Woodworking can be a lot of fun, and you may find yourself wondering if it is something that you could do. Maybe you think that it looks like an expensive hobby and you aren’t sure where to begin. The good news is that it is possible to start woodworking without a big shop and without investing a ton of money in tools. 

Woodworking… What is it?

Woodworking can mean a lot of different things, but for the most part, it is crafting an item by cutting, shaping, or joining wood together. Woodworking is not physically demanding, and you don’t have to have a lot of space to do it. 

The basic woodworking concepts are extremely easy to learn, but woodworking is something that will continue to challenge you as you develop even more skills. If you are the type of person that loves problem solving, chances are that you will enjoy woodworking as well. There are always new projects to build and new skills to learn.

Woodworking is also extremely rewarding because you have the ability to create some really lovely items for your home using your own hands. It is excellent for those that are introverted because it is a hobby that is often done alone. 

Different Types Of Woodworking

You may have found yourself thinking about all that woodworking would entail, but there are different types of woodworking. 

1. Woodworking with hand tools- Hand tools, which include tools such as chisels, scrapers, hands saws, and planes, are used for this type of woodworking. You will not use tools that plug in or that run on batteries. It is very inexpensive to start woodworking with hand tools; however, as your skills improve, you will probably want to invest in higher-quality tools. 

Those who practice woodworking with hand tools tend to feel more of a connection to the process of creating their item than other types of woodworkers. While it does take practice and a lot of patience, it is a relaxing and quiet way to create items. Those who use hand tools for woodworking are filled with satisfaction and personal fulfillment. 

2. Woodworking with power tools– Today, around 90% of all woodworkers use power tools. These are tools that plug in or are run by battery, such as power saws, table saws, drills, miter saws, and sanders. Power tools make woodworking much easier. Cutting a board using a table saw does not take the same amount of skill or time as it would if you used a handsaw. 

3. Digital woodworking– Digital machines have been used in factories for a long time, but over the past few years, they have become more affordable and appealing to the at-home woodworker. The primary digital woodworking, tool is called a CNC machine. You lay all of your plans out on a computer and allow the machine to do all of the cutting. What is impressive is that you don’t even have to be in the room with the machine while it is cutting. Some woodworkers also invest in a laser cutter, which can make cuts that are more precise than the CNC machine. 

Of course, these digital machines do cost a lot of money and come with limitations. When you use digital tools in woodworking, you are not as connected to your work, and it can take away some of the satisfaction that woodworkers get by making items by hand. 

The majority of woodworkers are going to use a mix of both power tools and hand tools to create their items. For example, they may use a table saw to make the cuts but use a chisel to carve out small details or to cut joints. 

2 Types of Specialty Woodworking

There are also two types of specialty woodworking called scrolling and woodturning. 

  • Woodturning is used to create items such as bowls or projects that are rounded by using a lathe. While sculpting the project on the lathe, you will use chisels to remove the parts that you do not want. Lathes can be very expensive, but you can create some fantastic projects with them. 
  • Scrolling is used by woodworkers who want to cut out very intricate patterns or tiny details. A woodworker would do this by the use of a scroll saw. It takes time to get good at using a scroll saw, but they are pretty inexpensive, and unlike a lathe, they don’t make a big mess. 

Any woodworker could find a use for both a lathe and a scroll saw in their shop, but they are not a necessity for woodworking. 

Why Woodworking?

People enjoy woodworking for a variety of different reasons, but it has become extremely popular over the past couple of years because it allows people to step away from the noise of life. When you walk into your woodworking shop, the noise of the world and all of your other responsibilities disappear. It is just you and the wood. 

When a woodworker walks into their shop, they go in with an idea of what they want to get done, and they have a vision of what their project will look like when it is completed. They are able to create something using only the skills that they have and are completely responsible for every aspect of the project. They are able to create their own plans, designs, materials, and decide how they are going to overcome the challenges that they face. 

Of course, woodworking is fun, but it is also about getting to know yourself as well as getting a little more out of life. Taking wood and turning it into something beautiful is also extremely rewarding. Heading out to the woodshop allows woodworkers to clear their mind and really think about what is important in life. It allows us to unplug from all of our devices, walk away from all of the paperwork, and spend a few hours enjoying life instead of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle.