans are created for the experienced woodworkers.  The projects are fine – but the instructions may be unsuitable for beginners.  These plans tend to assume that anyone reading them is experienced enough to figure out the steps that are missing.

  You will learn the woodworking craft at a much faster pace, and have more fun doing it, if you work with tested plans that are complete and suitable for newcomers.

  Woodworking Magazines

Another approach is to use a woodworking magazine. Many are available on the newsstands or you can subscribe to them. For the most part, the DIY info that you find in woodwork magazines is accurate and simple to use. You are likely to be satisfied with your project if you follow the instructions fully.  The down side to using a magazine is that subscribing is likely to be more costly than using plans you find online, and some issues may not contain projects that interest you.

  The other disadvantage to finding plans in woodworking magazines is that you are less likely to find the sort of plan you want. If, for example, you want to make a rocking horse, you may not find such a plan in your magazine – but you are quite likely to find rocking horse plans on the Net.

  Using Hand Tools Safely

If you are a beginner, you must also remember that it is advisable to begin with simple projects that can be done with hand tools.  If you are new, you probably do not want to run out and buy power tools for your first effort.

 
You must also learn how to handle your hand tools and how to use them safely. Once you have mastered the use of hand tools, you can then move on to using heavier tools.  But do be sure to learn and follow all safety practices before you advance to the power toys.

  Search around the Net and look for plans that are reliable. Undoubtedly you will find good resources for newbies to the woodworking craft, as well as sites selling and explaining the use of various hand tools.

  If you start now, a few short years from now you might well be creating woodwork projects that will be treasured additions to your home.

Picking the Best Wood for your Woodwork Projects

Any woodwork project involves woodworking supplies, which includes of course your tools and the wood you will use.

Choosing the wood you want to use for your project is a key component to ending up with a project that pleases you.  Deciding on the best wood prior to beginning the project is also likely to save you time, money and frustration.

If you have a set of plans, it should include a materials list.  If you are going to wing it by designing your own plans, then you will create your own materials list, which includes the wood you will use.

When deciding on your project, you will need to decide first between hard wood or softwood. Softwood is the wood from conifers. It includes most evergreen trees, other than larch and bald cyprus.  Hardwood is a term used to describe angiosperm trees and includes woods such as oak, cherry, maple, birch, etc.

Despite the names, softwood is not necessarily softer than hardwood and hardwood is not necessarily harder than softwood. There is a huge variation in softness among the various trees in each category.  However, softwood is generally easier to work with than hardwood. Much woodwork done by humans involves softwood.

Your next decision is to consider the finish that you want. In the softwood category, red cedar is a good choice for a natural wood finish. If you plan on painting your project, pine is good. Both red cedar and pine are easy to work with and usually easy to locate and purchase.

Hardwoods are usually finished, not painted, although there are always exceptions.

For best results in your woodwork project, purchase your wood a few weeks in advance. Store it someplace where damp cannot get at it, and put spacers between the boards. Your intent is to dry the wood out as much as possible. Do this and the wood will be easier to work with and you will experience less warping.

Woodworking Demo on Video. Building a Bench

This video from YouTube is so cool. It demonstrates diy woodworking at its best.  Woodworker Mike Jarvis demonstrates how to make a Jarvis Bench.  When you watch this video, you understand just how much time and craftsmanship goes into a good woodworking project.

This should be required viewing for all those people who think a woodworker can just throw a piece together in a few minutes -- or worse yet, balk at paying a decent hourly rate if they're purchasing a project.

What a great woodwork project.

Woodworking for Kids

Teaching young children to use woodworking tools seems like a daunting task to many diy woodworking enthusiasts.  As we all know, woodwork tools are dangerous if proper safety precautions are not observed.  Can we trust kids to pay attention to our safety warnings?

According to this woodworker, the answer is a resounding "yes".   This writer says she has taught children as young as five to work successfully and safely with woodwork tools and projects.  The article is Woodworking with Kids: Safety.

