Crafting Secrets

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Anatomy of a Woodworking Project

Have you ever thought about the process from start to finish of a woodworking project. There is alog ore involved in the process than you think. Most of us skip through each process not really thinking about how each step affect the overal project.

1. Fill a Need

I believe that in all things we do, we want to fill a need. Otherwise, why do them. The need may be basic or secondary. We also my not understand which need is which. The need may be materialistic or it may be emotional. You are someone you know needs a table, so you build one. But, is that really the basic need? I doubt it. I believe the basic need is more primal than that. Just as we need food, clothing, and shelter, we need an avenue for self expression and a sense of accomplishment. Otherwise, we would have bought the table. It certainly would have been cheaper.

2. Getting an idea

Where do you get the idea for your next project? Clues are all around us. Sometimes, ideas come from the most unlikely places. One word in a discussion can trigger an idea. For some, it may be a specific problem they are trying to solve. Others may be lucky and have the eye of an artist and have the ability to visualize an object. I will admit, I am not an original thinker. My ideas usually bome from a request from a customer or the desire to change something I have seen to make it my own.

3. From mind to paper

The next challenge is to move the great idea from your mind to paper. My first step is usually a sketch. then, there is a discussion wi the customer. All projects have a customer. It may be you, a lovedon, a neighbor, or if you are really lucky, a bonefide cash carrying customer whi is willing to pay you for your hard work. When there is an agreement on the sketch, my next step is a full size drawing. If at all possible, do not skip this step. There was a time when i felt that 1/4 or 1/2 scale would suffice. But, after completing some full scale drawings, I found it much more comforting to know that I had the exact measurement to work with.

4.Selection and preparation of materials.

This is an area where I believe much time and thought needs to be utilized to get it right. The last thing you want, is to complete a project and then realize that the wrong materials were selected. Aesthetics, project location/use, material strength, the mix of materials, and grain direction are just a few of the things that need to be considered. This is also another area where the customer must be consulted. For traditional furniture, there are many publications that can assist in you decision making. For an original project, the world is your palette.

For the first part of material preparation I use computer software. I use a product called ‘Cutlist Plus’. There is a version of this software that cost less than $100.00 and you will recoup this cost in short order. Entering your inventory of materials, along with part sizes and how many of each part required, the software will create a cutlist that will make maximum use of materials.

The next step is to bring your material into the shop and allow it to acclimate to the shop for a couple weeks. When you start cutting material, cut each part at least 1/4 inch larger all around and a few inches longer.There are many stresses in wood and when cut, these stresses are relieved. You may or may not be able to see this right away. Let the material sit overnight. You will be surprised at how much movment there will be.I would also suggest that you cut some extra material to the same dimensions as your parts. There is always the possibility of an error somewhere in the project. Having dimensioned lumber available will reduce the stress level. DO NOT get rid of extra material until the project is complete.

5. Preparation of equipment

This is one of the most important, but often neglected parts of a project. If your equipment is not maintained and calibrated properly, you will encounter many moments of great frustration. Are your cutting tools sharp? Dull cutting tools cause many of the blood letting accidents in the shop. Inattention to the task at hand has caused many accidents. Before starting a new project, take the time to ensure that your saws are sharp and calibrated properly, so you can get that 90degree or 45degree cut exact. Make sure the cross cut sleds are exact. On mine, the thickness of a piece of painter’s tape makes the difference between failure and success.

6. Execution

This is the fun part. It is also the part where the most mistakes can be made, in material and in you. Never ever work when you are tired, or are unable to give full attention to the task at hand. Missing body parts are not worth it.

As the old saying goes, measure twice and cut once. It is extremely easy to turn a 5 /14″ cut into a 4 3/4″ cut. Believe me, I have done it. Take time with your tools, Do not push them beyond their capability. Wixey corporation, makes an angle gauge that will great enhance you accuracy when setting up a saw for a particular angle. Try to use the same ruler throughout the project. Minute differences, between rulers can cause problems when trying to assemble a project.

Do not get in a hurry to start gluing things together. Always to a dry fit to make sure things line up properly. Make sure your joints are not too tight. glue will make a tenon expand so is is almost impossible to insert it into a mortise. Making mortise and tenon joints properly, takes time and patience. I usually cut my tenons thick and use a rabbet plane to get them to the proper thickness.

