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Answer: This question is an interesting one because, on its face, it can be answered a few different ways. Just like any other subject, Chicago woodworking can be learned but only if you are willing to put in the time and steps to do so.

First off, just because you assisted your grandpa in putting up a fence does not put you into the experience category. It’s nice that you have a warm memory of your experience, but woodworking and furniture building takes a lot more time to than that to learn to do properly.

There are many topics you will need to familiarize yourself with just to even start down the road to making a quality piece of furniture, starting with the huge safety issue. Chicago woodworking, unfortunately, has a built-in safety hazard that always needs to be addressed. Learning the proper way to use the tools you will be using will start to help you to be safer.

There is a great deal of fundamental knowledge you will have to also conquer, such as understanding engineering (how to construct a solid piece of furniture so it will not fall apart). You also must be able to design the piece so it looks aesthetically pleasing.

Other topics, for example, include knowing how to make your own tools for making certain kinds of cuts –– these tools are commonly referred to as fixtures and jigs.

There are many more topics we could list and address, but getting back to the basic question of how long  it takes  to learn furniture building? It’s a difficult question to answer in terms of days and weeks, but there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to approach the subject. If you take your time to learn all of the important topics, you will probably get better faster than if your attitude is “I can learn all this in no time.”

A: Buying the right amount of wood for your project can seem as difficult as making the project itself! Wood furniture Chicago stores sell wood in lots of different shapes and sizes (i.e. rough lumber, straight-on four sides, straight-on three sides, uniform size, random size). The best thing to do first is to make a ‘materials list,’ or cut list. The list should be very thorough, consisting of all of the pieces of wood you will need, their species and their sizes. Also record whether to use hardwood or softwood and decide which wood you want to use (i.e. oak, cherry, maple, etc). When buying furniture-quality wood, with only a few exceptions, the wood should be sold in random widths and random lengths. This ensures that no wood will go to waste.

Now, consider this scenario: I need four one-inch-wide pieces, but there are not any available in the hardware store of my choice. However, there is a six-inch-wide piece available. At this point, it is a good idea to challenge your math skills. You may have to “marry” pieces together.

Now you have a choice: You can buy the six-inch-piece from the store, cut your four one-inch pieces from that piece and still have two inches left over to use somewhere else. Good thing you paid attention in math class!

As I said earlier, buying the right amount of wood can be a little tricky. It is always aggravating to return to the hardware store because you didn’t get everything you needed at once. So take your time, do your homework and remember the golden rule of woodworking: “Measure twice, cut once!!

Answer: There has never been a better time for buying tools! The interest in woodworking over the last few years has never been greater, therefore most major tool companies have “jumped on the bandwagon,” thus making tools better and cheaper than at any other time. So how do you know if you’re getting a good tool?

First, the best way to tell if the tool is any good is old-fashioned experience.  If you know how the tool is supposed to work, then you would be able to tell if it’s any good with ease.

Secondly, lots of tools look similar. However, upon further inspection, you would see major differences between them. (I.E. a difference in the size of the motor, different features, etc.) Two tools could look identical, but they can be totally different in quality.

As I stated, experience is your best friend, but if you’re still not sure, just take your time, do a little research and ask other woodworkers if they are happy with a certain tool (would they buy the same one/brand again?).

Ask yourself, does it have good features? Does it have unnecessary features?  Most of all, remember the best tools are usually the best tools.

Question: What is the difference between hardwood and softwood?

Answer: When most woodworking enthusiasts hear the term “hardwood” or “softwood” they assume that it implies what it says (i.e. hardwood must be hard, and softwood must be soft). However, these are not the correct meanings.

The terms hardwood and softwood is a biological reference  that describes the way  the leaves grow on a tree. When deciding which species of wood to use when building a piece of furniture, the overwhelming decision rest on aesthetics (only with very few exceptions).

I.E. “Do I want the look of cherry or do I want the look of oak”? A reader by the name of Steve has asked in the comments,”Is it important to use hardwood for more durability?” Again, with only few exceptions (I.E. when making a frame. couch or chair) would the density, or strength, of the wood would be a consideration. Instead, for most other woodworking projects, the strength of the piece will rely on the engineering (how well it’s designed and how it goes together) and not on the strength of the wood.

Question: When do you know when it’s time to sharpen a saw blade?

Answer: First, let’s discuss what makes a good saw blade. When buying a new blade, you want make sure you are buying the right one. Saw blades have many variations from one to the next. Most of the variation is in the blade cutter, or tooth.

Some differences in the saw blade are the degree (or angle) of the tooth and the material it is made out of. The first thing you want to do is buy only high quality blades (i.e. carbide teeth; quality brand name; etc.)

It’s hard to just look at a cutter to determine if it’s dull, but it can be done. Take note how easy the blade cuts when it’s new. After using  it for awhile, take note of the fact of how it’s not cutting as easy (or as smooth) as it did when it was new.

As a percentage, the blade is dulling . It may now be only 80% or 70%  sharp, but it is no longer 100% sharp. This is the time to think about resharpening your blade. Even though it will still cut, it is not wise to wait much longer simply because the blade will start to work against you. It will stop making smooth cuts and you will have to use more force to cut the material.

This behavior ultimately results in a big safety hazards. Keeping your blades sharp is a prudent thing to do. It is not expensive and will only serve to make your projects better, and keep you safer.

Question: How high should a blade be raised when cutting wood on a table saw?

Answer: With very few exceptions, the blade should be raised only high enough to cut the wood because any higher could cause further injury in the event of an accident.

If you are not careful about how you set the blade and readjust your blade correctly every day, then you will undoubtedly see those small errors have huge impacts on the quality of your project. Diminished join strength, incorrect dimensions and parts that don’t fit are all consequences of an incorrect blade height.

In order to adjust your blade correctly, find the middle of the blade, or the Top Dead Center of the blade (TDC). Use a combination square to help you find it and be careful not to sway and keep a steady hand while finding the Top Dead Center.

When you think you are finished adjusting the table saw blade, always use a piece of scrap wood material to test out the depth. Ensure that it is too your requirements and you are good to go for the day!

I would like to answer  any questions that I can, exchange ideas, and have a dialogue  with anyone who is interested in woodworking. I would also like to take this opportunity to address something that has been on my mind for some time.

I am the founder and director of Chicago woodworking classes. I, more than anyone, was suprised at  how good the  program is. I have been teaching it for ten years. Over the years I have taught hundreds of students. I have not changed anything from day one because, fortunately, it was written  well to begin with.

Over the past ten years, I have had some students go on to do woodworking professionally, and others have taken woodworking up as a serious hobby. I love hearing the positive feedback I get from students about how much they enjoyed taking  the class and how much they learned.

Every once in a while  I have a problem with a student. Woodworking has a built-in safety issue attached to it, so if someone does not want to cooperate here, it’s in our best interest to refuse them. Only three or four people have been asked to leave. All I can and will do about it is to continue  to do what I know is the right thing, and that is to continue to teach each class with the upmost emphasis on good woodworking skills and safety skills, and to have a fun time doing it!

Thank you, and now, let’s blog!