With the pandemic raging on around us, you may find yourself twiddling your thumbs on weekends for lack of something better to do. If you have ever scoured the internet being fascinated by DIY projects, you might want to give woodworking a go. It is not as daunting as it may appear and it is a great hobby or pastime as it not only relaxed your mind, but by channelling your boredom into making something creative makes it a more constructive (pun intended) leisure activity than most. Not only is this a productive activity, it also allows you to be creative, relax your mind, and can even be physically beneficial as it keeps you active.
If you haven’t ever done any woodwork and are thinking of how to begin, consider these three steps to get started on what may turn out to be the most satisfying hobby you have ever pursued.
1: SET UP A DEDICATED WORKPLACE
Woodworking is a hobby that needs adequate space. Having a dedicated space for woodworking is important because it makes it far more convenient to store your tools and equipment in one place rather than all over your home. Additionally, because of the residual sawdust and mess created during the process, it is best to do it in a place not inside your living space. Setting your workshop in your basement, garage, or a shed in your backyard is a great option. This will allow you to leave your project undisturbed while you take a break or go about your day. However if a free shed, garage or basement is not a space luxury you have, you may want to consider setting a worktable or bench. In a smaller apartment or shared space, the worktable can be set up on a balcony or porch or even in the backyard itself.
2: ACQUIRE A FEW MUST HAVE WOODWORKING TOOLS
If you are serious about pursuing woodworking as a hobby, you might want to invest in the basic tools you need. In addition to the basic and obvious choices like hammers, screwdrivers, saw, bench plane, clamps, chisels etc., you might want to consider buying some basic power tools as well. Power tools not only make your job much easier, they also make woodworking a lot more fun. Think of it like toys for the ‘big” kids. Buy one of these nail guns and you will understand what I mean. There is something about the feel of a power tool in your hands that makes you feel powerful. If you want to purchase the tools one at a time, which is highly recommended, you should make your purchases in this order. Get an orbital sander, and a cordless drill first, then add on to your collection with an electric screwdriver, a jigsaw or circular saw, a nail gun, and whatever else tickles your fancy as you get more experienced.
3: UNDERSTAND YOUR WOOD
Before starting your wood projects you must understand how wood is sold, how it is measured, how to select the right wood for the job and how to work it. For instance you need to learn how the dimensions of wood are expressed. There are some standard dimensions such and 2 x12, 1×2, 2×4 etc. You should know what these figures mean so you know what to get when purchasing pieces of wood from the store.
You should also learn about the characteristics of different kind of wood. Woods can be categorized broadly into hard and soft wood. Different wood types lend best to specific types of projects. Before starting a project you should study which type of wood you will need. For instance, Pine is softwood whereas oak and mahogany are hardwoods.
Another essential skill you need to acquire is the selection of wood. Straight woods will make working your wood much more straightforward compared to using bowed or warped wood. So you should learn how to select straight woods from the piles of lumber available in stores.
FINAL WORDS
Many people think of woodworking as a noisy, messy, time consuming and expensive hobby. It may appear daunting to beginners for a number of reasons. The first is the fact that most newbies aren’t familiar with the right tools or are intimidated by them. While manual tools are a cheaper alternative, you need great practice to get a perfect finish on your projects using them. Power tools, once you learn how to use them, give you better results. The second thing that dissuades many hobbyists is the time you need to invest practicing the techniques that you need to hone your basic skills. You should set aside some time every day to practice woodworking. However woodworking can be a very satisfying hobby and most rewarding as well.
