Many of you , maybe they have in mind that carpentry is something very “extreme” and that the woodworkers are people with very elite skills and nobody can reach their level .
I suppose that many of you , may think that if you want to be a carpenter , you should have “tons” of muscles , be very strong and also have supernatural mental and artistic talents .
Of course this isn’t true .
We should never “forget” that we have people with serious physical problems and these people may think that they cannot be carpenters . Of course this isn’t true , also .
Everybody can be a carpenter .
Certainly , the carpentry hobby – activity needs some skills you should have , in order to act with this astonishing way of life .
These skills the carpenter should have in some kind of grade , aren’t something extreme for sure and you should not be afraid .
What is Basic carpentry ?
The basic carpentry is the ability to fulfill some very basic woodworking projects using the basic theoretical knowledge combined with the basic use of the wood tools and some basic carpentry techniques .
What is the most Important skill in carpentry ?
The most important skill in woodworkingis the skill and ability to visualize the design you have in front of you , to predict and solve problems before they appear , the correct measuring , cutting wood and have the general supervision of the entire process from A to Z .
Basic carpentry skills . ( extended )
1) The basic Body – Physical skills .
In this physical category , you may imagine that the carpentry needs some kind of big physical strength but this isn’t accurate of course and you don’t need to be a supernatural athlete or something like that , to act the carpentry hobby .
The basic body strength is enough for both men and women .
If you have a body kinetic problem or anything , you can also be a very nice carpenter , but i suppose you’ll need sometimes the help of a friend for some carpentry “jobs” .
But you can be a carpenter for sure .
If you can carry your wood piece to your warehouse , in order to begin your woodworking plan , you won’t have any issue .
If you can carry a hand saw and make some cuts in your wood , “no worries” , you’re doing just fine .
If you can carry a hand or a power drill and make some holes to your wooden surfaces , you’re “halfway there” .
If you can hold a hammer , make some hits and screw some screws with a screwdriver , your body skills are enough .
If you can carry your wood piece , put it above your woodworking bench and make some moves to it , to stabilize it so you can work more easily , your carpentry body skills are also very fine .
If you can carry and hold your chisels , drawknives , et.c making some adjustments to your wood project , put a wood piece in your vice for stability , use your clamps and your other auxiliary tools , have no worries about your body strength requirements .
If you can use a sandpaper , or use you planers , to smoothen your wood , you are ok again .
In all the human activities which includes the fantasy – creativity – artistic – soul expression , et.c elements , you cannot set limits to the human’s skills and talents .
You cannot teach someone to paint like Picasso , make music like Beethoven , dance like Nureyef , or make astonishing woodcrafts by carving wood and sculpturing it .
2) Learn Wood and its reactions to your actions .
You should gain knowldege of the general behavior of the wood and the different types of it , while you’re using it . You should get experience of how the “soft” and the “hard” types of wood , behaves on your actions on it .
All the wood types , haven’t the same behavior in cutting , drilling , sanding , finishing , et.c and this is a basic knowldege you should get .
In THIS post you’ll see all the wood types and their properties , you’ll need .
3) How many tools exist and the correct and safe use of them , is necessary .
You should get experience , concerning the woodworking tools , power or hand tools . You should learn about them and the most important the correct use of them and be very comfortable , with the use of them.
Of course the safety laws and your health’s protection , concerning the wood tools should be in your mind , always .
You should be able to use a hand plane , a chisel , a power drill and an orbital sander with the same easiness and “comfort” .
See in HERE all the complete woodworking tools , list .
4) Sharpen your Tools , correctly .
You should learn how to sharpen your hand tools , as the chisels , your planers , your hand saws . This is very important , because an unefficient tool will make your carpenter’s life hard and your project at stake .
If you’re wondering what is tools sharpening , don’t be . Go in HERE and see all the sharpening details .
5) Storage & maintain your carpentry tools .
You should learn the correct storage and maintenance of your tools , in order to have them for many years . It’s very important to learn the entire “circle” of the woodworking tools from how many they are and their correct use , to the storage and maintenance of them .
6) Measure correctly .
