Principles for a good life
Carpentry
I always wanted to learn carpentry. As a little girl in Romania one of the coolest toys we had was a kit set of wood with a pattern on it, a set of saws (that broke every second), and some other tools that I don't remember. I remember that I loved sawing, gluing, building, sanding so much...
When we immigrated to Israel I was already in middle school, and craft classes were divided between girls and boys. We sewed, knitted, drew, designed (something I also really liked), and the boys did carpentry. I secretly envied them...
Finally a carpentry course came to the north, so I took it with both hands, and I enjoyed it so much. I bring here the main principles, also so that I have a reference when I work, and also a reminder for those who need it.
Types of wood
Industrial wood
Melamine, in the house - wood sawdust glued with adhesives, coated with formica. Inferior material, screws turning in a vacuum, damaged
easily from water
OSB - glued wood chips, upgraded "cardboard". Used for covering, single use
MDF - wood dust with adhesives that join together to plates, common for cabinet fronts, CNC engraving. Sensitive to water, does not hold screws tightly
Sandwich - layers of wood that are glued together (the direction of the fibers). Very strong, worth a cycle. Less sensitive to water, catches screws.
Solid wood
Untreated wood. The grain direction is the strong direction of the wood. Natural wood moves, emits and absorbs moisture. The tree is built around a trunk, it has rings, every season it adds a ring, and continues to move even after it is cut down. The direction of the fibers is considered the length. Softwoods - pine, poplar, cedar. Hardwoods - oak, mahogany, beech.
Coatings
Formica - waterproof, scratch resistant, comes in different shades and textures. Looks and feels like plastic.
Veneer - a mm layer of natural wood
Wood orders
Natural wood comes in pallets or beams. The beams are cheaper. Braces are huge and do not fit in the car, so you should order the braces already cut to size. You can use the app for optimal cutting cutlist optimizer
Glue
Carpenter's glue is good for 99% of wood. Sun and water are harmful to the glue. Glue is stronger than the wood itself, meaning if wood breaks it won't be where there is glue. Fast vs. slow glue - how long can you make changes before it hardens. It is better to work with slow glue. The drying time is similar. Apply a thin layer of glue that will fill the space, and clean with a wet cloth, so that the color takes hold. Check that the wood is straight using a 90 degree ruler. Close with a lid and leave to dry for at least an hour, and if you need to apply force to balance the lids, then even 24 hours.
The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge