You have your wood working plans for the wood working project you have decided to build, now all you need is some wood, glue, fasteners, a few tools and you are off and running.
Wood is wood, right? Well it depends on where you are in the world, it could be lumber or timber. Then there is MDF (medium density fibreboard), Chipboard, Plywood, Particle board, hardboard and a whole host of other variants of reconstituted wood chips, laminated boards and beams.

To start with, lets just take a look at "real wood".

• Real Wood
Now that you have your wood working plans for a project you have decided to build, what wood do you need?
The answer to that is - it depends, not very helpful you might think, but it really does depend on what you are making so lets see if we can point you in the right direction.
For many of my wood working projects real wood is often my first choice but not always. Like I said thats lumber or timber, there is a huge variety of tree types which vary enormously in their properties and costs but essentially they are categorised into softwood and hardwood.

• Softwood
Softwood is wood from the conifer variety of trees and includes cedars, Douglas-firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauris, larches, pines, redwoods, spruces, and yews.
Surprisingly enough softwoods are not necessarily softer than hardwoods, there is a wide variation in hardness in both groups. Generally, softwood is easier to work with than hardwood.
Softwood is used a great deal in the building industry for structural timber, for making furniture, wood pulp and paper. For many of the wood working projects that you may be considering, Cedar and Pine for example are good choices.
From an environmental perspective softwood is easier to replenish than hardwood, taking less time to grow to usable sizes and is grown in large forests around the world. Because of the tree shapes they can be grown closer together, so you get a higher density of timber per acre or hectare.

• Hardwood
The density in hardwoods has a broad range and encompasses that of softwoods. There are some hardwoods (such as balsa) which are softer than most softwoods, while yew is an example of a hard softwood. The hardest hardwoods are much harder than any softwood. There are hundred times as many hardwoods as softwoods.
Varieties of hardwoods include ash, beech, boxwood, cherry, ebony, holly, mahogany, maple, oak, teak and walnut. There are many other varieties. Many hardwoods have intricate grain patterns like walnut, some are used for special applications such as veneers.
Quality furniture and fittings in your home are often made from hardwoods. There is a cost penalty though, hardwoods generally, are more expensive than softwoods.

• Wood Quantities
Most wood working plans will have a list of timber required but, check actual measurements. You will need to make allowances in your wood working projects for variations in your timber. Timber has a water content and shrinks as it dries. Some kiln dried timber is available but it will be considerably more expensive. Dressed (or finished) timber can vary in sizes a small amount.
Some timber is better suited to outdoor projects than others. For special applications, some timber is chemically treated.
If you are in any doubt just ask at your local lumber (timber or wood) yard and they will usually be happy to give you advice.
So choose your wood, open up your wood working plans and get your wood working project underway.
If you like more reading Check Teds Wood Working.

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What Is Landscape Architecture

Many times I have been asked what is the difference between a landscape architect and a landscape designer. Hopefully the following will answer this question.
The American Society of Landscape Architects, ASLA, provides the following:
"Landscape architecture encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of the natural and built environments. Landscape architectural projects include design of public parks, site planning for commercial and residential properties, land reclamation, urban and community design, and historic preservation. Examples of landscape architecture include Central Park in New York City, TRW’s headquarters outside Cleveland, the “Emerald Necklace” of green spaces and parks in Boston, Sursum Cordan Affordable Housing in Washington, D.C., preservation of Yosemite Park and Niagara Falls, and the landfill reclamation of Fresh Kills in New York. Landscape architects have advanced education, professional training, specialized skills, and are licensed in 47 states."
What is the difference between a Landscape Designer and a Landscape Architect?
The national professional association is the American Society of Landscape Architects, based in Washington. ASLA full members have graduated from an accredited landscape architecture program, have 7 years of education and/or professional experience and are state licensed. In Michigan, as well as all other States, a three (3) day LARE examination administered by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards is required to be passed for state licensure.
Landscape designers do not have these professional credentials. Many state and local governments require designs to be stamped with a state registered Landscape Architects seal.
What can I expect the landscape architectural design process to be?
Various architects may have different approaches, yet all are aimed at the same result. Make sure youre comfortable with the steps that the Landscape Architect defines. A typical process includes:
· Pre-planning - As the client, you discuss your desires with the architect and provide background, priorities, and any basic design guidelines. Youll work together and define the overall scope and timeline. The result will be a proposed budget and statement of work. The landscape architect will then prepare a contract for you to sign.
· Project Planning - Further preliminary details are developed with you about the site and its function and usage. The site is analyzed and the Landscape Architect creates a list of development priorities, which youll approve.
· Preliminary Design - A review of the site, usage requirements, and environmental conditions are undertaken to create preliminary drawings. The Landscape Architect will show you design and presentation drawings showing the overall site concept. Initial construction cost estimates are provided, which you review and approve.
· Final design - Further detail is added to the concept. Material is selected and initial construction documentation is created. Where necessary, cost estimates are revised.
· Documentation - Additional detailed specifications and drawings are developed and provided to you for approval. The Landscape Architect may give you construction documents to assist you in soliciting bids from contractors and may help you review bids.
· Installation - Depending on your contract, the Landscape Architect may play an active role in representing you in your interaction with the contractor and provide on-site supervision. At the close of the project, the Landscape Architect will make a final inspection.
How do I find a good landscape contractor?
If youre going to need referrals to contractors and other service providers as part of your project, ask the Landscape Architect about these people. They will typically have an array of competent people in the industry for you to contact.
Whats included in the landscape architecture contract?
Any reputable Landscape Architect will provide a written contract before beginning a project. This agreement will specify in detail the exact work to be done, the work schedule, the amount and payment terms of the landscape architects fees, and the responsibilities of each party to the contract.

