Essential Woodworking Techniques and Tool Applications

Tracing

Tracing is the process of marking lines to delineate the contours of a workpiece.

• Plane path: Performed on a flat surface or a single face of a piece.
• Air route: Takes place on several sides of the same piece simultaneously.

Tracing Tools

• Active: Pencil, compass, and scriber.
• Assistants: Ruler, set square, and marking gauge.
• Compasses: Design, interior, exterior, quadrant, and stick compasses.
• Squares: Carpenter's square, heel flap, and bevel.

Sawing

The degree of cut refers to the number of teeth per unit length on the saw blade.

Saw Characteristics

• Size and Shape: Includes tooth set (wavy, alternating/raker) and cut level.
• Types of Saws: Hand saw, edge saw, rib saw, marquetry saw (hacksaw), miter saw, jigsaw, and circular saws (fixed or portable).

Note: Sawing is typically performed perpendicular to the wood surface.

Drilling

Drilling involves two primary motions: Rotation (speed) and Feed (penetration).

Drilling Tools

• Barrena: Features a wooden handle and a vertical axis ending in a sharp, rotating tip.
• Drill Bits: Cylindrical or conical shanks with an active cutting body.
• Bit Types: Centering tip, depth stop for Allen screws, countersink, flat/serrated blade, and hole saw (crown).
• Manual and Power Tools: Brace (berbeguí), portable electric drill, and drill press (motor, transmission, column, base, and table).

Wrought (Chiseling)

Operations used to create recesses, channels, grooves, boxes, or holes in wood.

Cutting Tools

• Chisels and Gouges: Tools with a wooden handle and a laminated edge (chamfer).
• Technique: Tools are driven into the wood with a hammer or mallet to remove material.

Brushing (Planing)

An operation performed to create a smooth wood surface.

• Tools: Wood planes (jack plane, block plane, and molding plane), metal planes, and power planers.

Filing

An operation performed on sawn surfaces to adjust, level, and smooth the wood.

Filing Tools

• Components: Carved part (grooves and teeth) and tang (handle).
• Wood Files and Rasps: Available in flat, half-round, and round (mouse tail) profiles.