If you are going for a natural wood finish then Red Cedar is a good choice. If you want a painted finish then pine will work for you. Both timbers are readily available and generally easy to work with.
The next thing to consider is the complexity of the woodworking plans and whether you will be able to follow the plan. If you are just starting getting into DIY woodworking plans, it will probably be easier to start with basic wood working plans and work your way up to more complex plans as you get more confident.
When it comes fasteners, screws etc make sure they are also suitable for outdoor use. To avoid the fasteners rusting and staining your finished work, use brass, stainless steel, galvanised or plated, your local hardware store will advise you.
After more searching I found a site that really was offering free plans but they lacked photos and detailed sketches. Let me tell you that these are a must if you are looking to build anything,
You may want to use a power tool that will plane a smooth surface such as jointer. This is done after you have cut your boards with your power saw. If you are using a good saw blade, the cut maybe smooth enough and you won’t need to plane the edges. If you don’t have a jointer try using a router with a straight-piloted bit.
When you obtain the professionally drawn up blueprints, determine your requirements and the specifications that you want. The plans will have various sketches and you should be able to find one that meets your needs. These sketches include the measurements that you can use in your planning phase.
Woodworking projects for kids should be comparatively simple but also be useful, say, a bird table with a little house on it. Or a dog kennel or a stool. They could make a set of draughts (checkers), a board and a box to put the pieces in. A pencil box with a sliding top, a letter box or a herbs and spices rack.
I have lots of happy memories of just hanging around my dad while he worked on various projects. He always had a joke or some neat little story to share while measuring, sawing, pounding, and sanding, and surprisingly time would just evaporate. Hours would seem like mere moments had passed! I’d watch him sweat and labor in pure delight, and when whatever he was working on was done it felt super exciting to see the finished product!
Good wood working plans will come with a materials list, excellent descriptions and explanations to help you follow along with the woodworking plan of your choice. Paying attention to the measurements for each part of the woodworking plan is crucial. If the measurements are wrong, it will only lead to you wasting time and money.
Take your time, wood working is a relaxing and very satisfying pastime. Whether you draw your own wood working plans or buy them, when your project is finished you will have something to be proud of and that will last you a long time.
