Woodworking For Dummies

You've seen a few shows on TV, and working with wood looks like it could be quite entertaining and rewarding. After all, you get to create something that you can proudly display to your friends and family. But where and how do you begin to move from expressed interest to hands-on experience? Woodworking For Dummies shows you how your raw building materials stack up, with everything you wood need to know about hardwood, softwood, plywood, veneer wood, plain-sawn wood, rift-cut wood, quarter-sawn wood, solid wood, man-made wood, and more. This down-to-earth guide gives you the goods on how boards are made from trees and the characteristics of hardwood and softwood species, plus all the buzz on Gearing up with the right tools Putting safety first in your workshop Using adhesives and glue Working with wood joints Smoothing it out by sanding and filling Adding color with stains and paints Protecting your work with topcoats Whether you want to put together a simple plywood bookcase or an incredible solid oak dining table, Woodworking For Dummies can help you get organized as you craft your plans for a piece that'll reflect your personal touch. You'll discover how to Measure and mark your wood Distinguish among saw designs Choose and use sharpening tools Hone in on hot melt glue Speed things up with modern frame joints Get down to the nitty-gritty on nails Apply water-based polyurethanes This handy reference packs in essential information for the novice woodworker and some advanced tips and tricks to jumpstart any woodworker's existing skills. Includes detailed illustrations and how-to photos.

You've seen a few shows on TV, and working with wood looks like itcould be quite entertaining and rewarding. After all, you get tocreate something that you can proudly display to your friends andfamily. But where and how do you begin to move from expressedinterest to hands-on experience?Woodworking For Dummies shows you how your raw buildingmaterials stack up, with everything you wood need to knowabout hardwood, softwood, plywood, veneer wood, plain-sawn woodrift-cut wood, quarter-sawn wood, solid wood, man-made wood, andmore. This down-to-earth guide gives you the goods on how boardsare made from trees and the characteristics of hardwood andsoftwood species, plus all the buzz on* Gearing up with the right tools* Putting safety first in your workshop* Using adhesives and glue* Working with wood joints* Smoothing it out by sanding and filling* Adding color with stains and paints* Protecting your work with topcoatsWhether you want to put together a simple plywood bookcase or anincredible solid oak dining table, Woodworking For Dummiescan help you get organized as you craft your plans for a piecethat'll reflect your personal touch. You'll discover how to* Measure and mark your wood* Distinguish among saw designs* Choose and use sharpening tools* Hone in on hot melt glue* Speed things up with modern frame joints* Get down to the nitty-gritty on nails* Apply water-based polyurethanesThis handy reference packs in essential information for thenovice woodworker and some advanced tips and tricks to jumpstartany woodworker's existing skills. Includes detailed illustrationsand how-to photos.

Introduction 1Part I: What's All the Buzz about Woodworking 7Chapter 1: Discovering the Basics of Woodworking 9Chapter 2: Wood You Be Mine? Appreciating Wood for AllIt's Worth 15Chapter 3: Putting Safety First in Your Workshop 37Part II: Tool Time: Selecting and Setting Up Your Equipment47Chapter 4: Gearing Up: Choosing Tools That Are Right for You49Chapter 5: Getting a Handle on Hand Tools 57Chapter 6: Peeking at Portable Power Tools 81Chapter 7: Introducing the Big Guns: Stationary Power Tools99Chapter 8: Setting Up your workshop and Maximizing Your Tools117Part III: Together Forever: Basic Wood Joinery 137Chapter 9: Stuck on You: Using Adhesives and Glues 139Chapter 10: Working with Wood Joints 147Chapter 11: Making the Most of Mechanical Fasteners 179Part IV: getting Your Hands (and Shop) Dirty: Turning RawWood into Furniture 185Chapter 12: Understanding the Building Process 187Chapter 13: Banging Out Bookcases 201Chapter 14: Tackling Tables 227Chapter 15: Creating Cabinets 259Part V: The Grand Finale: Sanding and Finishing YourMasterpiece 295Chapter 16: Smoothin' It Out by Sanding and Filling297Chapter 17: Adding Color: Stains and Paints 305Chapter 18: Protecting Your Work with Topcoats 313Part VI: The Part of Tens 323Chapter 19: Ten Great Habits to Get Into 325Chapter 20: Ten Common Woodworking Pitfalls and How to AvoidThem 329Chapter 21: Ten Great Woodworking Resources 335Index 339