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Wood Working Wood Working Plans What Wood Should You Use For

Wood Working: Wood Working Plans - What Wood Should You Use For ...: "You have your wood working plans for the wood working project you have decided to build, now all you need is some wood, glue, fasteners, a ..."

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Teds Woodworking What You Actually Get For 67

I recently discovered Teds Woodworking, a website that gives you access to over 16,000 woodworking plans for the one time low price of $67. My first concern is can this price and the quantity of plans mix with quality? Well Im going t tell you whats inside Teds Woodworking and if its worth it.
So yes, there are over 16,000 woodworking projects and plans, which will keep you busy for a lifetime of do-it-yourself stuff. Now of course if you are a beginner you certainly can not build all of the projects, but thats okay.
Teds Woodworking package includes projects for beginner, intermediate and advanced woodworkers. And with time you will certainly be able to progress and go with more complex projects. This is actually a sure thing as the instructions are very well laid out: step by step blueprints, full color diagrams, all material and tools required are mentioned too.
Also the projects are accurate. This is truly a shame when you come across a project and cannot complete it because you lack of information or dimensions are wrong. Special care has been added on this point.
This makes going through a project easier and faster, and a lot more fun. so really, newbies will enjoy these plans as much as pros or veterans. This is for everyone who wants to spend some time building his or her own unique wooden furniture.
The package includes few bonuses, the main ones being the CAD plans viewer which helps you create your own plans, this is a very high value addition considering these software can cost you few hundred dollars. There are also these premium videos hosted by veteran woodworkers that demonstrate the techniques, these are really helpful to learn how to do things properly.
At this price Teds Woodworking is really a no brainer, clearly something you should invest into if you dont want to lose anymore time building another project and have thousands of plans available instantly. It may still take some time to download since as you can understand, the size of this package is quite impressive (though there is an upgrade option for a DVD version).
However the plans are very well organized and you will be able to find the plans you want very fast, they well classified in their proper category and on your computer you will just have to open the right folder to access hundreds of plans for that specific category.
So now you should be ready to build your own bed, or even your own shed!
Download Now Teds Woodworking

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You can have a more finished and professional look to your work by using joints instead of screws and nails. Here are some of the basic joints used in woodworking.

Butt JointsThe butt joint is the simplest of the woodworking joints, and is very easy for beginners to master. The joint consists of two board ends that are pushed, or butted, together and held with nails, screws or glue. Simple wood boxes are often constructed with butt joints. While the butt joint offers a quick finish, it does not offer structural strength in most cases. If a butt joint held together with nails is required to bear much weight, the nails may soon pull out of the wood.

For beginners, though, the butt joint offers an easy way to complete a project without expensive equipment or in-depth woodworking knowledge.

Dowel JointsThis technique is ideal for joining two flat pieces together to form a larger flat surface.Take two pieces of equal length wood. Decide now which side will be the top and which the bottom for each piece and mark the top side of each so that you do not forget.

Clamp both pieces together, one on top of the other, with the bottoms face to face in the middle. When clamping, ensure that the two surfaces along which you plan to join these pieces of wood are level with each other (see diagram
one).

Draw a line down the middle of each surface to be joined. This must be exactly the same on both pieces of wood, otherwise when they are joined there will be a step at the join. Once this line has been drawn, use a set square and mark lines across the grain of the wood. The intersection of the length and width lines will show where the dowel holes will be drawn.

There is no hard and fast rule for how many dowels should be used. However, the heavier the weight of whatever will be on the surface, the more dowels should be used. Typically, one dowel per foot is a good rule (with a minimum of two).

Once these lines have been drawn you can then proceed to drill the holes at the marked intersections. The drill bit used should match the diameter of the dowel being used, thus ensuring a tight fit.

