When you take up woodworking, you actually need to learn a number of different skills, like carving, joinery, turning, marquetry and cabinet making. All expert craftspeople have had to learn the fundamental techniques of marking, measuring, dimensioning, assembling and finishing. These techniques are the basis of all woodworking projects, whether they’re your profession or your hobby. With some patience, the right tools and techniques, and a good plan, just about anyone can create a treasure that will be enjoyed for many years to come. Here’s what you’ll need to learn on your way to becoming an expert craftsman.
The ability to think in three dimensions is essential in order to mark up the wood and envision how one piece will fit with the other. As well, you’ll have to learn which tools will bring about the best outcome, considering the degree of accuracy called for and the attributes of the wood you’re working with.
The process of cutting the wood to size is called dimensioning; it’s a straightforward procedure in theory, but it takes a lot of practice to get it right. You’ll need to know how to cut and assemble various kinds of joints for all but the most simple woodworking projects. Traditionally, joinery is considered to be the true test of a woodworker’s expertise, since it requires hand-eye coordination that never wavers. Nevertheless, by practicing you will figure out the best way to secure two sections of wood together so they are durable but still attractive.
An essential add-on to these fundamental abilities is a perception of how wood performs. It’s a unique, living thing that expands and contracts in various weather conditions, particularly humidity, and this has to be taken into account by every woodworker when planning and constructing a project. There are woods that are easier to work with than others, and every piece of wood, no matter what type it is, has distinct twists and turns in its grain.
There are pros and cons for using either hand tools or machines for DIY woodworking. Some argue that hand tools enable you to get the hang of cutting and forming wood without disrupting the grain. Other woodworking experts claim that it’s often possible to finish a project in less time using hand tools due to the preparation involved in using mechanical tools. Yet others think exactly the opposite.
When it comes to woodworking, there isn’t any one perfect means of going about it. The best method is the one that suits you the most. It needs to balance all the variables such as how much time is required to finish the project, what woodworking tools you have available, how important it is that your project is of the highest quality, and how much enjoyment you get from the process.
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