Comments on: How to work the wood?

Question: How to work the wood?

sholdens12 — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:28:48 -0800

I'm about to buy a house that has a workbench in it and I'd like to learn some woodworking. Can anyone point me to some resources for learning the basics? I mean I know measure twice, cut once, but beyond that, I'm lost.

By: tkolar

tkolar — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:35:55 -0800

Pop down to your local Home Depot type store and check out their book collection. Home & Garden and Sunset both put out very good basic woodworking books.

By: Good Brain

Good Brain — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:43:42 -0800

Fine Woodworking

By: exogenous

exogenous — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:46:36 -0800

I recently picked up The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction which has some good advice, but it assumes a little knowledge of the basics. Woodworking Basics: Mastering the Essentials of Craftsmanship, also by the well-regarded Tauton Press, has received some favorable reviews and I plan to get a copy soon.

By: davey_darling

davey_darling — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:48:53 -0800

Watch the New Yankee Workshop on PBS. The things he's doing will likely be a little more advanced than you will start with, but you will get a pretty good overview of the various tools and what they do.

Check out your local high school or community college for a night course in introductory woodworking.

By: Freedomboy

Freedomboy — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:57:38 -0800

Go look at furniutre with new eyes, look at the fasteners used. Find a good repairable item, like desk or table and use it as your own learning project. Read Fine Woodworking but remember that magazine is very high end mostly, the Tauton Press library is good, get a basics type book. But really looking at how things are made is a great way to understand what works. Finally get an air compressor and use the tools it can power and a good drill press.

By: maxwelton

maxwelton — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:56:09 -0800

For an online resource, try Sawmill Creek. They're very friendly and helpful with advise for newcomers.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 17:23:00 -0800

Get some training on power tools, and buy a good leather apron so the table saw can't throw an offcut through your solar plexus.

By: plinth

plinth — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 17:32:28 -0800

I learned a lot by going to an adult education night class. The first class taught you how to make a board (no, seriously), which was a way of introducing all the tools and covering safety. I stuck with the class until I got to the point where I was waiting a lot for the noobs to finish their work and I spent most of my time correcting the settings of the tools. At this point, I no longer needed the instructor to help answer questions, I needed time and practice, which was perfect for home.

By: claxton6

claxton6 — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:11:01 -0800

I'm learning right now, using Box by Box.

By: princelyfox

princelyfox — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:22:58 -0800

My master-craftsman boss lent me Krenov's The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking from his library as a good place to start. I got a used copy super cheap at Amazon. Krenov's approach is less a how-to guide and more a this is how I make and think about things type a book, but it's thoughtful and well written.

By: killy willy

killy willy — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:47:40 -0800

for practical advice, don't hesitate to ask these folks.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:56:27 -0800

There is a strong correlation between woodworking and computer users so there are lots of forums for wood working to give you ideas and get specific assistance if you've got questions.

I frequent these:
Woodcentral (handtools/turning).
WWA Info Exchange.
UK Workshop.

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 21:27:37 -0800

IMO, Fine Woodworking and its ilk are WAY too advanced for the beginner -- requiring specialized tools and jigs and experience.

I recommend Family Handyman magazine, which is not specifically about woodworking, but contains in each issue 1 or 2 projects that are not only doable by the beginner, but are so clearly described in photographs and drawings that you really can't mess up. I've never seen woodworking projects described with the care and level of detail FH provides, it's borderline artful.

If you want to dive in, there's always someone selling a collection of a dozen or so FH mags on ebay.

By: LarryC

LarryC — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 23:23:04 -0800

Browse the magazine rack at your local bookstore and buy magazines based on individual projects you think you would like to build. If you like Shaker furniture that is a good place to begin, simple designs and straight lines and you can make it out of pine, which is easy to work (if tough to finish nicely).

And don't get suckered into buying a lot of tools right off the bat. Buy tools as you need them for a specific project, not as you want them.

By: holgate

holgate — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 02:50:59 -0800

I'd be inclined to go the exact opposite route to davey_darling and buy Roy Underhill's original Woodwright's Shop book: not necessarily for projects, but for the attitude. Yes, he's hokey, but it makes economic sense to buy a set of hand tools (flea markets, pawn shops, etc) before splashing out on power tools.

But I'd certainly look at night classes: there's a reason why trades are taught through apprenticeships.