WOODWORKING
thin mark on the wood. Don’t scribble it, color it, or circle it. One clean, straight, little mark
matching in line with the measurement on your tape measure is all you need.- Measure and Mark you Lumber...Placement is everything: Knowing where the blade will first
make contact with the wood is helpful. Measure and make your mark at that spot. That way when
you line up the mark with the blade the two will touch, making it easier to line up your wood
accurately. Miter saws, for instance typically hit the wood 2” to 3” away from the fence. When using
the miter saw, then, mark your lumber in that location. When using the table saw, however, the blade
will first make contact with the workpiece on the leading edge of the lumber. Therefore, you will
need to measure along the edge of your wood and place your cut mark so that when you slide it into
place the mark will touch the blade. Finally, when marking out the center of a circle, thin clear
crosshairs locating the horizontal and vertical center will do. Do not draw the circle, only the center
point. - Know the Kerf...Take the Mark of Edge it? Blades don’t slice lumber; they scoop
out a section of it and turn it into sawdust. This removed section of lumber is called
the cut line, and the width of that cut line plays an important role in your layout. The
total width of the cut line made from the blade is called the kerf. The blades for table
saws and miter saws, for instance, with the alternating set of the teeth are around 1/8”
thick. This means that when you cut your wood, you are removing 1/8” of
material. When making a cut, then, you must decide if you are
going to cut to the left of your layout mark, take out the layout
mark, or cut to the right of the layout mark. Cutting on the
wrong side of the layout mark makes a big difference. After
measuring the distance of your cut, place a thin, clean mark (not
a line) on your piece of stock. Then, if you need to remind
yourself which side to cut on, place a < pointing to the side on
which your blade should go (see illustration). - Stop blocks...A Secret to Success and Speed: If it is important for multiple pieces of lumber to be cut
the same size, consider using a stop block rather than measuring each piece separately. A stop block is a
piece of scrap wood clamped to a fence, sled, or table, and is used for stopping your workpiece the
required distance from the blade. The cut piece of wood between the blade and the stop block is called
the keeper workpiece. It is the wood you will use for your project.
Simply measure the desired distance of your cut from the blade tooth to the
stop block and clamp it. Then, slide your workpiece in place by pushing it
against the stop block. If proper care is taken to remove sawdust buildup,
being “stopped” in place, each piece will be cut the same every time. Warning:
Never use the table saw fence as a stop block on the table saw. It will jamb
and throw your wood, possibly injuring you or someone else. Also, if cutting
smaller pieces of lumber on the miter saw it is best to use a spacer between the
end of your workpiece and the stop block, as shown in the diagram on the
right. This spacer prevents your cut-off piece from binding and being thrown
violently. - Laying out plywood...: How plywood is laid out to be cut should have already been determined on
your cutting schedule. If you have not done so, do so at this time. Because plywood is bulky and
difficult to maneuver, it is best to begin with a rough cut. By cutting the plywood slightly larger than
necessary, you will be able to cut down to your final size with greater ease and accuracy. It is best to
rough cut your workpiece 1” to 2” wider or longer than what you need, but make certain you have the
room to do so. If you need two pieces 24” wide, for instance, you will not be able to do so since
plywood is 48” wide and your kerf will remove 1/8”. One piece will end up being smaller than the
other. Once all of the rough cuts have been made then set up your fence for your final cut and cut all
of the same size pieces at once. This will assure that each piece will come out the same. Every time
you move the fence, the measurement will be slightly different.
LumberUnit III: Project Construction