The correct measuring is for sure a basic skill for a carpenter . If you measure awry , you’ll cut awry and your carpentry plan won’t be nice and beautifull . have a carpenter’s pencil , some meters/rules , a level tool and learn how to use them .
I’ve chosen some very nice rulers and more to supply , get them in HERE .
7) Cut wood with Focus & Accuracy .
You should be 100% focused when you cut your wood and leave noone to distract you from this “job” . This isn’t so easy as you may think , because if you have to do many wood accurate cuts , you’ll see that your focus will decrease from fatigue .
Of course you should learn to cut in straight lines , accurate and precise .
8) Nail & Screw correctly .
The nailing and screwing of your nails and screws are the basic wood joinery skill and even if they seem easy , they aren’t . There are “secrets” and tips in order to hammer a nail and screw a bolt and of course to remove them , without “hurting” the wood .
If you like to read some , go in HERE .
You must never let your brain decrease its seriousness and focus , no matter if you are tired or not . The accidents in the carpentry activity are always “waiting” for your brain’s “shields” to lower down .
9) Drill holes .
The skill to make 100% accurate holes in your wood using power or not woodworking tools , is a basic skill too . In here the same as the cutting sections applies . If you want to make correct holes in your wood without damaging it , your focus and seriousness are needed .
If you are using power drills and wood machinery , your body and mind should be in perfect combination in order to make your holes , as they should be done .
Remember the mind gives the “orders” to your body and these 2 , must be in perfect harmony .
10) Use some Bacic Math .
You should also know some “basic” maths in order to calculate the distances in your wooden surfaces . These basic math will help you to proceed to your marking and cuttings with 100% success .
Of course the basic mathematical operations will help you with your wood supplies and the money you’ll spend for them .
The maths will help you again when you’ll need to calculate the contractions and the expansions of the wood , when you’ll try to make a wood project and try to fit it , into a specific area in your home .
I know that many people when they hear about maths , the have “allergies” , but in the carpentry activity , the basic maths are enough . At least for not a fully professional carpenter .
If you want to be a professional carpenter , you should know more of course , because your projects will be more complex and they’ll need more math knowledge .
11) Dovetail – Mortise & a Tenon joinery is needed .
You should begin to make some wood joinery . The dovetail joints , the cutting of a mortise and a tenon joint is for sure the next steps for your joints .
The nails , screws and the wood gluse is very nice for your first primary joinery , but there are more joints you should be familiar with , right after the basic nails – pins and wood glue wood joints .
You’ll need to scribe reference lines for your joinery , so i’ve picked some top gauges to buy in HERE .
12) Protection and finishing of wood .
You should learn the correct protection of your carpentry project after your finishing and sanding till its finally form – design .
There are many ways and materials to use , depending to what you want and what is the best appropriate concerning the use of this wood project and the place it’ll be placed .
If you’lll place your wood plan outdoors or indoors , this affects the protection and finishing methods .
For your outdoors , the dyes , the paint , lacquers , et.c are more suitable , maybe .
I’ve picked some top dyes – varnishes , et.c for you to get in HERE .
There are oils and waxes , varnishes , oil based colors , lackers , shellac , et.c and you should be able to choose the right one , for your needs .
I have some of my favorite natural finishing products for you to buy , in HERE .
13) A Carpenter should visualize “things” in the 3 – D dimension space .
Maybe the most difficult maybe and serious mental skill a carpenter should have , is the ability to visualize his woodworking project in the 3 – D dimensions .
A carpenter should have the ability to visualize his future wood plan , inside the space this plan will be after its creation .
A carpenter should have the ability to calculate distances , lengths , space for the 3 dimensions , calculating also future chances caused by weather and other conditions .
This is the criterion which separates a nice carpenter , from a very good carpenter , a “teacher”- master carpenter .
As you work with wood and with your chisels and the other carving tools , the artistic skills will evolute without even know it .
If you don’t have the talents other people have i suppose you won’t win carving championships , but for sure you’ll be able to shape your wood very nice and do what you want to do .
You’ll get tons of satisfaction from all this , be certain .
As you see the basic carpentry skills aren’t something “extreme” concerning your body physical and your mental – artistic powers .
Keep Woodworking and gain skills and happiness .