Woodworking is one hobby that can also be a
rewarding profession if you love to work with your hands and build
beautiful pieces of furniture from wood. When you learn the woodworking
crafts and become a fine woodworking craftsman, you will be able to
build all kinds of furniture, (table, beds, and chairs), with ease. You
can then sell your completed woodworking projects and make a handsome
profit.
It takes time to become skilled in the craft of
woodworking. The nice thing about working up to that expert craftsman
level is you will be able to build some really nice furniture for you
and your family to enjoy. Imagine building a custom coffee table or
grandfather clock and having it sit in your living room. It will be a
topic of conversation whenever you have friends come over to visit. They
will ask: How did you make it? Where did you get the woodworking plans?
How long did it take to complete the project? What kind of wood did you
use? What kind of tools did you use? How on earth did you make such a
beautiful piece of furniture? As you discuss your work, a sense of pride
will come over you and don't be surprised if your friends ask you to
make one for them too!
If you are thinking you are too old or too
young for woodworking, think again! You are never too old or too young
for such a fun hobby and it's perfect for beginners!
Where to Begin in Woodworking?
Start
with an idea in mind of what you want to build and then get a really
good woodworking project plan that is geared toward beginners. There are
several small woodworking projects for beginners available for purchase
from online woodworking retailers. A few woodworking plan suggestions
to get you thinking are: a jewelry box, a music box, a clock, a bird
house, a chessboard or checkerboard, a rocking horse for a child just to
name a few. Of course you can start out with as grand a woodworking
plan as you choose. However, the chances are if you start out with a
small woodworking project at first, you will have a better chance of
completing the project.
Your woodworking project plan should
include some lists! Lists of: woodworking hardware, the amount and type
of wood required, and the required hand tools and power tools to
complete the project. Note: A word of caution about buying woodworking
tools. Only buy what you need to complete your immediate or upcoming
project. This is important especially if you are a beginner and just
starting out. Tools are not cheap. The beginner needs good woodworking
tools, but you can easily break the bank buying lot of tools you may not
use all that often. When you do buy tools, buy quality. Do a little
research and compare products. Buy the best that you can afford at the
time.
Here is my Beginners List of Woodworking Hand Tools:
A
claw hammer, wood chisel set, a hand saw, a miter box with a saw (for
cutting angles), a coping saw, finish punches, flat and straight tip
screwdrivers, a rubber mallet (for tapping pieces together while not
damaging the wood), woodworking clamps, a wood vise, a bench plane, a
rasp, a tape measure, a 12" steel rule, a 6" steel square, and don't
forget the wood glue and a brush to spread the wood glue! Of course you
will need a dry place to work and may need a pair of saw horses to work
on.
Here is my Beginners List of Woodworking Power Tools:
Circular
saw, a jig saw, a table saw, a belt sander (to remove larger amounts of
material and level out larger surfaces), an orbital finish sander, a
3/8" electric drill, a 12v or 18v cordless drill.
Here is my Beginners List of Woodworking Safety Equipment:
Safety glasses, clear safety goggles, dust masks, face shield, hearing protectors, Nitrile disposable gloves.
We
could go on and on with listing more woodworking hand tools and more
woodworking power tools here, but the idea is to buy the essential hand
and power tools that beginners will need. You can always add to your
toolbox as you gain experience!
Guidance for Beginner Woodworking Craftsmen:
You now have a great new hobby in woodworking, you have purchased your woodworking project plan
and you're really excited to start using your new woodworking tools,
but how? Your woodworking project plan should provide you step by step
directions and techniques to complete your project. But if you are
unsure about what to do there is help available! There are several
places that beginning woodworkers can learn about the woodworking craft.
First, subscribe to one of the several woodworking magazines available.
Every month the writers in woodworking magazines do a story on how to
improve your woodworking craft. Whether it is showing you how to apply a
finish to a completed project, or how to make a mortise and tenon
joint, something new can be learned every month. Next, is buying
instructional DVD's like the ones created by Fine Woodworking Magazine.
Instructional Woodworking DVD's cover topics such as: mastering your
table saw, how to use a router, how to turn wood projects, turning
wooden bowls, and wood finishing basics. As you can see, there are many
educational resources available for the beginning woodworker to learn
the woodworking craft.
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