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Wood is never out of style because people always valued and loved wooden items, even since ancient times. Woodworking is a stable profession, but many people would rather not practice it all the time and pursue it as a fun hobby instead. This is why we recommend you to consider starting woodworking as an activity to do in your spare time and in the comfort of your own workshop. If you want to avoid doing some pretty embarrassing mistakes, like the ones we covered in our DIY fails article here, read on how to get started.
Overview of Woodworking
Woodworking is the art of crafting everyday objects out of wood, such as furniture, crates, sculptures and building structures. In every industry, wood is found in the furniture and parts of the building, and every individual comes into contact with wood regularly. Wood was one of the primary building materials used by humans in ancient times. The invention of machinery in the early 20th century increased the supply and demand of woodwork.
Skills
To pursue woodworking as a hobby, it helps to learn basic skills and knowledge about this art. Know the different types of wood that craftsmen use, such as oak, cedar and pine, and the factors that determine which wood they work with. Then, learn the different carving techniques that vary from basic tool sharpening to advanced projects like building custom-made guitars.
The woodworking hobby includes cabinetry, joinery, and carving. Some workers specialize in boat building. The most important skills to master are planing, jointing and cutting edges. The number of required skills increase as the designs become more elaborate. Additional skills include learning how to set dimensions, sharpen tools or use 3D rendering tools.
Tools and Equipment
First, woodwork technicians need the right wood materials to work with. Second, they need tools to cut and shape the wood. Hand tools and power tools like electric drills are needed for small projects. Saws, sanders, and routers are needed for more complex creations. A workbench is used as a surface to work and store supplies, and a biscuit joiner is used to stick together two pieces of wood.
Most people can afford woodworking as a hobby because they buy most equipment only one time. The costs of buying electrical equipment vary by the supplier from $100 to $400. Sets for router bits or hand tools cost $20-100, and workbenches cost approximately $100.
Woodworking can be transformed from a career to a rewarding hobby. It’s designed for anyone who enjoys working with his or her hands and building intricate pieces from blocks of wood. When you learn more about the craft and work on the techniques, you should acquire the skills to build all types of furniture, sculptures and household items with little difficulty.
Mark Thompson is a professional woodworker with over 20 years experience in the field who loves to share his woodworking passion with other like-minded people. He is also the founder of ToolsCritic.com where he reviews the latest power tools on the market.
