Planning your Woodworking Project

To achieve the best outcome from every woodworking project, you need to spend some time on planning and preparation. We all want to go out and choose our perfect piece of wood and get cutting but a little effort in the early stages can pay off in the long run.

Planning

Start by asking yourself what you want to achieve from your project and the function of the piece? Knowing what the end product needs to do, allows you to move forward and start sketching it out. If you are looking for some ideas or inspiration, check out these sites.

Instructables Woodworking Projects for Beginners

Popular Woodworking Magazine

Minwax

Popular Mechanics

The Family Handyman

Before you finalise your design or sketches, check if your design can’t be improved with an addition here or a modification there. Again you can turn to the internet for advice and pictures to make sure you are completely happy with your piece long term. Once your design is finalised, you will be able to confirm the materials you will be using. You will need to know if you will be making a solid wood project or a veneer project. Price the materials you need to ensure they are within budget.

The Right Tools and Materials

There is nothing worse than getting into your project and being forced to stop because you don’t have the right tools on hand. Different tools, cutters and methods are needed depending on your materials. Decide early on what router bits, saw blades or cutters you will need to complete the project and order them now. If you don’t want to buy any new tools, then you have the option of changing your design now before you buy any materials.

Similarly to your tools, you will want to check if you need to buy more glue, fillers, sealers and finishes. There is nothing more frustrating than getting everything ready to glue only to find it has gone hard. Having everything on hand means you aren’t wasting time on multiple orders or trips to the hardware store.

Your Project

Once you have all the wood, tools and other materials on hand, you can get started. As part of your planning and information for next time, keep notes on any difficulties or tricks you come across, so you know for similar projects you undertake in the future. Every piece of information can help. It’s hard to remember the time-saving tricks you discover so write it down in a notebook or on your computer for easy reference.

Remember to take a photo of your finished piece and share it with the online woodworking community on your favourite forum or blog. Fellow woodworkers may be looking for the inspiration your piece provides.

All that is left to do is enjoy your piece and start planning your next project.