When it comes to woodworking, you do want your projects to stand out among the rest. After all, woodworking is no small field, and there are plenty of people out there doing it. Sure, some people make cabinets, some make instruments, some make decoy ducks, and everything in between. The point here is that the woodworking world is a pretty tough one with a heck of a lot of competition.
This therefore means that your work needs to stand out from the competition, so it is eye–catching, so you can make good sales and put money in your pocket. Even if you are not looking to make lots of sales, you obviously still want your own projects to be the best around. For this reason, knowing the difference between detail sanders and regular sanders is definitely a piece of knowledge you need to have in your arsenal. Let’s get right to it and talk about 3 things that will make your woodworking projects stand out among the rest.
- Sanding
One of the things that will definitely make your woodworking projects stand out among the rest is if your work has the best sanding jobs around. Yes, of course sanding is a really important aspect of any woodworking project, which is true whether you are making a sign, an instrument, a cabinet, a decoration of sorts, or anything in between. The amount of sanding you do and the quality of it will have a direct impact on the final look of your projects.
Now, one really important thing for you to know here is the difference between a regular sander and a detail sander. Now, regular sanders are just fine for large projects, flat materials with a lot of surface area which require regular and even sanding to create a flat, smooth, and polished look. However, a regular sander just cannot do fine detail work, or really any detail work at all.
Smooth curves, transitions, lettering, or something like the detail on the face of a wooden sculpture are all things that need to be done with a detail sander.
- Varnishing & Glazing
Something else that can really help your woodworking projects stand out among the rest is by using the proper varnishes and glazes, or really using them at all.
Have you ever seen woodworking projects where the final item is left bare without at least 1 coat of glaze or varnish?
Yes, it looks kind of odd, somewhat unfinished more than anything else. Sure, bare wood might be fine for some things, but if you want to increase durability, longevity, moisture resistance, and of course if you really want to make it pop, you need to add a couple of coats of glaze or varnish.
What is nice about a glaze, is that you can actually apply it over other varnishes or finishes if you so choose. When it comes down to it, a good glaze can add a really deep and rich color to the mix, some shininess, and yes, durability too. A nice glaze can also add a whole lot of depth to any woodworking projects, with cracks and recesses drying darker, thus creating awesome contrast. Finding the right glaze or varnish for your project can make all of the difference.
- Using CNC Machines
The other thing which you might want to consider for your woodworking projects, to really make them stand out among the others, is using a CNC machine, such as a CNC router. The fact of the matter is that woodworking is pretty hard, and if you are looking to make multiples of the exact same item, you might just be in a bit of trouble. Now, even the most seasoned and professional of woodworkers are still going to have trouble recreating the exact same piece by hand over and over again.
Sure, some people like when something is clearly handmade and unique, which is fine depending on the clientele. However, lots of people are not going to like this, such as if somebody is buying 6 dining room chairs. They should all look the same. A big benefit that you get with a CNC machine is repeatability. These things make it super easy to create identical multiples of the exact same items.
Conclusion
There you have it folks, 3 things that will make your woodworking projects stand out among the rest. Get yourself a good regular sander and a nice detail sander, learn all about different varnishes and glazes to finish off your projects, and maybe consider getting yourself some CNC machines to really ramp up the repeatability and quality of your work. If you follow these 3 tips, your woodworking projects will definitely stand out among the rest.
