WHAT NEWBIE WOODWORKING PROBLEMS ARE YOU HAVING.

cutting twice and always too short!!!

-- Bert

Hi Bert
I think we all have that one from time to time

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

being absolutely sure that a power tool is set up 100% accurately to give the best results. Is there a good book out there that helps newbies to learn about maintenance and proper setup?

Sarahss

I like Jim Tolpin’s “Table saw magic” Maybe Charles will address this in his new video too.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

I think that as a beginner it is challenging to know which wood to use for a specific project and also to make the most of the wood we have.
Another question that every beginner has is : should I buy fewer but better quality tools versus more tools of a lower quality.
My choice is the second one, I am an avid Harbor Freight customer.

-- Bert

I’ve got a router and a router table and have read several router books but not one has clearly explained how to safely and correctly install a router bit in a table-mounted router. As a result I have not yet tried routing anything – it’s the one tool in my shop that I’ve never used before except once in an already-set-up classroom setting.

One thing I struggled with (and still do to a small extent) is planning out what steps happen in what order. Preparation and planning seem to be about 50% of my build time (mostly free moments at night and work. I mean.. free moments at just night)

-- Dan, Rochester, NY

Elizabeth
If you lived closer I’d say come take my woodworking class at UCC. I think things like how router bit’s are installed are skiped over for many folks that write books that’s a good one.

Dan

That’s a very good point too .Even as a seasoned woodworker I many times have to think that over for some time before going forward with a project.

Good one Barry

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Jim, if it’s a one-off class it may be possible sometime; it’d be a 1.5 hour drive but I’ve done worse in the interest of pursuing hobbies!

how to build heritage furniture with just a screwdriver.

-- Rob, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Rob – Ripping boards to width might take a while ^_^

-- Dan, Rochester, NY

Although not a newbie, my current problem is in choosing the right wood for my upcoming project. I am building a model of a locomotive in 1-1/2” scale using mostly wood. There are many moving parts that must maintain clearances to operate smoothly. Think of a clock where the gears and levers must intertwine without binding. The dimensions of the wood I need to use are: 1-1/2” x 3/4”, 1” x 3/4”. I was thinking about poplar, red oak or even pine. The next requirement other than stability is price. I can rip and surface the material to my required dimensions, but it has to remain straight without warping, twisting, cupping, etc. It will be assembled with glue, nails and screws and painted. If you are familar with steam locomotives, you can see where; connecting rods drives the wheels, any deviation in the length of the rod will cause it to bind. I can maintain such alignment in steel, but it is hard to do in wood. I’m talking a few thousands of an inch tolerance. I’ve done this before in wood, but always had the problem of binding. I could set it up to run smoothly, but if the humidity changed, the works would bind, rendering the model as a static display, not an operating one.

I have a probelm cutting a decent miter. My table saw is over 30 years old and my chop saw is not accurate enough. Any suggestions?

-- If you don't work, you don't eat!.....Garland, TX

I have a probelm cutting a decent miter. My table saw is over 30 years old and my chop saw is not accurate enough. Any suggestions?

-- If you don't work, you don't eat!.....Garland, TX

@Cozmo – Adjust it, fix it, or replace it, in that order. Seriously. I know you are not a newbie but that seems to be part of the problem with new folks, they don’t know they are using a bad or poorly set up tool.

-- Backer boards, stop blocks, build oversized, and never buy a hand plane--