As for the dowel itself, you can either make your own small dowels from a longer length, or you can buy dowel made specifically for this reason. The latter option is a far better solution, as the small dowels are beveled at the ends to make it easier to but them in the holes, and are ribbed to allow the glue to bond more efficiently. Each hole should be just over half as deep as the length of the dowel being used. Once the holes have been drilled, glue one end of each dowel into the holes in the first piece of wood. Then place
glue along the full length of the second piece, ensuring that some glue falls into each of the holes.

Unclamp the two pieces and push them together, ensuring that the two top markings are facing up. Once done you should clamp tightly overnight. Be careful when you clamp them to make sure that both pieces remain flat and
do not try and warp upwards. To avoid this, it may be necessary to clamp the entire piece down to a flat surface.

Dovetail JointsThe dovetail joint is possibly the best joint that you can use to join two pieces of wood together at a right angle. Not only is it a very strong joint, but it also adds to the appeal of the woodworking project.

The simplest way to create dovetail joints is to use a router and a dovetail template jig. The latter is available from any good home improvement store and can cost as little as $70. Its well worth the investment if you plan on doing many dovetail joints in the future.

Arrange the three pieces of the drawer or box as shown in the first diagram and mark the inside and outside of each piece. In addition, mark the ends of each piece as it is imperative that when cutting the dovetails the correct two
ends are cut at one go.

Clamp the front of the drawer and one side into the dovetail machine as follows: the left side of the drawer should be clamped under the front clamp (pointing upwards towards the template) with the inside of the drawer pointing out; the front of the drawer - again with the inside pointing out -should be clamped under the top clamp so that it butts up against the left drawer.

These two pieces should be staggered slightly, rather than being aligned exactly. The precise measurement will depend upon the particular dovetail machine that you are using, and this distance will be supplied with its manual. However, it should be roughly in the region of 7/16 inch. Once everything is tightly clamped in place, use the router to cut around the template, following the direction of the arrows in this diagram.

You can then join the boards together at the joints securing with glue and clamping overnight. It is well worth practicing with scrap wood before trying the above procedure on any project as it will take a while to get the exact measurements (such as the depth of the router cut) perfect.

If the joint is too loose, slightly increase the depth of the router cut. If the joint is too tight (remember that you still have to squeeze some glue into the joint), slightly decrease the depth of the cut.

Slotted Tenon JointsSlotted tenon joints are typically used as a method of fixing shelving into a units shelf walls. However, it can also be used for a number of other purposes. The idea of a slotted tenon joint is that only one of the two pieces of wood needs to be modified in order to attain a good, tight fit. To do this, one piece has a slot made into it that is the same width as the thickness of the second piece of wood. This latter piece of wood can then be pushed into the groove, making a strong, right-angled join.

The most effective way of creating the groove (or slot) is to use a router. Although a chisel can be used, the quality of finish will not be the same (and it takes far longer to make).

Be careful when making the slot to ensure that it is not too wide, otherwise the joint will not be tight enough to work. It is far better to start with too tight a groove and then widen it.

A router is not always the best tool to use however. If the groove is to hold a piece of 1/4 inch (or smaller) plywood, you should use a circular saw instead, changing the depth of cut to as little as 1/4 inch. This smaller cut is ideal when making the joint for a back panel of a cabinet, such as a bedside cabinet.

Now that you have some basic information, let’s get started with that first project!

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Safety In The Shop What You Ought To Know About It

When you are working around sharp saws, machinery that can sever a limb, and heavy boards, it’s important to be safe and avoid any mistakes that could endanger your health and even your life!

Safety glasses or goggles should be worn whenever power tools are in use and when chiseling, sanding, scraping or hammering overhead. This is very important for anyone wearing contact lenses. Wear ear protectors when using noisy power tools. Some tools operate at noise levels that damage hearing.

Be careful of loose hair and clothing so that it does not get caught in tools; roll your sleeves up and remove jewelry. Keep tools out of the reach of small children. The proper respirator or face mask should be worn when sanding, sawing or using substances with toxic fumes. Oily rags are spontaneously combustible, so take care when you store and discard them.

Keep blades sharp. A dull blade requires excessive force and can slip which causes accidents. Always use the right tool for the job. Repair or discard tools with cracks in the wooden handles or chips in the metal parts.

Dont drill, shape or saw anything that isnt firmly secured. Dont abuse your tools.

Do not work with tools when you are tired. Thats when most accidents occur. Do not work with tools when you have been using alcohol. Alcohol can skew your judgment. 

Wait to celebrate after you’ve finished your project! Do not smoke around flammable product like stains and solvents. Read the owners manual for all tools and under- stand their proper usage. Unplug all power tools when changing settings or parts.

Take special care regarding the use of the table saw fence settings and the suggestions on how to make cuts using safety guards, push sticks, push blocks, fence straddlers, and feather boards.

The most powerful tool in your shop is your brain, use it. Thinking your cuts and movements through before acting can help save both fingers and scrap wood. Pay attention to your actions. Looking up to watch the shop TV or visitor can result in your hand contacting the blade. Always wait until you have completed your cut before you take your eyes off the blade.

Keep in mind that this is just a hobby and take a break when you feel rushed or frustrated with a project. Mistakes happen when we rush to complete a job. 

If your saw is resisting the cut, stop and see what’s wrong. A misaligned rip fence or improperly seated throat plate can sometimes cause a board to get stuck in mid cut. Forcing the board in these situations may cause kickback or contact with the blade. Take a moment to evaluate the situation and
determine the problem.

Let the tool stop running. Giving the power tool time to wind down after a cut is an often-overlooked safety mistake. Even without power, the spinning blade can still do a lot of damage.

Accidents are caused by inattention, taking chances,bad judgment, fatigue, and horseplay. Other causes are poor instruction (not reading manuals), missing guards,unsuitable clothing, defective equipment, insufficient working space and poor lighting.

A huge step in preventing personal injury is to familiarize yourself with any new tool before using it, read the manual, do a dry run with the machine unplugged. Only use a tool or machine for its intended purpose. If it is a two person job dont try to do it alone, wait until assistance is available.

Keep a clean shop. A cluttered shop is an accident waiting to happen. Keeping your shop clean will help protect you, and your tools, from tripping hazards. Designate where hand tools are stored, sort nails, screws, and other hardware
in containers. Sweep up at the end of the day. Solvent fumes and airborne dust can present health and explosion hazards. Care should be taken to ensure a supply of fresh air and use only explosion proof vent fans.

Just as there are safety procedures you should follow, it helps if you are aware of the most common mistakes newbies make when beginning their wood projects.

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What do I need to know about putting up my shelves

When looking for the right shelves for your bathroom, you need to decide what you are going to use the storage for, then decide what’s going to work for you.
Why do I want to put in shelves in my bathroom?
Shelves are used for a variety of reasons. Shelves are wonderful creations, which you can use to store towels, cosmetics, appliances, etc. The shelves come in handy for my home, since I can store many items. The shelves provide the most efficient methods of using up empty space.
How should I use my shelves?
You can use your shelves for many things like plants, towels, and washcloths
Perhaps you want just to put a candle or maybe something nice on the shelf to offset your environment. You can put anything on the shelves that depends you.
How do I know how to pick the best shelf for my needs?
First, you want to decide what you want to use the shelves for, and what you want to store in the shelves. Next, you want to consider what kind of shelves you want. Once you reach your decision, you need to consider the strength and rigidity of the shelf. Estimating the load of items you want to put on the shelf is ideal also.
How do I choose woods?
When picking out materials, such as wood for your new shelves you want to consider a few questions. When picking out the wood for your shelves you have to decide what you want to use the shelves for therefore you want to consider thickness of the wood to be sure. It will help you to decide what kind of wood you would like. You have many options to choose from, including pine, oaks, maple, hardwood, redwood, and so on. Glass shelves are available as well.
How do I choose the categories?
On the market, you will find bracket shelves, which can hold a variety of items. The shelves are sturdy. In addition, the shelves will provide you sufficient support. In addition, you want to consider track systems, which is common for adjusting height.
The tracking systems give you the option of adjusting the heights to suit your needs.
How do I mount my shelves to the walls?
Before you mount your shelves, you want to consider where you want to put your shelves. Use a craftsmen pencil to mark your holes, preparing it for drilling. Once you have it marked, you want to put in an anchor, which will provide you support. You will need to adhere to the same rules on the opposite side to make sure that you have your holes leveled. You may want to use a leveler, which you can purchase at any hardware store. The leveler will help you to straighten your shelves. Once you have the shelf aligned, you can place your brackets on the wall. You will need to line up the brackets, so that it fits into the holes. The screws will hold the brackets in place, attaching it to the wall.
Once that is done you can lay your shelve on the brackets using a leveler to make sure that you are all lined up straight. You may want to use a few smaller screws to secure the shelves to the brackets so they don’t move, or fall. Now you are ready to enjoy your shelves in your bathroom.
In addition, you can set off to choose a few other bathroom accessories to make your new shelves stand out more so.

