I Wish I Knew This When I Started Woodworking

I look back and see mistakes I made as a new woodworker.  We all make them so I’m not alone!  But I do wonder how things would have played out if I knew a few lessons learned that I’ve gathered over the years.  These are my woodworking lessons learned; they don’t mean that you have to follow them.  I’ve always advocated doing what works best for you and your woodworking journey.  There are things I wish I knew because of how I do certain tasks now and the types of projects that I make.  If you don’t make those projects or have a way that works better for you then that’s great!  But think about it.  Based on that processes you like, is there any part of that which would have been helpful when you first started?

1. Don’t Sand with Every Grit

I used to think I needed to sand from 100 grit to 220 grit to even higher!  Nope, I certainly don’t do that now.  Now, I sand with 120 grit and then 180 grit.  If there’s a certain project that needs to go higher then I will, but almost always I’ll use these two grits.

I like to scribble all over the surface of my workpiece with a pencil.  Then I said until the lines are gone.  At that point I switch from 120 to 180 grit.  I do it again, scribble and then sand. Once the pencil marks are gone I stop. I also advocate for buying a good sander. It will make your life easier and you’ll hate sanding less. 

2. Stop Measuring

When I started woodworking, I thought I had to measure everything.  Then I realized how many workpieces don’t need to be measured.  Sure, you’re going to measure the outside dimensions of a project, such as a box.  But those internal compartments?  No need to measure those.  The only thing that truly matters is they fit. 

Instead, I use relative dimensioning.  That means I cut a board based on it fitting into place, not based on a measurement.  I’ll take the board and place it against the object (let’s say a box) and then mark with a pencil where it needs to be cut.  I then cut that board.  I may have to cut it a few times to sneak up on the right fit, but it results in getting a perfect fitting workpiece and reduces the chances for error.

3. Doubled Side Tape

I use double sided tape every day.  Seriously, it’s one of the most commonly used items in my workshop.  It makes it quick and easy to stick two boards together.  I do this all the time when I want to cut two boards at the same time, or if I’m using a template or pattern at the router table.

An alternative method is using painter’s tape (blue tape) and CA glue.  Put some blue tape on one piece and apply super glue.  Then put tape on the other workpiece.  Stick them together.  This is a great method that I often use.  At the same time, it takes more steps and it’s messier than simply using double sided tape.  Either way, they are both great tips that I wish I would have known when I first started woodworking.

4. Mill Extra Material

Some people may not agree with this one, but these are my lessons learned.  I wish I would have considered milling extra boards for projects.  Mistakes happen.  Cuts go wrong.  Boards break or splinter.  And when that happens, we’re often forced to remill lumber and start over.  Having another board at the ready saves time in resetting up the milling equipment and ensuring that board is exactly like the others in ever dimension.

A common reason why I mill extra wood is for test cuts.  If I’m making a fairly complex cut like miters then I want to test that before I cut my precious project pieces.  I use my extra wood to test things are in perfect order.  When the test board looks great then I proceed to using my actual workpieces.

5. Resaw on the Table Saw

The most common method for resawing is the bandsaw.  It does a great job and you can get some ultra-thin boards from using this technique.  There are downsides too.  Resawing is best done with a wide blade and changing bandsaw blades is a huge pain in the butt.  It’s also super slow, especially if resawing a wide or long board.

Now, I typically use my table saw to remove most of the material.  I will cut each side of my board at the table saw, leaving a small sliver of material in the middle.  Then, I will cut that piece at the bandsaw.  Using this method lets me keep a smaller blade in the saw, usually a 1/4” blade that I will use more often for operations outside of resawing.

6. Don’t Over Glue

I’m sure there are going to be a lot of people who disagree with me on this one.  If they want to dunk their woodworking project in a tub of Elmer’s then be my guest.  In the past, I cherished the glue squeeze out.  I considered it a sign of a great glue-up.  And while squeeze out can ensure you don’t have a glue-starved joint, squeeze out provides little additional value.  Once that glue has squeezed out of the joint that you’re gluing, it’s not doing anything else for that joint. Then, you’re left cleaning up that mess.  Ever try to clean up glue in the interior corners of wood boxes?  It’s not fun.  Extra glue will never make up for bad joinery. 

Instead, I ensure that I apply glue evenly to all surfaces.  I don’t leave any spots bare.  That’s it.  No need to go crazy.  I have less glue to clean up and reduce my chances of there being a finishing issue.  Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how much we try to remove the glue, a tiny bit is left that we didn’t see.  But we sure see it when we apply finish! I’ve missed glue spots even when applying mineral spirits first to check for it.  It happens!  The less glue all over the place the less likely this issue will even happen.

7.  Be Smarter about Clamps

I saw people’s walls of clamps and thought that this is what I had to do.  I must focus my attention and money on buying every clamp I can get, in every size.  I have to have a wall of expensive parallel clamps to be a good woodworker.  I soon realized that’s not the case whatsoever. 

There’s a common phrase, “can’t have enough clamps”.  Yes, I agree.  I’m not talking about having enough.  I’m talking about focusing on having every clamp and spending money on the expensive ones because you feel like you have to have it.  Instead, I wish I would have invested in special purpose clamps, such as a miter or corner clamp.  These are super handy and I would much rather have a few of these than some pretty parallel clamps.

8. Tools Reviews are Biased

Tools are expensive.  Before buying a tool I would seek out reviews and watch videos.  What I didn’t know back then was the relationship between the content creator and the tool manufacturer.  Content creators are offered tools all the time.  They may not be something good (a lot of times they aren’t!), but they are offered.  In return, the manufacturer wants a public review.  That can be fine if the review is honest.  What often happens though is biases creep into the review.

Company A gives you a shiny new drill.  You are excited you got a new drill for free and you try it out.  It does the job; no complaints.  You then talk about it online in either a blog or video or social media post.  When that review doesn’t state that you got the tool for free then it could deceive people.  Plus, that review often goes from a fair review to being overly glowing and a sales pitch.  People HAVE TO buy this tool or they can’t be a woodworker.  Without transparency, it simply appears that a credible source bought a tool and is giving his/her honest opinion.  Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

9. Use Templates

If you’ve seen my videos or blog articles you know I love templates!  I create them for almost every project.  I typically design then using either Inkscape or Illustrator.  I print them out, spray glue them to my workpiece, and then cut out the shape. 

I used to draw the shape I wanted on the workpiece.  Sometimes I still do.  Most the time I will use a template instead to ensure that it looks exactly how I want it to look.  Clean up is a breeze.  I wipe the board with mineral spirits and the template peels right off.

10. Don’t Hate Sharpening

I learned over the years that if you hate something your less likely to do it. I think about that when I’m sharping chisels and plane blades. When I first started woodworking I took on the sharpening method that everyone said to use, which was using whetstones. What I found was that I really disliked sharpening using this method. The results are great! It was the process. Soaking stones, flattening stones, the water, the mess. I ended up putting off sharpening and using dull tools. I decided to switch to diamond stones. No soaking, no flattening. I spray some water on the surface, lap the chisel, and I’m back in business.

On the surface that may sound like I’m endorsing diamond stones over water stones. Nope, not in the slightest. I’m endorsing the sharpening method that you don’t hate. I honestly doesn’t matter if you use whetstones, diamond stones, scary sharp method, or whatever creative method you can come up with. Pick the one that works for you and that you don’t mind doing. Otherwise…a dull chisel is pretty miserable to use.

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