Carpentry and Woodworking - Would Love To Learn Woodworking

Hello,

I have always been curious about woodworking. It is something I have long thought about but never persued. How does one go about getting into and learning the art of woodworking? Are there special schools or classes that you attend or can this info come from a local woodworker? I am talking level 101 here. I don't know anything about it at all. Any help and guidance is appreciated so I can get started!!

Thanks

I learned from both a local woodworker/cabinetmaker that was tolerant of my lack of skills at first, and a Bass guitar manufacturer that I was lucky enough to land employment with. I was also lucky enough to have a wife that put up with my "less than adequate" pay while I learned. But I learned fast because it's something I love to do. If you really want to learn, in my opinion, this is the best way. You won't get paid a lot of money at first.

Now I'm doing side jobs that pay pretty darn well in my home shop (that the wife also put up with the cost of the machinery in times that we could not afford them), and the fact that we can't fit cars in the garage anymore. My philosophy was "buy the tools" and I'll figure the rest out. Woodworking is very addictive.

Schools are available as well, and I'm sure it can be a good start, but nothing teaches you better than experience.


Herm

Hi,
Why don't you look around and see what you might build for the outside as a starting project. ( bird house, vine trellis, simple 5 board back door bench, arbor, but nothing real fancy or complicated for a 1st project. See how it turns out and if you realy like doing the wood thing. You can search the library, wood magazines and the internet for project plans. I would stick to plans that are not to complicated and for things that you personally will use. If you still like the wood thing, start getting your shop together by going to the library, reading wood magazine articles on shop layout. Access what area you have for a shop. You need light, free area for equipment, and ventilation, and if in a basement or a garage, a vac system. Like Herm said,
it's addictive. My shop now is in a 24 x 50 garage, and no cars are parked in it. I started with a table saw and progressed from there. Buy good tools, they don't have to be the best. I have every thing from Craftsman to Delta, Ryobi, Grizzly, Skil, B&D and so on. At the time I need a tool I look for a comparison tool test in the wood magazines and then go look for a good deal. Look around your neighborhood for a possible wood working friend, or adult education classes in woodworking. Watch the HGTV DIY and woodworking programs on TV for some woodworking projects and how to do it and how to use the tools safely.\
good luck,
Trent