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Furniture Woodworking Plans What to Look For

In recent years, our world has changed dramatically. In fact, in many ways, we have come full circle. There was a time when good quality handmade furniture was valued for its craftsmanship and would withstand the use of several generations.
In the not so distant past, mass produced furniture became popular and would be used, discarded and replaced at an alarming rate. Today, many of us are looking to the simple and more frugal times of our parents and grandparents.
The financial crisis and the damage we seem to be doing to our planet has caused many of us to reconsider our notions of disposable and replaceable materials.
So, it is little wonder then that more of us are reverting to a self-sufficient lifestyle, growing our own vegetables and building our own furniture.
Constructing your own furniture has a number of advantages, not least of which is that by choosing the materials, you can ensure the quality and strength of the item.But, of course, if you are going to build your own furniture, it is a good idea to start with some good furniture woodworking plans. So, how can you tell if the plans are any good?
There are a number of things that you should consider before purchasing any plans, including:Have these plans been used by the provider, or are they just copied from another source? Are you just getting blueprints and designs or is there expert advice, too? Are there hints and tips on which materials to use?You may have already noticed that there is a huge range of websites all offering woodwork plans. It is easy to assume that all of these sites are the same, but, on the contrary, they are quite different. So it is wise to do a little research before downloading the furniture plans that you want.
It is highly recommended that you select a site which offers advice from professional carpenters or craftsmen, as this will ensure that the result of your hard work is a functional, suitable and sturdy piece of furniture.
If a site is just offering plans for download, then you have no way of knowing whether the designs will turn out as advertised and, more importantly, there is no port of call for advice should you encounter difficulties.
Building your own furniture can be a relaxing hobby; a cheap alternative to buying shoddy mass produced furniture and can even turn into a business if you find that you have a flare for woodwork. In any of these cases, it is a good idea to obtain the right plans. If you are building furniture for a hobby, then you want your labor and money to produce something worthwhile.
On the other hand, if you wish to earn some money from your woodwork, then it is imperative to the success of your business that you produce high quality, long-lasting furniture. Of course, the key to this is having the best furniture woodworking plans. So, when looking through the various sites that offer downloadable plans, be sure to shop around.

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Woodworking Plans Software Packages What to Look For When Purchasing Woodworking Plans

Are you looking to purchase a new woodworking plans software package for some upcoming projects?
If you are then youre getting to read this article just in time.
If youve been an active woodworker for any amount of time you already know getting quality project plans at a good price can sometimes be a royal pain. You find you dont always get what you pay for.
Any worthwhile woodworking project starts out with quality projects plans and a complete listing of components required to complete the project. Its the ONLY way to go for woodworkers serious about their projects.
Heres a few Important Factors I look for When Purchasing a Woodworking Plans Software Package:It must have an excellent cost-to-value ratio - excellent quality for a fair price point
It should give some focus to increasing the skill level of the woodworker
The plans are complete and include everything required to finish the project (full parts listing, detailed diagrams and drawings, accurate measurements, quality photos and graphics, detailed schematics where required, etc.)
Include well-written and concise step-by-step instructions
Projects cater to differing skill levels (hobbyists to woodworking professionals)
Plans must be easily searchable (indexed and well categorized for easy project planning)
Come highly recommended by other woodworkers already using the product
Offer a wide variety of project plans (having multiple project plans to choose from in each category)
Tried and tested professionally designed projects
Lifetime upgrade to projects package
100% Money Back Guarantee
These are the things I look for nowadays when I go for a new woodworking plans software package.
Honestly, theres no need to settle for less. If you do settle for any less than the above-listed factors--you may be headed for an unexpected finished look to your projects.
To me it just isnt worth the potential pain and heartache. Ive been down that road before a time or two...whos counting anyway.
I am!

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Free Woodwork Plans But at What Cost

Imagine, it is Saturday morning, your wife and children are out for the day, so you decide to build that Entertainment Unit you have been putting off for a while. So what is the first step? Grabbing your free woodwork plans. You look through all of the plans you have and there is nothing that suits.
What is your next step? Fire up Google of course. You put the phrase "Free Woodwork Plans" into the search engine and you will get over 67,000,000 pages returned. Where to start? You start going through the pages one at a time. You find that most of the pages are not advertising free woodwork plans but are advertising a paid product. The occasional pages you find that actually do have free woodwork plans only have a couple of free plans and nothing that will suit your needs.
By the time you have gone through some of the search results, half the day has gone. Half a day that you could have been working on your project, and you still do not have the plans you wanted. So you download any plan and have to start changing it to meet your needs. This takes another chunk out of your day, and by this time you feel as though you should not have bothered.
You finally have your amended "Free Woodwork Plans", which has cost a lot of time and effort, so you take your amended material list and spend more time gathering the required items. By the time you get home it is not worth starting, as most of the day has already gone.
Does this sound familiar? I know it has happened to me plenty of times before. I have quite often given up with the whole process of looking for plans online.
So why not cut out all of this wasted time and purchase a database of woodwork plans. I know that these are not free woodwork plans but at least you will not waste a good part of your day, looking for free woodwork plans. If you cannot find a plan for your project in the database of up to 14,000 plans, you certainly will not find one searching on the Internet.What do you get with these paid databases of woodwork plans?
A database of up to 14,000 woodwork plans that you can search at home.
 Each plan is in a printable PDF version (no having to buy software to view them).
Each plan has easy to use instructions and diagrams.
All contain a comprehensive materials list.
Imagine being able to search through a database of 14,000 woodwork plans rather than searching 67,000,000 pages on the internet looking for free woodwork plans. Being able to print the plans out and then start work on them straight away. Some plans even include Streaming Video to show you techniques, this can be an invaluable resource at no extra cost. No wasted time, just more time to enjoy your hobby and create that perfect project that you will be proud to show to family and friends.
Now it is easy to complete your project in a few steps:Select the plan that you want to use..
Print it out.
Take the easy to use material list and purchase the supplies.
Take your time to build the project referring to the easy to read instructions and diagrams.
Stand back and admire the completed item.
Purchasing a set of plans from the Internet makes a lot of sense as it will save time finding that perfect project to build. If you are interested in reading more about these databases of plans, use the link provided below.

