Woodworking can be fun and exciting, and you don’t have to go to a woodwork school to gain the basic knowledge of DIY woodworking ideas. You may often want to develop something that can be of help or use around the house. Here are some 4 DIY woodworking projects you can try as a beginner.
Chopping boards
One of the most straightforward woodworking projects is making a chopping board or several ones for your home cutting needs. Plus, you can make any design or shapes you want and include handles, so it doesn’t have to be the typical rectangle or square one. It would help if you had hardwood such as oak, a table saw, sandpaper, a clean cloth, and food-grade mineral oil.
To begin, draw out the board design on the wood; you can use a pencil and a ruler if need be. Then cut out your chopping board following the design marks. Wood Inventables such as X-Carve come in handy to carve out unique designs such as a heart shape or engraving your name on the board. After cutting, smooth the edges with sandpaper, wipe off any wood dust, then use the clean cloth to apply the mineral oil. Take care of your board by not submerging it in the dishwasher and avoid running it in soapy water.
A shelf or a cabinet
You can create storage space in the form of a shelf or a cabinet for your storage needs either in the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc. It would help if you had the wood, wall anchors, measuring tape, a hammer, a wood saw, and several nails. Identify where you want to fix the shelf, measure the space, and transfer the wood dimensions. Identify the shelf design you wish to create; for example, the L-design is the simplest.
Fix the wall anchors first by hammering them into the wall with the nails, then place the cut-out shelves on top and beat them into the wall anchors. Ensure the bracket is firm by using more pins, and your cabinet will be ready for use.
A pet bed
You can also use your woodworking passion by coming up with a new pet bed for your puppy or cat. It would help if you had the wood, furring strips, wood glue, nails, hammer, measuring tape, and wood finish paint. Start by making measurements of the wood size, depending on the size you want for your end product. Make your cuts to build a flat base, build the back, and attach it to the base using the nails or pocket hole screws. Apply the wood glue on the attachment line before you hammer in the nails for cohesion. Build and attach the sides using the same method and fix the feet.
With that, your pet bed is ready. Apply the finished paint and let it dry. Throw in a cushion and surprise your furry friend with a new pet bed.
Making a 2step ladder for your kid’s height needs is easy. You need the woods, nails, wood saw, wood glue, screws, tape measure, pencil, level, finish paint, and drill if need be. Start by making the necessary measurements, then cut out the wood dimensions. Attach the bottom levels using the screws and wood glue and repeat the same for the top supports or the second step. Then fix, use more screws for firmness, and apply the final paint. Your footer is ready for use.
The final words
With only a simple guide, there are different ways in which you can tailor your basic carpentry skills or interest to your preferred woodwork project.