Many people see the beauty and quality in our work and quite often we’re asked for tips or tricks when it comes to creating and maintaining these pieces. So here are our top 11 tips to carpentry mastery:
- Measure twice cut once. Always double check your measurements to ensure your piece will come out how you want without wasting materials;
- Avoid placing your furniture in direct sunlight, as sunlight causes fading;
- For stuck or stripped screws, stretch a rubber band across the head before using your screwdriver to remove it;
- Do your research when it comes to cleaning your piece. Depending on what type of wood or finish was used, cleaning methods can vary; using polishes, waxes, or other cleaning products. Make sure to ask when purchasing the piece or test in a discrete area first;
- Use a tennis ball to help you sand. Wrap a piece of sandpaper around the ball. It’s easier on your hands and helps with sanding curved surfaces;
- Polish your furniture approximately every six months using a clean, soft, lint-free cloth and rubbing the polish in the direction of the grain;
- Cracks and gouges should be filled so that they’re level with the surface of the wood. For very small holes, like staple holes, wood-tone putty sticks can be used. If you can’t match the wood, several colors can be mixed together. To use a putty stick, wipe it across the hole and smooth the surface with your finger. If you plan to finish or refinish the wood, let the putty dry for at least a week before proceeding further; and
- Remove permanent marker from wood floors with a dab of toothpaste and a damp cloth.
These are a few tips and ‘life-hacks’ when it comes to self-maintaining your wooden products. If you feel like it is out of your league or that the furniture is too valuable to experiment on, then give us a call and we will take it from there!