Rocking chairs are popular woodworking projects.
Whether you're are restoring an old treasure or building a new piece of furniture from plans, several key woodworking steps will help you complete projects more easily and safely. Producing a fine-looking piece of furniture or other item made from wood requires the proper use of sandpaper, correct choices among power tools and using respirators for protection.
Sandpaper
Sanding is one of the most important aspects of woodworking. If sanding causes a rough finish to a beautifully built piece of furniture, you will be disappointed with the final results. So, have several grits of paper available, from extra coarse to extra fine. Start with the coarse-grade papers and move to the medium- and finer-grades as needed. Change to the next grit when the first stops creating dust. However, don't start with such a coarse-grade of paper that will scratch the surface. This will defeat the sanding objective to obtain a smooth surface for finishing. Sanding on raw wood often begins with 60-grit paper, but today's lumber mills deliver wood that is so smooth that a woodworker often can begin with 100- or 120-grit paper.
Power Tools
Sanding tools are available either as attachments to power drills or as individual electrical sanders. The average homeowner owns just one power sander. It usually is a pad or finishing sander that is limited in producing the desired results for smoothing flat surfaces. Avid woodworkers, however, have a variety of power sanders for specific sanding tasks. These include a random orbit sander for chairs, tables, trim and baseboards when a smooth perfect surface is required, and a belt sander to shave down raw rough wood. A less expensive option is to use drill-mounted products that attach to the basic power drill. These accessories are used for sanding, buffing and polishing tasks. Some even help with paint and varnish removal when refinishing old pieces.
Respirators
Wear a respirator designated for woodworking. A basic kind of respirator, such as a comfort or dust mask, will filter sanding particles. However, woodworkers should use more advanced respirators, such as one that has an exhalation valve for easy breathing, or one that has replaceable filters and provides protection from woodworking dust, metal shavings and fumes.
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