Estimating and organizing the work time is another important consideration. It’ll help us finish the project within a reasonable time, before we get discouraged and abandon it.
Besides, when things don’t turn out the wait you expect, or you have to repeat some steps, we can get nervous and careless, resulting in work accidents.
This is a dangerous job, so safety is a top concern. Throughout my career I’ve seen all sorts of accidents. I myself cut my hand with a table saw when I got distracted doing a very repetitive task. Like in any other job or daily activity, routine and lack of attention can lead to accidents.
If you just started out in this trade, first you should familiarize yourself with all your power tools before using them. Make sure all their accessories are in optimal condition before plugging them in and test them on small pieces of wood.
Don’t forget to use safety equipment if necessary, such as goggles and gloves. It’s also advisable to search for information and videos on how to use power tools.
Another important factor is to keep our tools in good condition. Power tools with broken parts can be dangerous. You should also keep your discs clean and your bits sharp and in good condition.
When these cutting tools are worn out, you have to apply more force than usual to cut properly, and that could be hazardous.
The same goes for hand tools such as chisels, gouges and saws. If they’re not sharp and in proper condition, it’s dangerous to work with them. Here you’ll find several articles where I’ll try to help you keep your woodworking tools sharp and in proper working order.
Don’t forget to equip all your homemade tools with safety measures such as emergency switches, push sticks and vacuum systems.
With that out of the way, and with plans in hand, where should we start? Well, first I believe you should familiarize yourself with the plans and the project. This may take a few days of reflection.
You should first picture in your mind where you should start, what tools you’ll be needing, and what pieces to cut and assemble first. Normally you could use my videos as a guide, but you may find other approaches that are more suited to your tools or way of working.
If you need more information on how to use the plans available on this site, I’m sure this article will help.
Next article in the series:
1- Viability of a DIY woodworking project