For yet more information about safety, check out: Safety First with DIY Woodworking

Here is an interesting video on YouTube showing a kids' woodworking class in session:

Removing Odors from Wood

Your woodwork projects could include the need to remove unwanted smells from your wood.

Wood, including wood floors and wood furniture is lovely, but it does have a drawback. Wood tends to soak up odors from anything that has been in contact with it.

If you have wood floors and pets, you're likely to find that your floor is reeking with unwanted pet smells.   Similarly, antique furniture that has survived many years is likely to have soaked up odors from mothballs, potpourri, smoke, or from anything else that has been stored in or on it, or spilled in or on it.

You can purchase commercial products to remove odor. This may be particularly helpful if you are dealing with pet odors.

However, if you are looking for a natural diy approach, you might try some of these remedies.

! But first!  The important thing to remember is that when applying moisture in any form, be sure to avoid the joints and edges of the wood.

1 Try wiping the wood with a cloth damped with ammonia. Wipe this off with a second cloth that has been dampened with water.

2. Try making a paste of baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the area with the odors and leave it for a few hours. (Avoid getting the ends and the joints damp).

3. Try sprinkling the area to be treated with kitty litter, or dry coffee grounds. Leave for a few hours or overnight, then vacuum off.

4. Mix  olive oil and white vinegar. Use a ratio of one teaspoon of olive oil to one cup of vinegar. Put this in a spray bottle and spray on the area to be treated. Shake the bottle frequently during the spraying. Do not get the joints and end pieces damp.

5. Use absorbent materials in combination, such as newspaper and charcoal briquettes.  If you are dealing with a drawer, stuff these items in the drawer and leave them for a week or so. Replace them at that time with a new selection of newspaper and briquettes. Leave for a second week. You should be noticing a decrease or elimination of the odor by the end of two weeks.

Here's a video from YouTube that demonstrates a product that removes oil stain and oil smells from wood and other surfaces.

Here's to odor free woodworking projects.

Installing Cabinet Hinges

Building or replacing a cabinet in the kitchen, workshop, bathroom, garage or elsewhere is among the most common projects that home diyers often tackle. There are various types of hinges available, and each has its own specific use.  You can make or break your project by choosing the best hinge for your cabinet. The right or the wrong hinge will have a huge impact on what you are hoping to accomplish.

One hinge is a relative newcomer to the field. That is a European hinge. Some of these hinges are easier to install than the other types of hinges, given that you do not need to create a mortise using your chisel.

Here is a YouTube video demonstrating how to install a European hinge.

DIY woodworking is such a meaningful hobby -- both creative and functional.

Dovetailed Grease Pot for DIY Woodworking

I've just found a great web site designed for diy woodworking and woodworkers wanting to increase their skill level

The woodworker, a guy named Roy Underhill, releases regular how-to videos which are displayed free on the web shop. The current on is all about tools and  making the "dovetailed grease pot."

It's a charming little woodwork project -- a woodwork puzzle, if you will.

The link is The Woodwright's Shop

Underhill also advocates the value of keeping some grease on the tools you use in your projects.

Woodwork Projects to Involve the Kids

Looking for a way to get the kids involved in diy woodworking?  It's a great idea. You share quality, family time with the children while teaching them a valuable life skill that will serve them well for their entire life.

I've just discovered a wonderful book that gets you started.  The Kids' Building Workshop: 15 Woodworking Projects for Kids and Parents to Build Together  by  Craig Robertson and Barbara Robertson takes you through 15 woodworking projects that are kid-friendly.

The projects include a bird houses, a tool box, a cricket cage, and a stool. Full and complete instructions and pictures are available for each project, and the projects increase in difficulty as you move through the book.  There is also a section on tools and tool handling.

The reading level is 9 to 12. You can get the book at Amazon (ISBN-10: 1580174884)

As in any woodwork project, safety is paramount.

Choosing Woodworking Chisels

A good set of woodworking chisels are an important addition to any tool chest  Any list of woodworking supplies or tools is likely to include at least a few of these handy items.

