| A few years ago, I was in Border's looking for a particular book on woodworking, when I happened to overhear a man discussing woodworking with his friend. I am not normally nosy but this discussion really peaked my interest. I appears that someone he knew, supposedly with some kind of store, had commissioned from him a cigar humidor. Humidors had been a very hot topic in rec.woodworking, so I was very interested. This gentleman had picked up a couple of basic woodworking books, to "keep himself up to date on the latest joints" as he put it, and had hoped that he could make a humidor a week, or maybe more to keep this store owner supplied.
However, I could tell by his conversation, that he was not a very experienced woodworker, had few tools, and it seemed like a very tall order indeed when you consider the amount of debate that occurs on the correct way to design a humidor. This is what I call "biting off more than you can chew"!
So where do you start? Did you see something you like that you would like to build? Do you need a new bookcase? What need inspired you to want to work wood? What did you originally want to create? In my case, I needed furniture for my first apartment, therefore my focus started with making furniture and eventually migrated to other areas of woodworking. To limit start-up costs, you have to have some idea of the type of work you will be doing because your shop size, layout, and tool purchases will depend on it.
You will find most projects fall into one of the major categories of woodworking: cabinetmaking, furniture making, crafting, art and sculpture, turning, and carving. Each of these disciplines has unique requirements, in terms of space and equipment, yet all of them have some commonalties. You will find that a basic equipment list can be used with all of these skills, however, there are some tools that will be peculiar to each one. Here is a brief description of the categories in case you are unfamiliar.
Cabinetmaking includes the design and construction of kitchen, bathroom, and other forms of cabinets. Usually cabinets these days are built in units with doors and drawers, where most of the finish is limited to the faces that a person sees. Cabinetmakers generally use sheet goods, and some hardwoods in construction. There is a certain amount of basic house carpentry knowledge that is required to design and install the cabinets correctly. For example, did you know that all countertops are generally the same height, unless ordered otherwise? It's been like that for generations! That is why I always get a sore back at when I do dishes.
Furniture making is fairly self-evident. It encompasses the design and construction of all pieces of furniture, including chairs, tables, entertainment units, and coffee tables. Furniture making is similar to cabinet making in many respects. Many of the same joints are used, but furniture is usually free-standing. Furniture making may also extend to upholstered products, such as side chairs and sofas.
Crafting includes the production of whirly-gigs, birdhouses, doll furniture, boxes, toys, games and clocks. These are the items you routinely see at craft shows. Included here are the myriad of scrollsawn patterns intricately cut by people whose hands are infinitely steadier than my own.
Wood art and sculpture is similar to other forms of art. More than simply a functional piece of furniture, it is the shape and form of wood taken to the highest level. Not being much of an artist, I'm sure that those who are suitably gifted in this way will realize how different it can be from more traditional forms of woodworking.
Turning involves the use of a lathe to spin wood while you shape it with a variety of cutters. Although used in the production of legs and other parts for furniture and cabinetry, some turning is clearly in a class of its own. For example, many woodworkers turn bowls or round boxes, or light stands. Some of this work can clearly be classified in the realm of art.
Carving, a form of wood art, involves using specialized tools to create shapes and fine detail in wood that machinery cannot match. Sign carving, relief carved ornaments for furniture, and chip carving are just a few examples. |
