 |
Woodworking Beginners: Introduction To First Time Crafts
Woodworking: The Process Of Making Something Using Wood
The art of woodworking is one of the most ancient and
widespread. From the earliest days when humans first experimented
with the many uses for wood, our civilization has had a
connection with this material, in all its varieties and forms.
And the growth and advancement of mankind has been closely
intertwined with our ability to improve our woodworking skills
and to develop new uses for wood.
Primitive civilizations used wood as material for building
shelters, tools, weapons, utensils, and other items necessary for
survival. As time went on, they began to expand the use of wood
to include the creation of creature comforts such as furniture
and decorative items. They also built boats and rafts for
exploration, travel and trade.
As skills and knowledge continued to develop, and woodworkers
began to understand the wide variety of properties of woods from
different tree sources, wood became one of the most widely used
materials, found in nearly all areas of life, from home to work,
production to pleasure. Those who had a talent for working wood
became important artisans and craftsmen, and guilds and workshops
were developed to help document and preserve the art, train
apprentices, and represent the interests of those involved.
Different specialties within woodworking began to develop,
each with their own tools, projects, and techniques. These
categories included:
- Wheelwright - A person who makes wooden wheels and
spokes.
- Cooper - A person who makes barrels and related goods.
- Turning - Using a lathe and cutting tools to create
symmetrical, round or curved pieces such as table and chair
legs, pedestals, and candlesticks. Some wood turners, called
bodgers, focused specifically on making bowls, cups, and other
household utensils.
- Carving - generally refers to any woodworking project that
involves removing pieces of the original wood to create a
finished product.
- Carpenter - historically a wagon maker but over time the
term has come to be associated with woodworking in general and
more specifically with home and commercial construction.
- Cabinetmaker - Someone who specializes in making cabinets,
shelving, and some pieces of furniture, such as chests, curious
and other storage items.
- Shipwright - professional shipbuilder, often assisted by
craftsmen from other areas of woodworking.
- Parquetry and Marquetry - Creating beautiful and often
complex patterns with different wood veneers. Originally used
as decoration on furniture and some homes, but now has expanded
to include artwork and picture making. Parquetry typically
involves the use of geometric shapes, while Marquetry draws
from life images and scenery.
Today, some of these categories have become obsolete as
steel, plastic, cement, and other compounds have replaced wood in
many situations. While wood is still used in numerous important
applications, including home and commercial construction and
furniture making, woodworking has become an activity practiced
less for necessity and more for pleasure, challenge,
satisfaction, and honor.
For some, woodworking is still a means of making a living, but
for many, it is a fun and rewarding hobby. In addition, the
tools, techniques, and applications have become more advanced and
sophisticated. A person just getting started in woodworking could
soon become overwhelmed with the amazing number of choices.
Most experienced woodworkers would agree that the art is still
a progressive experience, taking many years to learn and advance
in skill-level. The knowledge needed to create a stunning and
functional chest of drawers, grandfather clock, desk or other
fine piece of furniture for example, takes time and practice to
develop. And the skills needed often overlap the different areas
of specialization in woodworking.
Not knowing where to start or how to focus their interests,
many people new to woodworking become discouraged and frustrated
and soon give up. In addition, taking on projects that are too
difficult or trying to work with inadequate tools can also lead
beginners to decide that woodworking is not for them.
Luckily, tips and ideas from expert woodworkers can help those
new to woodworking get off on the right foot. In an effort to
provide a comprehensive overview of woodworking we have done the
work, travelled and talked to experts in their fields, and
grilled them over their secrets, their challenges, all their
experiences, and their key advice for beginners. Those
interviewed include fine furniture makers, master carvers,
seasoned shop teachers, and several other skilled craftsmen who
have been working with wood for decades.
One of the most common suggestions given was to start with the
basics of general woodworking and the use of common tools used,
and to avoid getting too complicated too fast. There was strong
emphasis on building a solid knowledge of different woods, using
key hand tools, starting with simple projects to develop key
skills, and learn about safety.
As one expert toy maker, shared, "Getting a good working
knowledge of woods and basic hand tools is the best thing a
beginner can do to ensure future success. You need to know what
type of wood works best for different projects, and if you know
how to measure, cut, shape and join with hand tools, you'll be
much better at it when it comes to using power tools and
woodworking machines."
Taking the experts' advice, comments, and tips to heart we
explored those beginning, foundation skills in a manner that is
easy to understand and does not intimidate beginners. You will
learn about:
- common woodworking terms
- the traits and uses of some of the most popular types of
wood
- general woodworking safety
- different types of hand tools and their proper use and
care
- basic types of projects for beginners
- introduction to woodcarving and the tools needed
Also provided is a resources list with details on different
publications, websites, and other sources of information for
beginning woodworkers.
It is important to note that the field is filled with talented
and skilled craftsman of both genders. Women are active in all
aspects of woodworking and have established reputations for
quality work. We spoke with several women in gathering material
and their input was an important contribution.
That is one of the beauties of woodworking; it is a field that
is open to people of all ages, genders, races, backgrounds,
educational levels, etc. Anyone willing to learn and to take the
time to practice can become skilled.
Woodworking is a vast and interesting realm with seemingly
endless applications and opportunities to learn. Enthusiasts can
take their skills to many different levels and interest
directions, and even make a living with their woodworking
abilities. By mastering the basics and establishing a solid
foundation, you take the first, and perhaps most important steps
to becoming a successful woodworker.
