The 10 Most Common Woodworking Mistakes Beginners Make

6/10

Using the Wrong Tool for the Job

Woodworking can seem like an imposing craft. There are countless specialty tools, and it can be hard to keep them all straight. An important skill to develop is understanding what tool is nice to have, and what tool is truly needed. Sometimes, an arduous task can be made almost trivial simply by using the right tool.

If you’re hesitant to spend money on a specialized tool that you may only use once, there are some alternatives. Consider tool rental services, finding the hand tool equivalent, or making your purchase at a discount center. Inexpensive tools sometimes don’t last, but they may give you the opportunity to try something new and find out if you’d like to make that tool a permanent addition to your workshop.

7/10

Router Burn

Some beginning woodworkers are surprised to learn that burn marks caused by their saws and router bits are not a necessary byproduct of woodworking. Burn marks from flat blades are relatively easy to eliminate. These burn marks can be planed or sanded off. Or better yet, avoid them completely by using a sharp, clean blade.

Router burn, however, can be more difficult to remove, due to the complexity of the bit profile. To avoid router burn, make sure you are cleaning your router bits after each project. Resins and dust can build up on a bit’s surface, and cause the metal face to heat up faster. This in turn increases the chance of burning your next project. And, the higher heat dulls bits faster. So clean your bits and you’ll be saving money as well!

Also, be willing to take the time to do multiple passes when removing large amounts of material. If you are routing off more than an inch to an inch and a quarter, make several shallower passes, and you’ll reduce the chance of burn marks.

8/10

Dull Blades and Bits

Dull blades are the bane of woodworking. As mentioned in the last tip, dull and dirty blades heat up faster and tend to burn wood. They are also more prone to kick-back and tear-out. But you don’t need to spend the money on a whole new blade! Do a quick search online to see if there is a sharpening service near you. The pros there can help you determine which blades are worth resharpening and which ones are best to simply replace. A quality saw blade can be a pricey investment, but with judicious resharpening, you can keep it in service for a surprisingly long time.

The same goes for other tools: from utility knives to chainsaws, a dull blade slows you down, damages your material, and tempts you to force the tool, potentially leading to injury.