If you want to start a woodworking hobby-activity , it’s very natural to have many and serious questions , about it . Let’s say that you are totally new to the wood “planet” for some reason .
Of course the first question you’ll ask yourself is , can you begin this hobby , even if you know nothing ?
Yes of course , you can begin and if you have the willingness to learn , you can be a very good carpenter and create astonishing woodworking projects . You’ll need ot learn the basics and this takes time , but don’t worry . It’s an amazing process .
Let’s see the exact Steps you should follow , to begin Woodworking :
1) Love truly and consioulsy the wood and woodworking , to avoid mental “traps” .
2) Have an “open” mind to knowledge .
3) Never neglect the safety laws .
4) Attend as many physical and online classes – seminars , as you can .
5) Inform about the wood element , as much as you can .
6) Learn about the woodworking tools .
7) Learn about the correct and safe woodwoρκing tools , use .
8) Begin to learn about the basic measuring – cutting – assembling , wood .
9) Learn about the wood sanding – finishing , in order to complete correctly your wood project .
So let’s see more in depth the above steps and clarify some issues .
1) Love Truly , the wood .
Realize with 100% seriousness inside you , why you want to start the woodworking hobby . This awareness will make you , avoid the “trap” many people who begin sports and other activities , do .
If you don’t love what you do , you make it for a short time period , only . After a while you get bored , you stop enjoying doing it and finally , you quit .
Begin this hobby , because you love it and for the right reasons . Don’t do it to make some beautiful wood projects , only . Get more “inside” this marvelous way of life and you’ll see what wood will give you back .
2) Have an “open mind” .
When you get into an unknown territory , you should collect as much knowledge . Knowledge is power and the woodworker is a person who always have this mindset .
Have an “open mind” and never underestimate knowledge , coming even from places you’ve never expected . Wood is “alive” and it can “read” your good or bad psychology and cause you “themes” .
3) You safety comes first , Always .
You should be aware of the dangers of this hobby – activity has and avoid them . Serious dangers exist , during the process of finding free wood in nature , during the use of your wood tools , during the use of the chemicals you can use to finish – varnish , et.c .
Never neglect your safety measures and it’s better to follow them with seriousness from your starting . In this way they’ll be a “routine” .
I’ve written a complete mindset post concerning the dangers in woodworking , remember it in HERE .
4) Attend online and physical classes and gain knowledge .
It will help you the most to attend some physical classes and of course some online classes and seminars .
Go to your country’s Ministry of education site and search about free(or minor payed) woodworking classes and seminars .
Every country has its own education system and you should infrorm the needs of your country , concerning the woodworking , but for sure you’ll find classes and seminars .
If you have a carpenter friend , who can help you with his experience and knowledge , even better . The Architectural Woodworking Institute(AWI) and the Woodworking Career Alliance in the US are very good ones .
For the online courses , there are many in the internet and i suggest you to go to one of the biggest online education platforms , the www.udemy.com .
Go to their woodworking classes area and start attending . In the youtube , or wherever else you like , you can find very good videos for the carpentry hobby .
5) Learn about Wood , as much as you can .
You should “discover” what is this material , how wood is created , what properties it has , what enemies it has , et.c .
What are the types of wood and which of them are the appropriate for your wood plans .
Learn and be “comfort” with the dimensions of the wooden boards – pieces and what 2×2 and 1.5×2 means , in order to make your wood supplies .
You should also learn and gain experience , of how you can choose “straight” wood , with no twists and serious awry and wood errors .
If you want to see the properties the enemies and more information , go HERE .
Of course in your beginning you’ll use cheaper wood and if you like to make colored projects , the MDF boards and other more cheap industrial wood , would be fine .
Another serious factor you need to know and have it clarified , is the correct drying process of the wood piece .
You’ll learn of the ways you can protect your wood from the external factors using physical methods .
After you collect this wood knowledge and you feel confident , you should go to the next step .
6) Learn about the Woodworking Tools , as much as you can .
The woodworking tools area , is a very significant one . You should learn about the woodworking tools and equipment you’ll need to shape your primary element . Should you choose hand tools or power tools for your beginning ?
What are the benefits of these 2 types of tools and why is better to combine them ?
As a totally beginner and not only , your mind should be “open” in this area , too . The combination of hand tools and power ones is the right choice .
The power tools are making more accurate and easy carpentry jobs , but they need to learn their correct use and to train with them a little .
Never forget their correct maintenance . See in HERE all the maintenance “secrets” .
7) Learn about the Use of the carpentry tools .
Take your time , concerning the wood tools . Go to a friend’s carpender store , or go near to a more experienced woodworker , ask him/her questions and see from a closer spot , how this person use his tools .
Don’t be ashamed to ask him , even the “silliest” ( when you learning , there are no “silly” questions ) question you have in mind and you always “afraid” to ask .
Focus to the correct usage of the woodworking tools , and what tool is the aproppriate for each carpender’s “job” .
This stage is very important for your woodworker “career” and try to “sculpture” this knowldege in your “hard – disc” .
Remember , that the knowledge you firstly learn in any field this knowldege keeps you company , for the rest of your life . If you learn incorrectly , you’ll “carry” it forever .
So give in this woodworking usage stage , the appropriate attention and time , to learn it good and for good .
8) Learn how to Measure – Cut – Assemble .
The measuring – cutting – assembling is a major woodworking “column” and you should be very accurate and precionist , in thins field . If you do it awry , your wood plan will be awry .
Learn how to use your meters , and learn about joinery . At the beginning you’ll make the basic joins and i’ve written a post about the 4 basic and simple joins you can do , read it in HERE .
9) Wood Sanding & Finishing .
These two are very important woodworking processes and need cautious from you . These are the final “brush strokes” , to your wood project and the beautifulness , smoothness and resistance in time of your project , depend on them .
If you make good job in here , your plan will be in its primary form , for many years .
After you get the above knowledge and you start to realize what woodworking hobby is , having an holistic icon for it , you’ll start to understand the “engineer” part of it .
This is maybe one of the hardest area , because you need to understand – imagine – visualize and creating , a wood plan from zero to the finishing .
Of course all this needs time and experience .
Have persistance , faith , never give up , take it slowly but correctly and the woodworking will be your hobby for all your life .
** Something extra : beginner’s tools list :
1) Some hand saws .
2) A tape type meter .
3) A drill & bits .
4) Squares .
5) A table saw .
6) A miter saw .
7) A level tool .
8) Clamps and other rauxiliary tools .
9) A place & a bench to work .
If you want to read , the complete woodworking tools list(90 tools) from A to Z , go in HERE .
Keep Woodworking and gaining happiness .
