The idea of making your furniture might seem like an interesting one but can also pose a significant challenge to an inexperienced carpenter. From learning to use the tools, observing safety measures, and following through a guide, the task of making your furniture as an inexperienced carpenter is full of challenges.
Making your furniture is not as hard as it sounds. With proper guidance, the right tools, patience, and determination, you can be making your furniture in no time. Like any other skill-building technique, the more you practice, the better you will become.
We will look at the tips that any non-carpenter might find when they make their furniture. From getting the proper tools for the job to conducting the right research for a project, we’ll cover it all.
How Hard Is It To Make Your Own Furniture?
It might take you a while to complete your project if you’re new building furniture. However, you can complete your project easily with the following
Tools
Every project requires tools to accomplish, so gather all your tools beforehand. See my article on what woodworking tools to buy first if your just getting started.[Link to Article Here]
Patience
No one starts as an expert. Your first project isn’t going to be a masterpiece, and you will need time to get it right.
Determination
Starting and quitting is pretty easy. Going on despite the challenges you face shows how determined you are. Don’t be discouraged by the small challenges you make along the way.
Proper Guidance
Research online by watching over-the-shoulder videos, reading blogs, or books that provide in-depth guidance to making these videos.
Which Tools Are Needed To Make Your Furniture?
It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to carpentry or not, but you need a great supply of tools. While the tools required by an experienced carpenter might differ from those needed by a novice carpenter, there are basic tools that both of them need. They include;
Random Orbital Sander
Any woodworking project looks and feels ten times better after being correctly sanded. ROS is the way to go. Hold the sander flat on the surface you are sanding progressively working to higher grit numbers to get rid of flaws in the wood. I have an article on what I think is a good sander (Link Here)
Safety Gear
Accidents can happen at any time in a workshop despite taking all the precautions. That’s why you need to have the safety gear with you all the time. Goggles help to protect your eyes from debris, while the gloves keep your hands safe from sharp objects like nails and harmful fluids like glue. A dust mask is a necessity to protect your lungs from the sawdust[Article Here on dust masks]
Bench Planer, Jointer Combo.
Raw wood pieces are not always smooth due to the constant cutting and joining of different pieces. A smoothing plane helps to make the surface neat and smooth enough as you finish up your project.
Power Drill
This tool is a perfect replacement for a screwdriver. It allows you to drill the holes and screw things together effortlessly. It comes in handy when you want to attach two pieces of wood. You also will need a variety of drill bits to save you time and effort on your projects. [See my article here on drill bit types you need for woodworking.]
Measuring Tools
Before cutting any wood pieces, you need to have proper measuring tools with you. To measure the length of the wood, you need a tape measure. A spirit level comes in handy when you want to attain balance with your furniture.
Table Saw
If your project requires a perfectly straight line on the wood pieces, the table saw is what you need. It works like a circular saw, but it’s perfect for cutting pieces of wood that can be moved easily. I have an article on table saws here[Link to article]
Chisels
Every carpenter needs a proper chisel to help make clean cuts. They can also be used to make door hinges by cleaning out wood. It’s best to keep the edges oiled and sharpen them regularly. (see my article here for more on chisels)
Make Sure To Start With A Simple Project
While it might be tempting to start your project with a bang, it’s best to start simple and work your way to the top. The simple projects provide you with an opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them. They enable you to build on your skills and improve in different areas. Here are examples of simple projects you might want to look into;
- DIY Wooden bench
- DIY shoe rack
- Kids craft table
- DIY bookshelf
- DIY walnut nightstand
All these projects have in common are how simple they are, which means they will take you less time and resources to make them.
Note: Don’t underestimate the simplicity of any project, but you should take it as an opportunity to learn and get better.
You Can Copy From A Sample Product
While a master carpenter finds it easy to build the furniture from the ground up from the designs they made, the same cannot be said about the newbie carpenter. That’s why you need to get a sample product.
If you cannot get your hands on a sample product, you can try and get your hands on an attractive design online. Such information is readily available and is often free.
You can also get in touch with a designer who might put together a few sketches that will help you kick start your furniture.
Make Sure You Watch Your Measurements
There is an old phrase among carpenter; measure twice and cut once. The essence of measuring twice is to confirm you have the right measurements before cutting. Other than the pieces of wood, here are other measurements that you must consider;
- Measuring Your Rooms: Taking correct measurements of your room will make it easy to plan how your furniture should look. It provides you with a rough estimate of building them and how much space they should take.
- Measuring Your Entry Passages: The last thing you want is for your furniture to get in your way. This is why you need to have proper measurements of your passages and how much room you need.
(Source: Furniture measurements you should know)
Conduct Your Research On What You Need For Your Furniture Project
Every project requires proper planning to execute it. When you’re planning to make your furniture, such information would be handy to come by. You can watch videos, read blogs by experienced carpenters, and read books on the same topic. You need to know about the following;
How to Set Up Your Workshop.
Having a proper workshop setup will save you a lot of time and effort required in your project. You need to know what is needed in a workshop, like which tools are required, how to handle them, and the safety measures to observe.
Selecting the Right Type of Wood.
Every wood has its purpose, and not one can be used in place of another. Make sure you learn about the different types of wood and their applications. This will save you unnecessary costs and time. See my article on the best type of wood for furniture.
Cutting Wood Correctly.
Cutting the wood might be the intimidating part when making your furniture. It would help if you learned how to measure and cut the wood accurately. This will help you minimize any losses arising from poorly-cut wood.
Putting your Project Together.
It’s not easy for a non-carpenter to attach the pieces of wood to come up with a frame. It would help if you had a proper guide that shows you how to cut certain pieces and attach them.
Get A Second Opinion From Someone You Know
When you work around a project long enough, it’s easy to get attached to it and miss out on any crucial details. That’s it’s important to get a fresh set of eyes to point out these details. It can be your close friend or your spouse, and they should be willing to provide unbiased reviews.
Many people shy away from sharing their first project for fear of being judged. This should not be the case with you. If you are really serious about learning woodworking, consider attending a woodworking school. This article has a list of some of the best woodworking schools.[Link Here]
Accept Criticism And Don’t Take It Personally.
Criticisms are hard to accept, especially when they involve something you have worked hard to build. The best way to grow your carpentry skills and make something worthwhile is to know where your weaknesses lie. Avoid taking these criticisms personally as that might do the opposite of helping.
In Conclusion
Making your furniture is not rocket science, and it doesn’t have to be. You only need a proper guide, the right tools, the will to get the work done, and working hard on your project. You have to start small and work your way to complex projects. It might take you a while, but with enough patience, you can get the work done.