If you want to be able to handle any do-it-yourself projects in your home, make sure you have a work shop that has everything you need. Make sure you have the basic tools and any job, whether it is sawing, nailing, sanding, shaping or sharpening can be done.

There is virtually no limit to the number of tools that are available for the home handyman to invest in. Just check out any hardware store or look in the garages of your neighbors. But many times it is overkill since so many of the tools do the same thing. With a basic arsenal of five tools, you can tackle just about any reasonable job. From there, you can start to develop a complete workshop as you get more proficient.

A basic important tool any handyman wants is a circular saw. Cut large curves or straight lines with this saw; all you have to do is set a board on the top of sawhorses, and you have a work surface to hold the wood to be cut.

If you are planning on any large wood working projects, you will need a radial arm saw or a table saw. Pick a saw that can rotate to different angles if you want to make picture frames or mouldings. These angles will permit you to make 45 degree miter cuts that you need for corners.

A small electric sander will be invaluable in your woodworking jobs. You can do hand sanding, but a belt sander that is electric powered is faster and gives the finished product a smooth, professional look. Strips of wood for moulding or furniture are smooth and can just be painted or stained.

Next you will need a router. A tool such as this lets you make patterns in wood or grooves that are needed to form furniture. You can start with a plain Shaker style, and graduate to more complex designs such as French provincial furniture.

To maintain your tools in tip top shape, you will want to invest in a knife sharpening tool or a grinding wheel. With these, you can keep all of the blades in perfect condition. This is the hallmark of a quality wood worker: if the tools are sharp, you can cut finely and work in detailed patterns that look very professional.

If you want to do quality work, you should invest in quality brand tools. Some of the top names in the field that you should choose between are: Sears Craftsman, Makita, Rockler, Rockwell, Ridgid, Rockwell and Snap-On. If you buy any of these, you know you will have a top notch tool. There is some variation in price, but each of these should last decades and be a good investment for your workshop.

Now that you have the basics, you can add the extra items that will make the jobs easier and fun. You will want to have clamps and gluers, of course, but add to them over time jet tools, dovetail jigs, electric nailers and more.

If you have anl organized workshop and all of the basic tools, wood working will be a pleasure. How about a workbench as your first major woodworking project?

After you have been working in your workshop for awhile you will notice pretty quickly that you could use a few more hands! In fact there are some times when you will wish you had ten more hands. Because it's impractical to have five more people in the wood shop lending you their hands, you will need to invest in some clamps for your shop. 

There are a lot of different clamps that will be able to assist you in your woodworking projects and you will want to build up a healthy supply of all of them. Some of the most popular clamps for your shop are C-Clamps. Most people will tell you to buy these big. These clamps will hold together a wide variety of projects in glue up phase, and it is important that you buy a quality clamp, because you do not want it breaking on you in a critical point. 

Another great clamp to have in your arsenal is a band clamp, which is also sometimes known as a web clamp. These clamps are made with nylon mesh straps and they utilize a mechanical ratchet to cinch them up tight. These are indispensable clamps when you are trying to clamp up odd shapes or sizes and they are great for corners as well. 

Corner clamps are also a great addition. These clamps mount to your work bench and they are used to hold two pieces of material in a perfect 90 degree angle for glue up or other purpose. They are perfect for making picture frames of course but also for door frames, drawers and a wide variety of other projects. 

Pipe clamps are also great for any wood shop. They are what their name implies, they utilize a bar or a pipe in order to clamp up the project. You can choose pipes of different lengths depending on the project you are working on.

 Clamps are an absolutely essential hand tool for any wood shop, and most wood workers will say that you can never have too many clamps. However, clamps can get expensive so it is probably a good idea to build up your supply slowly. You will never regret having too many clamps, however if you do not have enough and you are in the middle of a project, you will regret not having enough clamps without a doubt!

Trakware Systems is the worldwide leader in manufacturing execution system (MES) solutions for engineer-to-order (ETO) and project-based manufacturers maximizing both profitability and productivity. Trakware specializes in lean business-critical functions such as estimating, advanced scheduling, job costing, production management and labor as well as material shop floor data collection. TRAKware software fully integrates with existing ERP systems, as well as major software providers for financials, engineering design, optimization, payroll and wireless interaction for mobile workers. Trakware recognizes ETO manufacturing as a process and includes a wide range of industry sectors including Architectural Woodworking, Cabinets, Store Fixtures, Doors and Windows, Furniture, Oil and Gas Fabrication, Solid Surface, Metal Fabrication, Yachts-building, and Custom Electronics.

In the current issue of CabinetMaker Magazine, leading manufacturing solution provider Trakware is profiled as the MES solution for project-based manufacturers. The article may be read at its entirety at http://www.cabinetmaker-digital.com/cabinetmaker/200708/?pg=34.

According to Linda Ohm, author of the cover story, FC Woodworks, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, increased the bottom-line with Trakware because the software tracks costs and provides profitability feedback. Ohm details the work stages of the woodworker and how Trakware has assisted. Jobs are broken down into work order stages; Work orders include purchasing, shop drawings, cutting, edging, machining, assembly, wrap and load, delivery and installation. Errors and rework, claims and changes by the customer are also factored into the report.

Interestingly the Trakware solution starts with the product that shop is going to build, taking it from a concept to a deliverable product. What goes into a product usually includes raw materials of various kinds, engineered parts and finished goods. Additionally there is labor and overhead, all of which affects the profitability of each project.

Founded in 1995, Trakware’s partners include Microsoft, Oracle, ADP, Sage, and SolidWorks, Dell and TouchSystems. TRAKware software allows any manufacturer with unique requirements of a custom engineered-to-order business, in any industry, to have total control of each and every order through the plant. Trakware is the leader in delivering innovative Manufacturing, Planning, and Control (MPC) solutions for project-based manufacturers.

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Anatomy of a Woodworking Project

Have you ever thought about the process from start to finish of a woodworking project. There is alog ore involved in the process than you think. Most of us skip through each process not really thinking about how each step affect the overal project.

1. Fill a Need

I believe that in all things we do, we want to fill a need. Otherwise, why do them. The need may be basic or secondary. We also my not understand which need is which. The need may be materialistic or it may be emotional. You are someone you know needs a table, so you build one. But, is that really the basic need? I doubt it. I believe the basic need is more primal than that. Just as we need food, clothing, and shelter, we need an avenue for self expression and a sense of accomplishment. Otherwise, we would have bought the table. It certainly would have been cheaper.

2. Getting an idea

Where do you get the idea for your next project? Clues are all around us. Sometimes, ideas come from the most unlikely places. One word in a discussion can trigger an idea. For some, it may be a specific problem they are trying to solve. Others may be lucky and have the eye of an artist and have the ability to visualize an object. I will admit, I am not an original thinker. My ideas usually bome from a request from a customer or the desire to change something I have seen to make it my own.

3. From mind to paper

The next challenge is to move the great idea from your mind to paper. My first step is usually a sketch. then, there is a discussion wi the customer. All projects have a customer. It may be you, a lovedon, a neighbor, or if you are really lucky, a bonefide cash carrying customer whi is willing to pay you for your hard work. When there is an agreement on the sketch, my next step is a full size drawing. If at all possible, do not skip this step. There was a time when i felt that 1/4 or 1/2 scale would suffice. But, after completing some full scale drawings, I found it much more comforting to know that I had the exact measurement to work with.

4.Selection and preparation of materials.

This is an area where I believe much time and thought needs to be utilized to get it right. The last thing you want, is to complete a project and then realize that the wrong materials were selected. Aesthetics, project location/use, material strength, the mix of materials, and grain direction are just a few of the things that need to be considered. This is also another area where the customer must be consulted. For traditional furniture, there are many publications that can assist in you decision making. For an original project, the world is your palette.