Copyright © 2005 by Ferhat Gul. All rights reserved. You
may redistribute this article in its unedited entirety, including
this resource box, with all hyperlinked URLs kept intact. Ferhat
Gul is the publisher of the brand-new "Woodworking Beginner's
Guide - Tips From Experienced Woodworkers to Help You Get
Started", made just for people who love woodworking. This
comprehensive, yet compact woodworking introduction for beginners
is easy to read and helps to save time, money and effort.
 MORE RESOURCES updated Wed. June / 16 / 2021
|
|
|
Related Hobbies - Crafts articles:
Origami Instructions -
Getting Started
The birthplace of origami is still a mystery. Paper was
developed in China in the first century A.
Organize That
Stash!
Do you control your stash or does it control you? I have
become the master of my stash. When my husband found out
that his sock drawer had become yet another place for cross
stitch supplies, it was either get it under control or end
up in divorce court.
What Is An Un-circulated
Coin?
You may have heard the terms proof coin and un-circulated
coin, but what's the difference between these two? To
understand the difference between a proof and un-circulated
coin, let's first answer the question, "What is an
un-circulated coin?" Un-circulated means a coin has not had
any wear, such as the wear a coin might experience when it
is used in commerce. Handling a coin, as well as improperly
storing a coin, can result in wear on the surface of the
coin.
Organize 1000's Of
Photos Easily
The easiest way is to start right from the beginning, your
pregnancy. Chronological order is an easy way to organize
your photos, that's if you remembered to write all the
dates down.
Why Do I (You)
Collect?
I just got back from the vet with my cat "Spud". He gave us
quite a scare, we went away for a couple of day's vacation
and on our return we found him very listless.
Craft Fairs, Bazaars
& Flea Markets? Oh, My!
Many names are associated with events such as these. Craft
Fairs, Bazaars, Flea Markets and Swap Meets are a few names
you can find.
Comic Book Supplies,
Necessities of the Serious Collector
If you want to keep your comic book collection in tiptop
shape, comic book supplies will become part of your
collecting life. As soon as a magazine is printed there are
natural environmental forces going to work to try and
destroy the ink and the paper.
The Nuts and Bolts of
Vintage Tin Toys
Before Game Boy and Play Station, there were tin toys.
During their heyday, these whimsical toys amused children
for hours.
Choosing The Right Mat
Board color For Your Art Work
The framing industry has no books, no set theory, not hard
and fast rules on how to pick colors. There are some
personal opinions from various writers but that's all they
are.
Faux Wax Seals, Tearing,
and Fraying in Your Scrapbooks
Would you like to add more creative appeal to your
scrapbooks? Here are three methods to add more depth and
creativity to your scrapbook creations.A good way to make
your own personal seals is with Crayola Model Magic.
Make Your Own Citronella
Candles
Need a cost effective way to get rid of mosquitoes? Try
making your own citronella candles and eliminate mosquitoes
while providing a romantic, outdoor setting. Making
citronella candles is easy and can cost as little as $0.
Woodworking: Protection
When Working With Wood - Ignoring Could Potentially Harm
Your Health Or Kill
Woodworking: Basic Safety Tips. Woodworking can be a
dangerous undertaking if you are not careful and choose to
disregard safety guidelines. A circular saw, router, or
other piece of power equipment can disfigure and even kill
if not used properly.
Create A Gift Basket For
A Cat Lover!
The choice of what gift to give your family and friends can
often be a difficult one. One of the best gifts that you
can give is a themed gift basket.
Machine Embroidery
Digitizing - What Youll Need Besides the
Software
You've purchased an embroidery machine, practiced the
designs that were included in the package, maybe even
bought a disc of designs or downloaded a few designs off
the Internet to stitch out. Now you're thinking about
investing in digitizing software and taking your embroidery
to the next level.
Working With
Leather
This can be as simple & basic Or advanced &
professional.There are many books, booklets, pamphlets,
reprints, even articles describing how to assemble a simple
article cut from a basic design which is purchased as a kit
from a supplier.
A Scrapbook Page To
Celebrate Your Childs First Haircut
Here's a great idea for making a special 'first haircut'
scrapbook page. Between the ages of about 12 and 18 months,
a baby boy or girl may go for their first hair cut.
A Brief History Of
Reverse Painting On Glass
Reverse painting on glass has been a form of
art expression since extremely ancient times. It is
difficult to precisely date a number of much more
ancient artworks.
What is a Battle Ready
Sword?
You'd think that the term "battle ready sword" would be
pretty much self explanatory wouldn't you? Unfortunately,
many of the swords being described as "battle ready" are
anything but. And to quote Adrian Ko from Sword Forum
International, "a lot of these swords I wouldn't want to
take into battle even if they were strapped to a M-16.
The Power Of Scrapbook
Journaling
By journaling your pages you will transform an ordinary
collection of photographs into a vibrant and visual
storyboard - telling the stories behind the pictures,
revealing hidden memories and emotions.It will give your
scrapbooks a unique and intimate feel, it is this personal
touch that turns your albums into something very special.
How to Invest in
Antique, Vintage, or Modern Jewelry
As Antique Jewelry is 'Really' based on the
'Collectability' and Style of an item, it is hard for
clients to appreciate the 'Craft' involved in Handmade
work, as they only see the Gold value or Diamond Value
fluctuate over the years. If Gold goes up or the older
something gets, the value increases, right? No.
|
|
