Helpful Tips for New Members

[KregRep]

Welcome! The Kreg Owners' Community was designed to bring woodworkers and do-it-yourself project builders of all skill levels together to create, share, learn, and inspire each other. We encourage every member to participate in all of the great activities the Community has to offer:

• Introduce Yourself
• Share Your Projects
• View Project Albums and Photos
• Watch a Video
• Start a Discussion
• Write a Product Review
• Chat with Other Members
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Other Helpful Links:

• How to Upload Project Albums and Photos
• Find Inspiration and Tips Using the Search Feature
• Where to Find Project Plans, Ideas, and Inspiration

[Doug]

Steve, you are so right.

Safety equipment are my favorite tools. They have saved me so much time. Examples:
- Safety glasses caught a tiny red-hot grain from a grinding wheel. It melted itself into the glass, not my eye.
- Ear muffs make it so much more relaxing so I can pay attention to the sharp, spinning parts. My work is more accurate because I am less tense.
- A decent fitting respirator even for pine keeps my face and lungs much cleaner. Ever blow your nose after a project? Eeew. A simple dust mask fogs up my glasses so I cannot see the cutting edges. Awkward.

let me add Excellent knee pads!
Now at my age and weight, I put on knee pads before starting any job. I know I will be kneeling at some point. Excellent knee pads that put the weight on your shin, not your knee, cost $50 to $200. A lot less than one knee replacement.

Steve Franklin said:

Every time I cut wood with a power tool, I reach for my safety goggles, ear muffs, and dust mask, because...
1. I've experienced a splinter in the eye (which got around my regular eyeglasses).
2. I like listening to music, so I don't want to lose my hearing.
3. I don't like blowing sawdust out of my nose.
Most time is spent setting up, then it's cut, cut, cut.

[mo khan]

the best source of woodworking for beginners i have found is on the popular woodworking magazine website. it's called "i can do that" manual. i spent months buying and selling wrong tools and using wrong methods of woodworking when i first started. i think this manual is the best thing a beginner can have. even after a few years of woodworking i like flipping through it sometimes. here's the link:
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/icandothat/

[Azor HomeatShop]

Thanks for the tip. Nice site.

mo khan said:

the best source of woodworking for beginners i have found is on the popular woodworking magazine website. it's called "i can do that" manual. i spent months buying and selling wrong tools and using wrong methods of woodworking when i first started. i think this manual is the best thing a beginner can have. even after a few years of woodworking i like flipping through it sometimes. here's the link:
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/icandothat/

[John Sipsas]

Measure, measure, measure, look at plans, measure and cut. I did the workbench last weekend and got ahead of myself and miss-measured the bottom shelf. It fits but does not look as nice.

KregRep said:

Great tips, everyone!

[Rosemarie Wood]

The best tip I can think of right now is for all of you who cannot find the Kreg screws in their local stores anymore is to go online and buy several boxes. It is cheaper to buy a few of them, get different sizes; it is no fun to decide that you want to make something only to find you ran out and do not have screws on hand and cannot buy them NOW!

[ray vile]

The best tip I think I could provide is don't be afraid of asking questions, this web site is full of people that will ,, help you no matter how you think the question you ask may appear, I only been at this hobby for about 2 years and I learned much more from this site than I could have learned anywhere else, The people on this site are more than willling to share their knowledge with you and provide you with info or send you to another site that will provide you with the a way to acomplish what you are trying achieve.

[Elmer Barrett]

 

  I do not have any way to check the rpm on my drills. Owners manuels might now help as a drill gets older sometimes they lose power and speed. HELP!!

[Alex Sykes]

As long as you can drill your holes without burning the wood, the drillbit, or burning up the drill it should be fine. If your able to make your pocketholes now, you'll know when your drill is wearing out because it will get harder to use.  I find the first sign of my drill going is the wood starts getting scortch marks & the bit will start to bind.  Basically, if it's doing the job, it's high enough in my experience.

Elmer Barrett said:

 

I do not have any way to check the rpm on my drills. Owners manuels might now help as a drill gets older sometimes they lose power and speed. HELP!!

[david shapiro]

I will search your sites but have found a plan but need to do it the Kreg way. I am new to wood working

[honeydokreg]

practice practice and you will do it right.  her is the link for my video series that will show you how to make a built in cabinet.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_pRZuZGFHg

[Samurai1833]

As I a beginner I cannot stress enough, use a drill with a clutch.

[rick]

What does it mean when the pocket screw washer head is sticking outside the surface of your joint? It's not screwed in deep enough?