Unfinished wood cutouts shapes are a wonderful way to create a great looking piece of home decor. Wood is one of the most popular materials for this type of home project because it is so readily available and easy to work with. Here’s how you can complete an unfinished wood cutout on your own.
The first step is to make your cut with a table saw. Make sure that the blade is set to the recommended angle for your particular project. You will need to know how much material you’ll need to complete the project by drawing on a piece of paper or computer print out the dimensions. Use a straight edge to draw the outline of the piece of wood. Keep in mind that the unfinished wood cutouts may not be perfect.
To start, lay the wood cutouts out on a flat surface. This will give you a good idea of how much material you need. If necessary, adjust the height of the table saw to get even length pieces. Now cut all of the material in half.
Use a band saw to shave the quarter inch from each piece of cutout. Make sure that all of the edges of the unfinished wood cutouts match. This will help them look like a whole piece. You can now glue or tack each individual cutout to the wooden board. Use a wood glue or wood tape depending on what type of finishing you want on the piece. Glue or tack them to each other before adding the rest of the pieces.
Use finishing nails or screws to attach the piece together. Finish the boards by using a wood putty. The unfinished wood cutouts should be covered with masking tape to prevent damage to the board while the glue dries. Allow the tape to dry before adding any other finishing touches.
Once all of the unfinished wood cutouts have been assembled, you can then paint and varnish them. If you are attaching several cutouts to one board, it will take you more time to accomplish than it would if you were attaching one at a time. A general rule of thumb for attaching unfinished cutouts is about one quarter inch per board. If you do not finish them all, you can always paint them one at a time to see how they will appear when all of them are finished.
You may also stain the wood and varnish it yourself. Or you may ask your local home improvement store or furniture designer to recommend a brand of stain to help you achieve the color you want. If you do stain your wood yourself, you should let the unfinished wood cutouts sit overnight to allow the entire piece to absorb the stain. Be sure to let each coat of stain dry completely before putting on any finishing touches.
If you are attaching several cutouts to a board, you can always use three boards instead of two. This will allow you to create wider and longer pieces of board. This will make your cutting process faster. And you will avoid wasting any more wood by having to purchase new boards.
You may find that you do not have enough boards in your unfinished wood cutouts. If this is the case, you can always purchase more. Or, you can take the cutout to a local woodworking supply store to see if they will cut the extra pieces for you. Often times they will be able to do this. Otherwise, you will need to purchase them on the internet.
There are many different methods you can use for attaching the unfinished wood cutouts to the boards. But if you are looking for something that is fast and easy, glue can often be a great option. Glue your cutout to the board using the double sided tape that is supplied with the adhesive. Just dab the glue on the cutout and then press it into place as you would any other piece of wood. Make sure you have covered each joint with a piece of masking tape so that nothing falls out.
As you can see, you can make some very unique and personal cutouts using this inexpensive method. You can experiment with different sizes and shapes, or you can stick with a basic square or rectangular shape. Whatever you choose, it will still look fantastic. As a matter of fact, you may even decide to make your own pattern or design for your boards. Once you get more comfortable with cutting these items, you will find it easier and quicker to select the perfect pieces for every project.