Many hobbies involve building, carving, or wood burning which require speciality woods. These hobby and craft woods are available for just about any purpose. Hobbyists may choose from balsa, basswood, plywood, walnut, cherry, maple, among others for their project needs. Sheets or strips of these fine woods are available in thicknesses from 1/32 " to one inch, and in widths from 1/16 through six inches. You may purchase either sheets or strips.
Balsa is the most versatile of the hobby woods. Native to South America, these sixty foot trees are grown on large plantations. The wood is lightweight and strong. South Americans have been using balsa for boat and raft building since antiquity. Anyone who can recall Thor Heyerdahl's Kon Tiki adventures will know of his successful attempt to reach the Polynesian Islands from South America on a balsa raft.
Balsa's fine grain combined with its strength and light weight have made it valuable for a great number of uses. Its heat retention ability has made it useful for insulating refrigerator and ship holds. It is used in aircraft to reduce vibration. Surfboards and life preservers have also been manufactured from balsa wood.
Crafters and hobbyists will find balsa very easy to cut and carve, making it ideal for a multitude of projects. It can also be painted or stained any color the hobbyist desires. Its greatest value for hobbyists is undoubtedly in the construction of model airplanes. Free flight , control line, and radio control aircraft are all made primarily from balsa wood. Other uses for this versatile wood include model boat building and dollhouse construction, as well as many other craft projects. Model railroaders can use balsa for scratch-building houses and other structures, bridges, and structural support for scenery.
Basswood, or linden, is another wood crafters and hobbyists find very useful. This North American wood is grown primarily in northern Michigan and Wisconsin. Heavier than balsa, it shares many of it's characteristics - close-grained, strong, and lightweight. Basswood's hobby uses mirror those of balsa, but its heavier weight limits its use in building model airplanes. Because it carves easily, it is the premier choice for both beginning and advanced woodcarvers. Novice wood burners will also find basswood friendly, as it burns well. Like balsa, it is available in strips and sheets. Additionally, specialty shapes for dollhouse building include molding, siding, and roof shingles.
Special project needs may require the use of hobby plywood. This extremely high quality plywood ranges in thickness from paper thin 1/32 of an inch to 1/4 inch. Birch is the wood used, so it can take any stain desired. It is very durable and suitable for many uses.
Other woods are available for specialized hobby projects, including walnut, maple, cherry, and mahogany. Twenty four inch lengths include both strips and sheets. The maximum width for sheets is four inches.
Basswood and balsa are the most commonly available hobby/craft woods. Other types may need to be special ordered from your local craft or hobby shop. Check out the selection today for all your project needs.
Senin, 21 Agustus 2017
Minggu, 06 Agustus 2017
Taking Your Craft and Hobby Blog to a Profitable Adventure
Writing about what you love tends to come pretty easily for most of us, especially in the craft world. Whether you've been blogging for awhile now or you're completely new to blogging you might be wondering if it's worth the effort to make a go of it in this fickle hobby niche. The great news is that it is completely worth every minute of your time.
Obviously, the first advantage to blogging about your favorite crafts is that you already have the passion needed to create great content on a regular basis. This is easily the biggest stumbling block that most professional bloggers have. They get started blogging about a niche and then run out of steam on the topic.
You're about ten steps ahead of the game, because you already love your hobby. That's not to say that you won't run out of steam talking about your craft topic, because we all do at some point. But, when you're passionate about something it's not so hard to find that motivation again and get going with blog posts again.
A common misconception is that crafting and hobby blogs and websites don't make money, they're just all about the love of the craft. Well, that's just not true. Sure, your blog is about the love of your craft, but it can also be a money maker. After all, we've got to pay for that craft stash somehow! Getting supplies for your hobby can be expensive and blogging is a great way to bring in a little extra money to pay for all those special fabrics, tools, scissors, threads, and other must haves.
Think of it this way, you're buying new and interesting supplies and tools for your hobby all the time, it only makes sense that other enthusiasts are doing the exact same thing. Product reviews can be a huge income booster on a craft blog. When you find that must have product that you absolutely love, tell people about it on your blog and include an affiliate link so they can purchase their very own and you'll get a nice referral income for it.
Craft information and project ideas are always in high demand on the internet. The internet is the go to resource for free patterns, new craft inspiration, and tutorials. Even if you're just sharing what you're currently working on it could inspire another crafter to start a similar project. This cycle gives craft blogs a unique sense of community that other blog and website owners envy.
Obviously, the first advantage to blogging about your favorite crafts is that you already have the passion needed to create great content on a regular basis. This is easily the biggest stumbling block that most professional bloggers have. They get started blogging about a niche and then run out of steam on the topic.
You're about ten steps ahead of the game, because you already love your hobby. That's not to say that you won't run out of steam talking about your craft topic, because we all do at some point. But, when you're passionate about something it's not so hard to find that motivation again and get going with blog posts again.
A common misconception is that crafting and hobby blogs and websites don't make money, they're just all about the love of the craft. Well, that's just not true. Sure, your blog is about the love of your craft, but it can also be a money maker. After all, we've got to pay for that craft stash somehow! Getting supplies for your hobby can be expensive and blogging is a great way to bring in a little extra money to pay for all those special fabrics, tools, scissors, threads, and other must haves.
Think of it this way, you're buying new and interesting supplies and tools for your hobby all the time, it only makes sense that other enthusiasts are doing the exact same thing. Product reviews can be a huge income booster on a craft blog. When you find that must have product that you absolutely love, tell people about it on your blog and include an affiliate link so they can purchase their very own and you'll get a nice referral income for it.
Craft information and project ideas are always in high demand on the internet. The internet is the go to resource for free patterns, new craft inspiration, and tutorials. Even if you're just sharing what you're currently working on it could inspire another crafter to start a similar project. This cycle gives craft blogs a unique sense of community that other blog and website owners envy.
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