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craft has at its heart a collection of essential information about
design, tools, techniques, and materials. This is the core
knowledge for that craft, that fundamental know-how you need to
be a competent and successful craftsman.
This web site provides the core knowledge for
the woodworking craft. During the thirty years I have spent writing about and
teaching woodworking, I found myself explaining certain key concepts
over and over again. These, I came to realize, were the foundation of
woodworking. No matter what you set out to build from wood,
you need to understand this essential information to make intelligent decisions
and anticipate problems as your project progresses. Without it your
craftsmanship diminishes, and with it your hope of building something of
lasting beauty and utility.
This indispensable woodworking wisdom
falls into four categories. And for those who want to go beyond the
core, there is a fifth: |
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Design
Before you cut your
first board, you must have a design to achieve the results you're after.
To create a workable design, you must understand important properties of
the wood you will be using, methods for joining that wood, typical
construction techniques that are appropriate for the type of project you
are building, styles of craftsmanship that will enhance and compliment
the environment where this project will be used, and finally how to
think through and plan a project.
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The
Nature of Wood |
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Joining Wood |
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Furniture Construction |
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Built-In Construction |
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Architectural Trim & Finish Work |
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Special Constructions |
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Styles of Craftsmanship |
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Planning a Project |
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Tools
More so than many
other crafts, woodworking gives you an amazing variety of tools you can
use to build a project -- hand tools, portable power tools, and
stationary power tools. Oftentimes, there are a dozen or more different
tools that will accomplish the same task. To achieve the best results,
you must understand the available choices, organize them in an
environment where you can use them safely and effectively, and maintain
them so they will produce satisfactory results.
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The
Workshop Environment |
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Workbenches & Shop Furniture |
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Hand Tools |
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Stationary Power Tools |
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Portable Power Tools |
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Jigs and Fixtures |
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Tool Maintenance |
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Sharpening |
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Techniques
Almost every
woodworking project evolves though the same steps -- cutting lumber to
size, creating the joinery and decor, assembly, surface preparation, and
finishing. Within these steps, there are hundreds of different ways to
use a tool or combination of tools to help accomplish each step. These
woodworking techniques fall into two categories -- methods that produce
decorative results and those in which the results are more utilitarian
and general.
General Methods:
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Jointing & Planing |
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Sawing |
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Drilling & Boring |
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Routing |
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Making Wood Joints |
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Gluing and Clamping |
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Sanding, Scraping, and Filing |
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Finishing |
Decorative Methods:
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Shaping & Molding |
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Scrollwork |
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Lathe Turning |
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Bending Wood |
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Veneering & Laminating |
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Materials
There are thousands of
wood species in the world, and hundreds of them are commonly used for
woodworking. Additionally, there are dozens of "wood products" that are
made from wood for construction and metal hardware designed specifically
for woodworking projects. To make the wisest possible choices, you
should know not only what is available to you, but how it is prepared.
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Woodworking Resources
When the core knowledge isn't enough
-- and it soon won't be if your craftsmanship grows -- there are many
places where you can find additional information. At the ends of each
section, we've included books, web sites, and other sources for more
information on the topic of that specific section. We've also put
together a list of more general resources.
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Woodworking Online |
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Woodworking Publications |
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Woodworking Schools |
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Woodworking Institutions and Organizations |
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Woodworking Tool Manufacturers |
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General Woodworking Supplies |
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Specialty Woodworking Supplies
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