No matter what level of woodworking you are at, whether it’s a beginner’s hobby or a professional, it is always useful knowing some top tips. So from ted’s woodworking review, here are the 10 top ted mcgrath woodworking tips:

Sanding with the Grain

The first tip is properly one of the first lessons you learn in any woodworking class and

applies to anyone undertaking any of teds woodworking 16 000 plans. And that is to sand with the grain. The reason for this is quite simple, sanding with the grain produces a smooth surface finish. Whereas if you sand against the grain it is possible to create unwanted scratches and marks.

Going through the grades

The next tip for proof of not a ted’s woodworking scam, involves the use of sandpaper and is known as going through the grades. This tip involves using multiple grades of sand paper in order to create an extremely smooth surface finish. So for example, you could start with a small grade number (the smaller the grade number, the rougher the sandpaper) such as 80, then go onto 100, 120, 160, 180 up to a grade of 200. By doing this method it will ensure a very smooth finish on your piece of wood. If you are unsure of the grade of sandpaper, the grade number is located on the back of each piece of sandpaper.

Loosening Sandpaper Fibres

The next tip is related to the previous one from teds woodworking plans, as it involves the best way to use sandpaper. It is also a tip that people who hand sand should know as it is loosening up the sandpapers fibres or abrasives. Basically, when you first buy sandpaper it is stiff and if you use it straight away it will get large creases in it and then wear out twice as fast. A way of preventing this from happening is to hold to sandpaper at either end and run it along a straight edge. This will cause it to curl slightly and loosening the abrasives which will make it ready to use.

Preventing Splintering

This tip from teds woodworking review helps solve the common problem of the wood splintering. Normally this will involve the wood been cut with a hand saw or a drop saw, even though it occurs more commonly with a drop saw. Depending on the type of wood, different woods are more prone to splintering then others. The first way to preventing splintering is to put masking tape along the area that you are cutting as this will prevent the wood fibres from splintering. The second way is to first cut the line you wish to cut with a marking knife. As this cuts the top level of wood fibres hopefully causing a cleaner cut.

Countersunk Holes

Tip number 5 from teds woodworking plans review, consists of using countersunk holes. These countersunk holes are used when constructing a piece of furniture and you want to conceal the screw. The best method is to use countersunk screws using a mounted bench drill or pedestal drill as a cordless drill requires more precision. It is advised to start with a larger hole drilling down further enough to conceal the screw, then using a smaller drill which will be easier to centre due to the first predrilled hole. After the screw is in a dowel can be used to fully conceal it.

6. Removing Excess Dust

Removing excess dust is the next tip from ted’s woodworking plans review. It is very important that all excess dust and dirt is removed from your job before you apply the finish. If you ignore this golden piece of advice that bit of dirt will be trapped forever and it will ruin your perfect finish. When all the excess dust is removed, ensure that your finish is applied evenly and smoothly. The method to remove excess dust is to use a slightly damp cloth and wiping your complete job with it.

Glue Spots

Glue spots can become a problem if not spotted early as they can ruin your finish. If you can see lighter coloured spots after you have applied your finish then you know dried glue has not been removed from the surface before your finish was applied. In order to avoid this from happening you can wipe down your job with a denatured alcohol which will locate the glue spots by temporarily darkening the timber. Once the glue spots have been located you can sand them off, before applying your finish.

Raising Timber

From ted mcgrath reviews this woodworking tips is used for removing dents from your jobs by raising the surface of the wood. There are two ways in which the surface of the timber can be raised. The first way is by making the dent swell using a small amount of water which will cause the dent to swell up, raise and then you can sand the surface flat. The second way still makes the dent swell but it uses a damp cloth applied to the dent instead. This cloth can be ironed which makes the dent swell and then can be sanded flat. Just make sure not to iron the cloth for too long as this will burn the cloth and wood.

Sanding Blocks

Tip number 9 from ted’s woodworking is to do with the use of sanding blocks. If you need to sand a large section or piece of timber for your woodworking project this tip advices using a sanding block instead of just by hand. A sanding block can be made from a block of wood or cork by warping the sanding paper around it. The advantages of using a sanding block instead of sanding by hand are numerous, including been easier, more comfortable and been more consistent.

Sawdust Putty

The final tip is to use sawdust putty instead of using timber putty. You can make your own sawdust putty by mixing PVA glue and some sawdust from the wood you are using from your job and apply it to any holes or cracks in the timber. As it is sawdust from your job it completely matches your timber and the dry glue can’t be seen.

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