| Carpentry implies crafting wood into useful and | | | | wood. Drill bits come in various diameters and |
| sometimes decorative articles. The raw wood | | | | lengths to enable you to drill holes of specific sizes. |
| must be operated on in various ways and then | | | | A boring bit cuts out rather large holes in wood. |
| assembled to produce the desired article. The | | | | The drill can be fitted with a number of alternate |
| basic operations are cutting, planeing, and shaping. | | | | tool bits to do multifarious tasks. For example, |
| None of these can be done with bare hands. | | | | you can fit a sanding disc on the drill, and sand |
| Tools and equipment help the carpenter to do | | | | down the surface of wood. A buffing attachment |
| these arduous tasks conveniently and quickly. | | | | will let you buff the article after polishing. The drill |
| Today we have a number of power tools which | | | | can screw and unscrew screws and bolts, and run |
| further facilitate these operations. The carpenter | | | | nuts. |
| will also require some supplies like nails, screws, | | | | You will need an assortment of smaller hand tools |
| glue and wood polish to complete his project. All | | | | and measuring equipment. Hammers, pliers, |
| these tools, equipment, and supplies can be | | | | pincers, and chisels are some of these. You will |
| obtained from hardware and woodwork stores. | | | | need a steel measuring tape, and a protractor to |
| As a novice carpenter you should find a local | | | | measure angles. Remember, everything in |
| store from where you can buy your supplies. | | | | carpentry depends on getting the dimensions right. |
| Alternatively, you can source your supplies from | | | | One wrong dimension can turn days of toil into a |
| online stores which abound on the Internet. Here | | | | failed project. |
| is a brief rundown on the essentials you should | | | | A router can round off the edge of a plank. It |
| get together for your new venture into | | | | can make flutes along the legs of a chair or table. |
| carpentry. | | | | You can use it to cut intricate grooves for a |
| The first order of business is to order a good, | | | | design on a wood panel. A router comes with an |
| reliable table saw. This power tool is used to cut | | | | assortment of bits and routing blades. The fancy |
| wood. The table saw will see duty every working | | | | designs you produce with the router will give your |
| day, and that too for relatively long periods. | | | | project an aesthetic look apart from it being |
| Therefore it should be a heavy-duty, industrial | | | | solidly constructed. |
| grade machine. This machine will singly do the | | | | These tools are like so many servants at your |
| majority of the work in your shop. So invest in it | | | | beck and call. They don't get tired or grouchy. But |
| wisely. | | | | yes, they do require maintenance. Proper |
| I have already said that the table saw will do the | | | | maintenance will add years of service to your |
| majority of the work in your shop. It will be | | | | tools. They must be protected from moisture and |
| required to carry out some really tough jobs, like | | | | dirt. Moisture causes these tools to rust. Dirt will |
| cutting through beams, posts and planks. Look to | | | | cause the tools to operate below par. So you |
| your budget and buy a reliable, good quality | | | | should make sure that your tools are cleaned |
| machine. In case your budget is a little strained, | | | | properly every day. Then use a dry cloth to wipe |
| look out for a pre-used machine in good condition. | | | | them dry. Finally put a few drops of a good |
| Maybe a carpenter friend is upgrading his table | | | | quality preventive lubricant on a piece of cloth and |
| saw. It will be worth your while to inspect it and | | | | wipe the tool with this cloth. The thin film of oil will |
| consider buying it. | | | | prevent moisture from getting to the tools, and |
| Most people see the band saw as an unnecessary | | | | this in turn will ensure that rust does not set in. |
| tool. Not so. The band saw is worth its weight in | | | | Your tools represent a sizable investment; apart |
| gold when it does those jobs which are either | | | | from that they are your active partners in your |
| very time consuming or downright impossible with | | | | work. Just imagine your table saw going down for |
| other tools. You use a band saw to crosscut, cut | | | | just a single day! Your entire production will come |
| out large circles, and rip lumber. This power tool is | | | | to a grinding halt! So you lose money on getting |
| the second-most important tool in your armory | | | | the tool repaired, you lose more money on the |
| of tools. | | | | loss of production, but most importantly, you lose |
| Almost everyone knows the power drill, our next | | | | out on getting the project finished on time! |
| tool. It is basically used to drill holes in and through | | | | |