Tag Archives: wood

Woodworking Gift Ideas

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With Mother’s day coming up you might be brainstorming various ideas for sincere and heartfelt presents. Something that has become a tradition in my house, is making gifts. I’ve found that they’re a lot more meaningful then anything you can find in the store and they’re a lot of fun to make! One of the easiest things to make, and one of my first projects, is a cutting board. Technically, you could cut a block of wood and call it a cutting board, but there are many different creative approaches, such as using different colored strips of wood. Napkin holders can also be a nice addition to the kitchen, and if you are a woodturner, you can make matching salt and pepper shakers! There are so many more ideas, spice racks, jewelry boxes, clocks, sculptures, and more. The gifts you can make are only limited by your imagination!

 

 

 

Wood Finishes

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Once you’ve completed your project, you might consider finishing it to give it a polished look. Finishes are used to protect the wood and/or enhance the color of it and should be applied using an inexpensive. There are many different types of finishes and what you use varies on the type of project you’re working on. Varnishes are clear and used to seal the woods and often used on woods that are very decorative or have already been dyed. Dye is used to change the color of the wood, but does not offer protection or sealant for the wood. Finally, there are stains, used to enhance the wood color and sometimes can be used as a preservative for the wood. There are many other types of finishes and you should research the best one for your project. Have fun transforming your project into a finished product!

Woodturning

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One common, and relatively easy woodworking technique is woodturning. This technique requires a lathe (which rapidly turns a piece of wood) and various carving tools. You simply turn on the lathe and then run a tool along the side until you get the shape you want. Another plus is that it doesn’t really matter what wood you use. Many different projects use the lathe, from bowls, to lamp stands, to vases, to handles. The possibilities are endless, with many unique combinations.

Pyrography

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If you’re interested in woodworking, but don’t want to buy a ton of tools or get your hands dirty, pyrography is a good way to go. If you don’t know pyrography is the art of wood burning. All you need to start is a wood burning tool (nothing very expensive) and a piece of poplar (one of the softer pieces of wood). It’s very easy to pick up, it’s just like a pencil! Just sketch on your design before hand, or you can free hand it. Just make sure you don’t touch the metal tip, it can easily burn you. Have fun!

Choosing Wood for Your Projects

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The first step in every project is to choose what wood you are going to use. It might seem that the only difference between wood is the colors, but each type of wood has its own unique hardness, toxicity, and cost. Below I’ve listed some of the most common woods I’ve used and their specific characteristics.

Poplar- Very cheap, soft, and light, poplar is a pale white wood and perfect for buying in bulk for large projects. However, the grain is not very pretty nor is it very attractive looking when stained, so I would recommend painting or dying it it.Image result for poplar woodOak- Very sturdy, oak is useful for projects for the outdoors, such as deck chairs or picnic tables. It can be painted, stained, or neither and it is a medium brown color. Keep in mind that oak is a little more expensive than poplar and a lot heavier.
Image result for oak woodMaple- One of the hardest woods, it is pale wood with a beautiful grain. I have often used s for cutting and cheese boards. However, because it is so hard you shouldn’t use it for projects that involve carving or shaping the wood.Image result for maple woodWalnut- Similar to Oak, but not as hard, it is more often used for indoor furniture and is a beautiful dark brown. I am currently using it for the base of my cheese boardImage result for walnut woodEbony- One of the most expensive woods, I would save it for very small projects or for accents. Its colors range from a very dark brown to black and is very heavy. I was going to use ebony for a small box, but opted instead for dyeing a piece of poplar black.
Image result for ebony woodBloodwood- My personal favorite, it is a beautiful red-orange perfect for accents or small projects. It is a more exotic wood and therefore more expensive, but I’ve used it a lot in my cutting boards and jewelry boxes.
Image result for bloodwoodI hope this is helpful when you start your next project and let me know if there are any other woods you want to know about! Something to keep in mind when choosing more exotic woods is to check if it is toxic or food safe if you are using it for cooking related projects or when working the wood. Here’s a link for wood toxicity:

Wood Allergies and Toxicity