Save Your Time Now And Get This Stunning Woodworking Plans

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The two basic categories of wood are hardwood and softwood. There is also manufactured wood like plywood.

What you use for any given project depends on various factors: strength, hardness, grain characteristics, cost,stability, weight, color, durability and availability. Usually beginning woodworkers start out with softwood such as pine. Its soft and easy to work, and you dont need expensive tools to get good results. It is readily available at local lumberyards and home centers. It has its limitations in furniture making; it is a soft wood and will damage easily.

Softwood is from an evergreen or coniferous (conebearing) tree. Common varieties are pine, fir, spruce,hemlock, cedar and redwood. These woods are mostly used in the home construction industry. Cedar and redwood are excellent choices for outdoor projects, while pine is often used for "Early American Country Style" furniture. Pine and most other softwoods will absorb and lose moisture more than hardwoods so are not as stable.Purchase the lumber at least two weeks before starting your project and keep it indoors.

You will find that softwoods are sold in standard thickness and widths, for example a 1 X 4 will be 3/4" thick and 3 1/2" wide similar to construction materials. The material will usually be priced per lineal foot and the price will increase accordingly for the wider boards.

Hardwood lumber comes from deciduous trees, the ones that shed their leaves annually. Popular domestic species are oak, maple, cherry, birch, walnut, ash and poplar. Of these common native hardwoods, only red oak and poplar are usually stocked in home centers and lumberyards, the others have to be obtained from specialty stores. The material stocked at home centers and lumberyards is usually sold in similar dimensions to softwood and by the lineal foot as well.

At specialty stores the thickness of hardwood lumber is specified in quarters of an inch, measured when the wood is in a rough state. The thinnest stock is 4/4, representing 1 in., and the thickest usually available is 16/4, representing 4in. Rather than being milled to specified dimensions, like pine, hardwoods are sold in random widths and lengths.Working with hardwoods is quite different from working with pine; you cannot drive a screw through hardwood
lumber without first boring a pilot hole. Cutting and planing hardwoods requires extremely sharp tools.

Hardwoods are good to use when building furniture.Oak and ash are known as open-grain woods. These species have alternating areas of relatively porous and dense wood,when stained the open-grain areas absorb the color readily while the harder areas are more resistant. This accentuates the grain patterns, creating a dramatic effect.

Cherry, maple and birch are closed-grain woods,demonstrating a more uniform texture throughout a board.Poplar is also a closed-grain wood, but its color ranges from a beige to olive green, and often has purple highlights thrown into the mix. Because of this unusual coloration, it is rarely used if a furniture piece is going to have a clear finish.This wood is best when stained or even painted. Poplar,being less expensive, is also a good choice for framing
hardwood projects.

Hardwood is more durable and less prone to dents and scratches. It is also more expensive but will finish to a better advantage. Soft woods, like pine, are more prone to dents and scratches and do not have the durability of hardwood.

Softwoods are much less expensive and easier to find. Ask your lumber supplier to show you "Class 1" or "Select Grade" lumber. Make sure it is properly dried, straight, and free of knots and defects. (It may be impossible to be completely free of defects but be sure you understand how to cut around these.)

The two most common manufactured sheets goods used in furniture making are MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) and Particle Board. Both are made from wood particles, combined with glue and bonded under pressure.MDF has finer particles than Particle Board so produces a smoother and stronger finished product.

MDF machines very well and is often used for moulded components on painted furniture. Its main draw back is that it is a very heavy product compared to real wood.

