Woodwork is the art of creating objects from wood, consists of cabinet making, cabinet decoration, wood turning, furniture making, and woodcarving. Woodwork is also known as woodcraft. It is a craft that has become more widespread over the years. It is also known to be a way to pass on the skills of the craftsmen.
Woodwork is categorized into two major branches, and these branches are furniture making and woodcarving. Furniture making is more popular than woodcarving. Woodwork can be made both as a craft and as a business. It can be sold in shops or it can be made commercially. The latter however requires more specialized tools and wood. Wood carving though is cheaper than other forms of woodwork.
Tools for woodworking are mainly hand powered. There are three basic types of woodworking tools: hand tools, power tools and hydraulic tools. Hand tools include saws, chopsticks, hand rasps, pliers, hand saws and similar hand powered tools. Power tools include screwdrivers, drills, sanders and similar power powered tools. Hydraulic tools are power driven, and they include claw hammer, pump, water pump and similar tools.
Some examples of hand powered woodworking tools are the following: the band saw, chisels, router bits, hand shovels, hand saws, the circular saw, the tapered cut saw, the planer and the jig saw. Power tools include the following: the hand wheeled tool, the electric chain saw, the electric lathe, the table saw, the planer, the jig saw, the milling machine, the router, the hand drill and the wood glue gun. The hydraulic wood carving machines are useful for the carving of soft woods like pine and cedar. They have a deep burr machine that grinds wood to the desired thickness for hard and smooth surfaces. There is a power operated belt conveyor that moves the wood from the machine into a chipper or dust collector.
There are many woodworking hand tools for hardwoods. Hard woods include oak, maple, birch, ash, beech, maple, cherry, chestnut, elm and the like. Softwoods include pine, cedar, fir, spruce, Douglas fir, hemlock and the like. It is essential to choose the right wood type depending on the grain pattern of the wood.
Woodworking projects for hardwood include furniture, cabinets, benches, staircases, flooring and home accents. The most common woodworking tools used for woodworking are the following: the hand saw, the gouge, the band saw, the planer and the chisel. Woodworking hobbyists can make some very beautiful wooden crafts such as a small birdhouse, a small scale model train, even a toy box complete with hinges and moving wheels. Woodwork also includes working with metal, plastic and even ceramics. For the craftsman, there are also brass and bronze items that can be added to the finished product to give it a more antique look.
Hardwood flooring and wall covering can be purchased from your local home center. You will find that there are all kinds of hardwoods and there are also a large variety of colors and stains to choose from. Hardwood installation professionals are usually available to help you complete your project. Outdoor projects that involve using wood grain such as an outdoor rocking chair are very popular and can be found in most hardware stores and department stores.
Softwoods, on the other hand, are easier to work with and they are less expensive. Many people who shop at their local home centers will use softwoods when they are building furniture. They may also be used when they are making decorative accents such as planters and wall decor. If you are planning on working with softwoods, make sure to ask the sales person which types of wood will be suitable for your outdoor projects.
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