Bevels come in various types and sizes. Each type has a different purpose.

However, in short, a chisel is a tool used for cutting.  It has a sharpened edge set at one end of a metal blade.  It may be driven by a hammer or mallet, and it used to create shapes in a solid material, which can include wood, metal or stone.   Chisels have been around for a long time. As far back at 8000 BC, Egyptians used copper and bronze chisels to work wood and stone.  Today, chisels are more likely to be comprised of steel and come in different types of hardness.

In this video, a woodworker demonstrates and explains the different types of chisels and their use to woodworkers.

As you can see, they have many uses and each one specializes in a certain type of cut.

Hand Saws Used in Woodworking

Typical woodworking supplies and tools usually call for a variety of woodwork saws.

As a newcomer, you are likely to get by with just two Many woodworkers begin with just a crosscut saw, suitable for most projects and used when cutting across the wood grain, and a compass point saw (such as a circular saw) for finer work or for cutting thin pieces of lumber.

In time, these other saws may be useful additions to the workshop:

The Rip Saw: This saw is used for cutting with the grain, which is called ripping.  It has coarse teeth which are chisel shaped on the ends and are not sharped on the sides.

A Backsaw:  This saw is stiffened by a metal strip along the back. It's many tiny teeth ensure accurate sawing. It is used for cutting miters, as an example.  Examples of backsaws are razor, veneer, dovetail and miter box.

A Bracket Saw. This is a handsaw used for cutting curved forms.

A Coping Saw or Fret Saw: Extremely narrow blades make these saws suitable for cutting intricate shapes.  The blade rotates in a complete circle, ensuring you can cut corners appropriately. Extremely deep throated fret saws are available as well. sporting frames with eighteen inch clearance. They go by the name of scroll saw.

A Hacksaw: Hacksaws somewhat resemble bracket saws in apperance. They are used for cutting metal, cutting dowels and cutting thin wood strips.

These saws, as well as other woodworking supplies and tools can be damaged by nicking a nail or by inappropriate use.  Safeguard your tools and they will last a very long time with minimal upkeep.

Woodworking Tip: Brushes Used in Finishings

DIY woodworking often involves the process of finishing the wood using a stain, varnish, shellac, lacquer, paint or other finishing product.  This in turn requires brushwork.

It sometimes happens that you would like to "pause" during the process for a few minutes or a few hours.  If you do, you are faced with the daunting task of cleaning your brushes or else returning to the unpleasant reality of a hardened brush that may need to be replaced.

The good news is that there is a solution to this tricky situation. Simply wrap your wet brush well in plastic wrap.  The kind used for food preparation and storage should work okay.  Wrap the brush well, being sure that no open areas exist.  Your brush will remain wet this way for several hours.

You can take a break from your woodwork projects, return, and resume working on your finishing with minimal fuss.

Cut Woodworking Expenses with Recycled Woods

I've just read an interesting blog post by woodworker Chris Baylor, who discusses ways to cut costs on woodworking supplies.  Baylor suggests that using recycled woods  is a great economy for diy woodworking.

Woodwork projects made this way can be beautiful, Baylor says. "Some of the most beautiful pieces of furniture that I've ever seen were built from recycled longleaf pine that was salvaged from an old barn that was being demolished," the woodworker remarked.

You can buy recycled wood from various places on the Internet, but the financial savings may not amount to much. Remember that you will be paying for shipping and handling as well. Instead, look for farms and homes that are remodeling and ask about the old woods that are being discarded.  You may get a great deal -- perhaps you might even get your wood for free. 

Here's a great video showing an expanding table made from reclaimed barn wood.

Cat Trees Make Interesting Woodwork Projects

When I spent almost $300 on a cat tree for my pampered felines, I seriously wished I had a woodwork shop so I could have made one of these things myself. That's the problem with apartment living. No diy woodworking is likely to take place.