Because of their laminated construction, they are extremely stable in all dimensions. Since the veneers on any given panel are usually cut sequentially from the same log,the panel should display a uniform color and grain. Matching the grain pattern of solid wood to the generally uniform grain pattern on the panels can be difficult. But careful planning can yield good matches in the most visible areas of your project.

Manufactured sheets do have limitations, whenever they are used, regardless of the core, the edge must be hidden and the veneers on the surface are extremely thin,often less than 1/32 in. Because of this, the surface is fragile
and has a tendency to split out, especially on the back side of a saw cut. Also, since the veneer is so thin aggressive sanding can quickly work through the veneer and expose the unattractive core underneath.

As we said, what wood you use depends on what kind of project you are undertaking. For projects that will be painted, you can use simply MVF. For furniture, it’s often a good idea to choose something that will finish well like cedar or oak.

You’ll most likely be getting your wood from a lumber supply store or a home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowe’s. There are a few things you need to keep in mind when picking out your lumber.

At the lumber yard or store, youll find wood boards stacked up in high piles according to length, quality grade,thickness, wood type and many other categories. Even in piles of boards that are grouped as being the same, there
are differences in quality, so follow these simple tips for choosing boards that will work for your woodworking projects.

Dont take boards you dont want! Lumberyard novices may feel like they have to take the boards that are first presented to them. Dont be afraid to examine each board closely and send boards back if they dont meet your criteria. Why pay for a warped board that wont work in your current project? Rejecting boards is not an insult, but a way to pay for wood you can use, so get in the habit early.

Check for straightness. Hold the board at eye level on one end, with the other end on the ground. Look down the board to see if it has obvious curves or twists. Some projects can handle a curved board, but for beginners,working with curved boards may be too complicated.

Check for splits and warping. Look over both sides of the board to see if there are any long splits or warped edges. Splits and warps reduce the amount of wood you can use for your project, so pass on boards that would result in a
lot of waste.

Knotholes can be considered attractive in some kinds of woodworking projects, so if youre looking for a really knotty piece of wood, thats fine. Otherwise, check your boards for large knotholes that would become waste wood or loose
knot pieces that may fall out, causing gaps or weak areas in your cut pieces.

For fine woodworking projects or projects that need a straight, even grain, quarter sawn lumber offers even wood graining, but is more expensive than regular plain sawn lumber. Decide whether youre willing to pay for the straight grain before choosing boards.

Look closely at each board to see if the color is even enough for your project, and that there are not a large number of wormholes or other marred areas. Also check for lumberyard chalk or pen markings or dents that may not come off easily.

Used boards gathered from old barns or other projects can be interesting and fun to work with. However, when buying or choosing reclaimed lumber, check for signs of decay. If the board is spongy or soft, or has signs of fungus on it, it may not hold up well as project wood.

Pressure-treated lumber and chemically treated lumber are for use in outdoor projects, and are better able to withstand temperature and moisture changes. If youre building a deck or outdoor project, ask for treated lumber. Otherwise, untreated boards are a better choice.

The beginning woodworker should probably start out using softer woods like pine or spruce. They are easier to work, and you can eventually move up to harder woods like oak and cedar.

You’re almost ready to get started, but first let’s review some safety procedures all good woodworkers adhere to.

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What Can A Plumber Do That You Can’t

Plumbing is a profession which will in no choice go out of demand. It can in no choice be damage by the recession, simply because heating and cooling systems, gas, and drinking water supply are commodities that people need on a everyday foundation, even in the worst of crises. The basic work description of a plumber includes setting up and repairing objects such as gas systems, drainage systems, drinking water systems, and waste disposal systems in commercial, residential, and industrial buildings. Plumbing includes the ability to install basic fixtures, such as showers, bathtubs, sinks, toilets, drinking water heaters and dishwashers, as well as laying the foundations of the piping program of the house.
Plumbers must have an idea of what components are proper for every setting that they operate in. On a building site for illustration, the professionals would have to map out in which the pipes are to be laid and then installed. When the structure is built close to the pipes and the cement basis is laid, then the relaxation of the internal plumbing is done and related to the bathroom fixtures.
Plumbers must be able to study and follow blueprints, which are generally drawn up by architects or structural engineers. This can aid them gauge the layout of water lines for the whole constructing, and then follow the same method, on every single flooring, for every single person apartment, or block, as is the case. Now, the aesthetics of the specific construction will need to be deemed, but, the plumber must also make positive he has an thought of the codes and regulations of the city, county, and state that he is operating in, so that the homeowners do not will need to worry.
Apart from this, at times, basic carpentry operate may well be required to access pipes within walls or brace pipes to preserve them in place. The fittings may possibly need to be welded or soldered with each other to attach them. It can also be beneficial for the expert to be familiar with electrical systems. The piping program is the primary focus but setting up fixtures is an additional crucial function.
Your plumber is also accountable for repairs to any of the methods that have been set up, if they should become clogged and will need to be drained. Some homeowners may decide for their expert to do a routine upkeep checkFeature Posts, so a time can be set up for when he could appear to your residence to verify and make positive every thing is okay with your plumbing methods. Numerous specialists are also on call in case of emergencies.