For the first part of material preparation I use computer software. I use a product called 'Cutlist Plus'. There is a version of this software that cost less than $100.00 and you will recoup this cost in short order. Entering your inventory of materials, along with part sizes and how many of each part required, the software will create a cutlist that will make maximum use of materials.

The next step is to bring your material into the shop and allow it to acclimate to the shop for a couple weeks. When you start cutting material, cut each part at least 1/4 inch larger all around and a few inches longer.There are many stresses in wood and when cut, these stresses are relieved. You may or may not be able to see this right away. Let the material sit overnight. You will be surprised at how much movment there will be.I would also suggest that you cut some extra material to the same dimensions as your parts. There is always the possibility of an error somewhere in the project. Having dimensioned lumber available will reduce the stress level. DO NOT get rid of extra material until the project is complete.

5. Preparation of equipment

This is one of the most important, but often neglected parts of a project. If your equipment is not maintained and calibrated properly, you will encounter many moments of great frustration. Are your cutting tools sharp? Dull cutting tools cause many of the blood letting accidents in the shop. Inattention to the task at hand has caused many accidents. Before starting a new project, take the time to ensure that your saws are sharp and calibrated properly, so you can get that 90degree or 45degree cut exact. Make sure the cross cut sleds are exact. On mine, the thickness of a piece of painter's tape makes the difference between failure and success.

6. Execution

This is the fun part. It is also the part where the most mistakes can be made, in material and in you. Never ever work when you are tired, or are unable to give full attention to the task at hand. Missing body parts are not worth it.

As the old saying goes, measure twice and cut once. It is extremely easy to turn a 5 /14" cut into a 4 3/4" cut. Believe me, I have done it. Take time with your tools, Do not push them beyond their capability. Wixey corporation, makes an angle gauge that will great enhance you accuracy when setting up a saw for a particular angle. Try to use the same ruler throughout the project. Minute differences, between rulers can cause problems when trying to assemble a project.

Do not get in a hurry to start gluing things together. Always to a dry fit to make sure things line up properly. Make sure your joints are not too tight. glue will make a tenon expand so is is almost impossible to insert it into a mortise. Making mortise and tenon joints properly, takes time and patience. I usually cut my tenons thick and use a rabbet plane to get them to the proper thickness.

Make sure you have plenty clamps, but use them judiciously. Improper use of clamps can rack a project out of square. When it is time for the glue-up, take some time to mask areas that may get unwanted glue on them. Try to use only the amount of glue required. Make every atempt to limit squeeze-out of excess glue. Finding dried glue that will not take a stain does not make for a happy day in the shop. Remove the excess glue and the tape when the glue reaches a stiff but not yet hard consistency.

7. Preparation for staining and finishing

This is an area that most woodworkers hate to do. But, it is just as important as the construction phase of the project. This is what everyone will see. Using whatever methods you like, all tool and swirl marks need to be removed. On some items, I will use a scraper. On others, I will use sandpaper. If using sandpaper, 220grit is as fine as I normally go during this process.

8. Staining and finishing

There are many different forms of stand and finishes. All have their pros and cons. Before applying a stain to your project, take time to test different products and processed on scrap wood of the same type as the project. Perform the complete finish process on each piece of scrap so you will know what the project will look like when complete. After determining which product and process looks the best, do not skip or change any part of the process when finishing the project. Small differences in the finishing process can make a drastic change in how the completed project will look.

9. Post finish

Now it is time to really make your project shine. Do not get in a hurry to start this process. Wait until the finish is completely cured. Some products will cure overnight. Others may take weeks. You, most likely will need to buff or polish the finish to get that silky smooth look and feel everyone seems to want. Most people will rub a finish to get an impression of how well the finish was completed. There are many oils, polishes, and powders that will create the finish you desire. Please read as many of the finishing books as possible to get an understanding of the finishing process.

Now go and show off you hard work to anyone who will look. But, please do not point out every little blemish. Most people will not notice.Enjoy the moment.