Make sure you have plenty clamps, but use them judiciously. Improper use of clamps can rack a project out of square. When it is time for the glue-up, take some time to mask areas that may get unwanted glue on them. Try to use only the amount of glue required. Make every atempt to limit squeeze-out of excess glue. Finding dried glue that will not take a stain does not make for a happy day in the shop. Remove the excess glue and the tape when the glue reaches a stiff but not yet hard consistency.

7. Preparation for staining and finishing

This is an area that most woodworkers hate to do. But, it is just as important as the construction phase of the project. This is what everyone will see. Using whatever methods you like, all tool and swirl marks need to be removed. On some items, I will use a scraper. On others, I will use sandpaper. If using sandpaper, 220grit is as fine as I normally go during this process.

8. Staining and finishing

There are many different forms of stand and finishes. All have their pros and cons. Before applying a stain to your project, take time to test different products and processed on scrap wood of the same type as the project. Perform the complete finish process on each piece of scrap so you will know what the project will look like when complete. After determining which product and process looks the best, do not skip or change any part of the process when finishing the project. Small differences in the finishing process can make a drastic change in how the completed project will look.

9. Post finish

Now it is time to really make your project shine. Do not get in a hurry to start this process. Wait until the finish is completely cured. Some products will cure overnight. Others may take weeks. You, most likely will need to buff or polish the finish to get that silky smooth look and feel everyone seems to want. Most people will rub a finish to get an impression of how well the finish was completed. There are many oils, polishes, and powders that will create the finish you desire. Please read as many of the finishing books as possible to get an understanding of the finishing process.

Now go and show off you hard work to anyone who will look. But, please do not point out every little blemish. Most people will not notice.Enjoy the moment.

If you’re going to be a wood carver and not just a whittler, you’ll need to select a number of tools. There’s just no way around it. So what are the right tools for wood carving?

Tools for Sharpening. Before the carving tools, it seems appropriate that tools for sharpening them should come first. After all, first we sharpen and then we carve.

At the very minimum, you should have a sharpening stone and a strop. The sharpening stone is used to get your edges to sharpness. Many sharpening stones come in different shapes and in different sizes. Some are very accommodating to the typically short blade lengths of wood carving blade edges. Diamond coated slipstones are very nice. Some sharpening stones can even be found on a key chain or be as small as a credit card. So very convenient.

A strop is meant to remove the burr and all micro-bits still clinging to your well-sharpened blade edge. This is very important in wood carving. Anything added to the edge will only slow your progress. You’ve got to get everything off. If you prefer, you could use a honing compound or a honing board to smooth out your edges.

If you’re really serious about becoming a wood carver, it is highly recommended that you learn how to sharpen and strop a knife. Once you’ve learned that, you’ll also be able to sharpen most other carving edges. The need for smooth sharp edges is a constant in wood carving. Knowing how to achieve them will put you way ahead of the game.

Tools for Shaping. Each type of carving tool that is meant to shape wood has a specific function. At the very minimum, you should have carving knives, wood chisels, wood gouges, wood rasps and rifflers, a mallet and maybe even a power drill.

◦ Carving knives. This is your most basic of all carving tools and there are many kinds. There are straight-edged knives, skewed knives, bent knives, chip knives, detail knives, special pocket knives modified for carving and folding knives with lockable blades. And these aren’t all of them. There are even micro-knives or micro-tool kits, if you’d like.

It’s a matter of functionality. Each edge is target specific. When you’ve learned what each type of knife can do, and you’ve considered the carving project ahead of you, then you’ll know which knives are best for that job. The best knives used for one specific task may not be the same knives that are best for another. That’s why you’ve got choices.

◦ Wood chisels. Most chisels are ground on both sides but it is possible to find them with a bevel on only one side. The head may be slanted or square in shape. They may even be bent forward or backward. You’ll have quite a selection.

◦ Wood gouges. This is one of the most used tools in wood carving. There are many shapes and sizes. Some are very short and stout while others extend for a few inches with an extended blade edge. You’ll probably end up with several kinds. That’s not a problem. Surely, you’ll use each one at some time or another.

◦ Wood Rasps or Riffler files. Shopping for these tools could be a bit confusing. Really. Some stores call it a rasp, others will call it a riffler. And yet another will call it a rasp riffler. How to know, how to know. Well, the majority of merchants appear to agree that a rasp is a very coarse, straight file. The tool itself may be thick and rectangular like a sharpening file but don’t be surprised to find those that are slender with a curving head, looking just like a riffler.