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Loft Bed Plans What You Should Know Before You Start Building

If you want to maximize your bedroom space and are looking for woodworking plans, you might want to go with one of the many loft bed plans that are available. You can find plans that are ultra simplistic, all the way to extremely complex
When you go with loft bed plans, you can easily double or triple the amount of usable floor space in the bedroom because the bed from and mattress are raised off the floor, utilizing the space along the walls and near the ceiling.
When the bed is lifted off the floor, you will uncover a large amount of space thats typically unused. This space can be sued for storage space, desks, dressers, or play areas. Because you are creating a functional space right under the bed, you are increasing the amount of usable space.
In order to choose the best bed plans for your home, you should think about who will be occupying the room. If you are using the woodworking plans to build a bed for a small childs room, you may want to consider a design thats raised 3-4 feet from the floor. This will still provide plenty of room to create a study or play area under the bed.
Small children like the look of a raised bed, but they also need the comfort of a mattress thats a comfortable height from the floor. You might also want to consider loft bed plans that feature rails on the sides to prevent accident falls from the raised bed. You should also find plans that include a ladder in the design when you are building a loft bed for a smaller child.
On the other hand, you can choose woodworking plans that are little more daring when you are building a bed for a teenager or college student. Choosing bed plans that raise the bed 5-6 feet off the floor are suitable for older occupants. This increased height will provide enough room under the bed to create a study or storage area that is fully functional.
Some people might decide to buy a loft bed from a furniture store, but others might want to get more creative and build their own. Some of the simplest loft bed plans are designed so the frame of the bed rests on top of two dressers or a dresser and a desk.
There are some woodworking plans that are more complex. When you are choosing loft bed plans, make sure you select one that matches your skill level. You dont have to choose an elaborate plan. A basic frame is really all you need. Once youve got the frame built, you can buy the furniture pieces to go under the bed that will create a functional area.
There are plenty of woodworking plans that are easy to construct. Some of the loft bed plans can be built with ease in a single weekend. Because they are constructed from wood, you will need just some basic hand tools to complete the job. If you arent very skilled at woodworking, you can always purchase the loft bed plans and hire someone else to do the work. When you use woodworking plans, you will be sure your furnishings will meet your needs.

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Portable Chicken Coop Plans What Are The Main Benefits

Portable chicken coops are actually very lightweight structures which allow you to relocate them without any real difficulty to any part of your premises. They also have a few small wheels which were put there as part of the portable chicken coop plans when the item was first designed. One other reason you want to be able to move your chicken coop often is that giving your chickens new insects and grass every few days allows them to stay much healthier overall because theyre eating much fresher food.
The best part about this is that healthy chickens produce excellent meat and excellent eggs for us to consume. Before you run out and decide to construct one please recognize all of the advantages that youll have by creating a chicken coop with portable chicken coop plans.
Here are the benefits to you in no particular order:The first thing Id like to point out is that portable coops are very environmentally friendly. By having the ability to move your poultry coop around you allow your grass to grow back after your chickens have finished grazing on it. This will help you keep your yard in excellent condition as well as allow your chickens to eat fresh food more often which is a lot healthier for them. And one final really cool thing is you dont have to worry about cleaning your chicken pens because you could allow the chicken manure to successfully fertilize your lawn.
Next lets discuss the obvious benefit which is the portability. A portable chicken pen is much easier to move around than a poultry coop of the stationary variety. This is a great option to have in case you want to be able to move your coop into a location where youll be able to keep an eye on your hens as a way to protect them from any predators that might be roaming around your neighborhood.
The local cats and dogs in your neighborhood may pose a serious threat to the health of your chickens. And depending on what part of the world you live in there are other possible threats such as badgers and foxes, as well as many other predators that you might need to hold at bay if they are threatening the safety of your chickens. Thats why its such a good idea for you to be able to have the ability to move your coop into your line of sight. Make sure you pick up a set of portable chicken coop plans that allows you the freedom of movement that you need in order to do this.
The final major benefit you receive is quality and health. Building a portable chicken coop will greatly improve upon the eggs and meat that your chickens produce overall. Letting chickens roam freely in a free range style while consuming grass that is fresh is often the best way to treat your chickens if you are consumers of chicken meat and their eggs.
Having a portable hen house requires much easier maintenance than you need with a regular poultry coop. The coops are much simpler to clean and take care of. A common chicken coop is fixed which unfortunately makes it a lot more difficult to take care of because you often find yourself missing some dirty spots.

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