Looking for a small woodworking project? If your just starting out with woodworking as a hobby or maybe just don't have a great deal of time to spend on a project then something small and relatively easy would be ideal.

Many people will start a project with no planning at all, please avoid this mistake, a little time spent planning your project will pay dividends in the long run and also save you time and money on the build. I always use plans now, there was a time when I didn't but once you have you will not go back.

3 small woodworking projects ideal for the beginner or hobbiest.

Project 1 - Shelving
There can't be too many things that are easier to build than shelves. Yet, as easy as they are to build they can be the difference in a room looking finished or looking some what sparse. They are useful, adaptable and if finished correctly beautiful. Find a nice piece of Oak, cherry or maple sand it back wax it and top coat with a subtle varnish and it's beauty will speak volumes.

Project 2 - Magazine Rack
A little more involved in the building of a magazine rack than the shelving above but still not overly complicated. Who wants to walk into the living room to find a mountain of magazines and newspapers thrown all around the place? A magazine rack will sort this paper chaos out and look good doing it too. The rack can produced in many different designs, one of which would fit into your decor, I'm sure.

Project 3 - A Birdhouse
Wood is the perfect material for a birdhouse as it keeps relatively cool on hot summers days and is pretty much waterproof on cold rainy days. A birdhouse is quiet simple to construct, thought needs to be given to the roof to make sure it repels water. Maybe make one side accessible to make it easy to clean out when the residents have left. Also make sure the wood is well sanded so as not to leave splinters.

So there you have it 3 small woodworking projects all of which are relatively easy to build, all have their uses. You won't need any specialist tools to make them and it will cost very, very little even if you decided to construct all three.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the article you will save yourself a great deal of grief if you follow a good set of plans, any job can become like a home-made Lego project by following plans.David Shule