For those with better facilities, cat trees and cat furniture make excellent woodwork projects.   If you have cats yourself, you will save plenty of money by making your own. Also, you can customize the item so it works with your home and decor.

If you don't have cats, you could easily make some extra cash by making these things for cat owners.  Many cat owners dote on their animals and spare no expense when it comes to buying things for them.  Cat trees are much more than cat playthings, however.  They provide a place for the cat to scratch and sharpen the claws -- therefore saving the furniture from demolition.

I found an excellent Squidoo Lens that provides quite a number of ideas, tips and even diagrams for cat furniture.  It's Make Your Own Cat Trees, Towers and Other Cat Structures.

At the simplest level, cat scratching posts and trees can be made with a minimum of woodworking supplies and tools.

Retiree Produces Remarkable Woodwork Projects

DIY woodworking is a hobby that a person can pursue long past retirement age.

Central Plains News recently published a story about 83 year old Dave Sawatzsly and his remarkable woodwork projects.

Sawatzky's first introduction to woodwork as in school when he studied shop. It grew from there. Today his pieces are works of art. His projects have been displayed locally, and he was lead woodworking workshops in his home.

Sawatzky is known for his beautiful scrolling work with intricate detailing in the cut outs.  The woodworker uses an array of primarily electrical tools and enjoys working with exotic woods including rosewood and purpleheart.

Check the link below for the full article and for a picture of the amazing cabinet he built for his wife. 

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2732852

This diy woodworking is truly remarkable.

Musical Instruments : Specialized Woodwork Projects

Imagine creatring DIY woodwork projects that bring in $16,000?

That's what woodworker Guy Harrison of Ottawa, Canada charges for a hand made violin. He sells perhaps half a dozen violins, violas and cellos a year.  It goes without saying that these instruments are of the highest quality. Even the wood is hand picked. Harrison visits Germany where he selects the best "tone woods" from specialized dealers. The wood for a violin comes to about $2000.

As you might guess, Harrison didn't pick up this craft by fooling around in his workshop. He studied for three years at the Newark Violin School in London, followed by a three year apprenticeship with a shop in Finland, followed by a stretch working for a shop in Germany. Later, Harrison moved to Canada and launched his own business building and repairing musical instruments.

Jean Larrivée, founder of Jean Larrivée Guitars Ltd. is a similar success story.  In 1967, Larrivee began studying guitar building with classical guitar builder Edgar Monch Sr. of Toronto.  While Larrivee's earlier guitars were based on the classical European guitar models, he later began adding hand designed, decorative inlays to the instruments. The popularity of these inlays grew by leaps and bounds but the cost to purchase a guitar was high.  In 2007, Larrivee began experimenting with laser engraving in order to bring the costs down and make the instruments more affordable for ordinary people. Today, Larrivee's guitars are sought out by musicians and are known for their excellent quality and workmanship. The shop is located in North Vancouver, Canada.

Here is a documentary of Jean Larrivee explaining his guitar building adventures.

Creating musical instruments are examples of highly specialized and highly skilled woodwork projects.

Hickory Suited for Certain Woodwork Projects

You may be familiar with hickory as a food additive or as a fuel for a barbecue. We all enjoy steak or ribs barbecued with a good hickory sauce. Not only that, since hickory tends to burn very slowly, barbecue chefs favor it for the slow smoking of meat.  However, hickory has uses beyond smoking meat and barbecuing.  It lends itself well to any number of woodwork projects.

Woodworkers find that hickory is ideal for some patterns for wood. It is not recommended for beginners, however. Hickory wood is derived from approximately seventeen to nineteen tree species.  Each species is somewhat different from the next in terms of how it performs in a woodwork shop.  There is no good way to tell which species you are using, so experience and skill play a big role in the final outcome.

Hickory is not an easy wood to work with. It is extremely hard and requires a very sharp cutting blade. A high speed cutting tool with a heat reflective coating is the best choice.

