Woodworking is growing more popular among young homeowners as they continue to seek out custom pieces with a personal touch. With practice, this hobby enables you to create a unique coffee table or installation piece that fits your home perfectly. It isn’t difficult to learn woodworking as long as you take the time to master the basics.

With more than 100 years of experience, Butler County Lumber Company in Hamilton, OH, shares their top five woodworking tips for beginners who are just starting to learn the difference between oak and walnut:

• Follow Basic Safety Rules: Woodworking involves the use of sharp tools, which can result in injury if proper safety protocol isn’t followed. Make sure that hearing protection, latex gloves, and safety goggles are accessible in the workshop at all times. Avoid loose-fitting clothing and remove dangling jewelry before beginning.   
• Take It One Step at a Time: A coffee table might seem like an easy undertaking until you’re faced with a pile of wood and dwindling patience. Start off small with simple woodworking projects that allow you to become familiar with your equipment and practice different techniques. With a solid base of knowledge and experience under your belt, you’ll be able to progress on to more complicated projects.
• Prep Your Surface: When pressed for time, many novice woodworkers often skip important prep work like sanding and primer. However, skipping these steps can result in an uneven surface and compromise your finished product. Use a sanding block or power sander and move along the wood grain using progressively finer grits.
• Measure With a Drafting Square: Measuring and marking your boards can often be the most time-consuming part of woodworking. Learn how to use tools that will make the planning process go by quicker, such as a two- or three-foot drafting square.
• Sharpen Blades Regularly: Ensure that your tools cut cleanly every time by keeping chisels, blades, and scrapers sharpened. Grind down any tools that have developed chips, and polish often using a whetstone.

Learn more woodworking basics by contacting the lumber experts at Butler County Lumber Company. Since 1912, they have made it their mission to supply all the construction materials that homeowners, builders, and contractors need to complete their jobs. Learn more about the services that their team of craftsmen and artisans offer online or by calling (513) 896-6660.