How to Plan a Woodshop Project

A wooden picnic table such as this can be made in a woodshop in your home.

Completing a successful woodshop project requires more than simply cutting and nailing some boards together. A quality project starts with a good plan. A good plan starts with knowing what you want to build, the size of the item, the materials you will need, the tools you have available for the project and the proper way to put the project components together. There are many different types of wood materials, tools and joiners commonly used in wood working. Knowing what you will be using before beginning is the key to completing a successful project.

Things You'll Need

• Graph paper
• Pencil
• Measuring tape
• Building materials
• Woodworking tools

Instructions

1. Search the Internet for free plans available to suit your woodworking project. Precisely measure the area where your project will go and draw your own plans to fit the dimensions. Take into account if your design is functional, such as a bench, it can fit in a hallway and still allow easy access around it or, if a chair, it can fit with a table.

2. Determine the types of woodworking materials you will use and the different tools you will need to complete the project. Use materials that can be worked easily with the tools you have available in your woodshop. Heavy, thick pieces of wood are difficult to cut correctly with a handsaw. Power tools such as drills, miters, planes and bandsaws may be required depending upon the project you are working on.

3. Determine how the different cut pieces will be joined together. Nails, screws and metal plates may be the easiest joining options in some cases, but are not the best looking ways to build furniture or many other woodworking projects. Glue, dowels, and wood joints such as dovetails look better, but take more time to use.

4. Measure very carefully before starting to make cuts in your wood. Measure twice and cut once is good advice for anybody working with wood. The materials you are using can be expensive, and mistakes in wood cutting are not easy to correct. A bad cut needs discarding the lumber and using a new piece.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear safety equipment such as goggles, ear protectors and gloves when making woodworking projects.

• Failure to follow a good plan could cause the finished project to be created inadequately built incorrectly making it either nonfunctional or unsafe.

References

• Sawdust Making 101: A Guide For the Beginning Woodworker, About Joints
• Vintage Internet Plans: Yesterday's Projects, Today's Collectibles