Rifflers, on the other hand, are usually slender with a curved head. Many times these curved heads can be found on both ends of the riffler. You can even find kits that offer you different shaped heads and at different sizes.

◦ Mallets. These little hammers are invaluable in the right circumstance. They are a must for chip carving, relief carving and intaglio carving. (What am I saying?) Mallets are a must for all wood carving. You may need just a few millimeters off of here and no more, maybe add a little notch there, an indent over here, maybe create a shadow. It really is such a valuable tool.

◦ Power tools. There are some pretty nice power tools for wood carving. There are power drills, rotor saw burrs, power chisels and mini grinders. You can even find power carving kits. There’s even a wood carver’s kit that offers its own selection of power grinders.

These tools are quite extraordinary in how much time and labor they can save wood carvers. Many consider them only for life-size or extremely large carvings. It’s all up to the carver. Hey, how about a carving created entirely by power tools? (Wonder how big that’d be.)

Tools for Sanding and Smoothing. When all the wood carving and shaping is done, you’ll want to sand and smooth all surfaces. This is an important step that precedes any painting or varnishing. In doing so, you’ll remove any remains from any previous finishing process and you’ll also prepare the wood to bond with any non-penetrating chemicals. Sanding can be done using sand paper, sanding clothes or sanding sticks.

◦ Sanding is often accomplished using sand paper. There are many grades, from very, very coarse to very, very fine. There’s quite a selection. Something very similar to this is the defuzzing pad. It does as it sounds. It removes all fuzz still clinging to the wood surface.

◦ There are sanding clothes that come in a roll and are available in varying grit sizes. Sections may be cut from the roll and rolled or folded as you wish. Best thing is, you don’t have to worry about it cracking or falling apart on you.

◦ Sanding sticks may also be found in varying grit sizes. You can also find sanding stick kits or sanding detail kits that can remove glue or minute remains of your finishing products. Mini-belt sanding sticks or sanding belts may be used for large sanding jobs.

Wood carving is an amazing craft to develop. You could use just a handful of tools and work with small projects. Or you could use a bunch of tools, including power tools, to work on really large projects. Either way, it’s very relaxing, oftentimes exhilarating and extremely satisfying. Have fun!

As our economy continues to decline and rising unemployment rates continue to increase many Americans have been scrambling for alternatives to making some extra cash , but you are not alone! Many opportunists are well aware of your need and are quite willing to help you part with your hard earned money by offering over blown income claims.

You can protect your self by just doing a little research and using a little common sense.

Do you have a hobby? Most of us do! And if you are good at it, you can turn it into a money making opportunity! The Arts & Crafts industry contributes 10′s of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy every year and this may be your opportunity to grab a piece of the pie.

Let’s take Arts & Crafts as a fine example for making money! What I’m talking about is things you have made with your own hands using your imagination and skill.

When making money with Arts & Crafts you should consider a few things in your search such as what you are good at, what can you can do and what do you enjoy.

Everything sells and thousands of crafters and artist make a nice living doing what they enjoy. Artist and crafters all over the world sell candles, rugs, figures, pottery, quilts, photos, bird houses, soap and the list goes on and on.

So what can you make? I believe in doing what I say! So let me share with you a little story of how I make money with crafts. Now keep in mind I am in no way an artist or even a crafter!

I just know how to be creative and one day when I was at the Dollar store (You know everything for $1.00) I was looking at some little cowboy figures riding a horse about 8 inches tall. I talked to the lady at the counter and asked how many she had, she said she had 100 of them and after a little negotiation I got them for $0.72 cents each.

Now comes the creative stuff, on my way home I stopped off at a local saw mill and purchased some cedar log scraps and took them home. With a little sawing, sanding and some varnish I made 100 little wooden bases for my cowboys. After drying I epoxied my cowboys on their bases and hand signed each one with my name and date.

I had 8 sets of 12 different little cowboys along with a few duplicates and the following weekend I went to the flea market and set up shop. I sold my cowboys for $12.95 each and sold out that weekend.

I had about 20 Hours into this project, spent $72.00 on my cowboys, $18.00 on wood scrap, $15.00 in material and $35.00 for my space rent. My net profit for this project was $1,155.

I hope this gets your creative juices flowing on what you can do with Arts & Crafts.

You will find many of sources to sell your Arts & Crafts such as:

1. Online with Craigslist for free.

2. At flea markets.

3. Craft fairs.

To your success, Ozark Mike

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