Hickory is fine for woodwork projects such as wood flooring and tool handles or for any item where an extremely hard wood is desired. Moreover, because hickory is a food safe wood, you can use it for tools used in food preparation. Think hickory if you're planning to make cutting boards, wooden spoons, ladles or bowls.

In appearance, hickory resembles hard maple, but oiling brings out the grain so you readily tell that it is a different wood.

CNC Lathes Require Safety Measures

CNC lathes are a great boon to any woodwork hobbyist or professional.  These machines not only save you time, but allow you to create intricate designs that might be difficult to achieve otherwise. As is the case with any DIY woodworking tool, safety is paramount.

In case you are new to woodwork, a wood lathe is a tool that smoothes and shapes wood. When you use a lathe, you insert your wood into a holder which holds the wood in place as the blade spins. CNC lathes are computer operated rather than manually operated. You use special software programs to perform precise cutting and create intricate designs.

Keep in mind that the blades move in a CNC lathe. Therefore, you must follow basic safety principles. Always wear goggles to protect your eyes and ear plugs to protect your eardrums. Do not wear clothing or jewelry that dangles and could get caught in moving parts.

When you are using a software program that you are unfamiliar with, you might want to have a practice run first before cutting the wood or other material. Watch and see where the head moves.

And of course, always follow any safety instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Using a CNC Lathe in Woodwork Projects

Today's woodworking hobbyist may consider obtaining a CNC router or lathe to accomplish various woodwork projects.

CNC woodworking is a computer controlled process used for making specific items such as cabinets, doors and others.   CNC woodwork equipment has long been the domain of manufacturers and factories producing commercial products. However, smaller models are available now for the home woodwork shop.

CNC routers and wood lathes are used for cutting intricate designs.  A CNC wood lathe lets you create items such as stair rails, and table legs, or you can use it to cut lumber into plywood or for materials to be used in veneers.To use this tool,  the woodworker programs the software to perform a certain number of turns.  You can use these lathes on any kind of timber imaginable, as well as on metallic materials including brass and aluminum.

Hobbyists can locate these woodworking tools in different sizes.  For the hobbyist with a small space or limited interest, portable models can be mounted on a bench or tabletop.

Decide which size of CNC lathe is best for you based on the amount of woodwork projects you will be doing and the types and sizes of timber pieces you will be using.

Here is an interesting video demonstrating how to make a baseball bat using a CNC woodwork lathe.

What a cool idea for woodwork projects.

Chicken Coops Make Good Woodwork Projects

Seems to me that diy woodworking may well include an interest in making chicken coops as woodwork project.

My city, like many others, has given the green light to people wanting to raise chickens in their backyards.

I will not be among them. I was raised on a farm and I know a bit about chickens.  They're noisy, they smell bad, nobody ever called them intelligent creatures and they're neurotic as all get out.  I'll be buying my eggs at the store, along with my chicken breasts and chicken parts.

That being said, a lot of people have a better attitude towards chickens than I do, and they'll be excited at the possibility of becoming the proud owners of a few cacklers.  

The thing to remember is that if chickens are not penned up, they will fly into high trees and the neighbor's yard, and the street traffic -- not to mention they will leave their droppings everywhere.

This means that chicken coops are going to be worth their weight in gold.  I don't think they're readily available yet.  I haven't seen any in Walmart, in any case. Therefore, the diy woodworker living in a "chicken friendly city" can look forward to being asked to create chicken coops for other people. 

You might as well start looking into patterns for wood and woodworking supplies for these projects.   There are plans for chicken coops available on the Net if you need one.

Civil War Woodworking -- New Book for Woodworkers

A newly published book may be of interest to those who are into DIY Woodworking.

Written by A.J. Hamler, a recognized expert in the field of woodworking, the book describes how to build seventeen reproductions of Civil War objects.  The book's title is Civil War Woodworking.

Anyone curious about Civil War Woodworking may want to view this video showing how to make a Civil War Candle Lantern.

Always remember safety first when you are working on any diy woodworking projects.