How To Learn Basic Woodworking Skills

So, you have decided to give the woodworking hobby a try. Congratulations! I find woodworking so enjoyable and I think you will too.

The thing is, you need a place to start. Discovering how to learn basic woodworking skills the right way can increase enjoyment and knowledge, getting past basic woodworking quickly.

How to Learn Basic Woodworking Skills: Best Approaches

Some strategies I recommend to improve quickly include:

• Focus on technique: As a beginner, you will be overwhelmed by the tool reviews and discussions on wood characteristics. That information is valuable, but I suggest that you focus on the how-to-do things first;
• Start easy: Everyone wants to build elegant-looking items using complex joinery from exotic wood species. I suggest building boxes because you can learn cutting, drilling, fastening, joinery, sanding, and finishing making one box;
• Use cheap materials: One way to work yourself out of the hobby is by buying lots of expensive wood as a beginner. You will make errors as you learn how to use tools and work wood. The first few projects will look rough, so you use sheet goods and building lumber that you can buy cheap (save the expensive Cherry for a project down the road);
• Buy only the tools you need: There are several beginner tool lists you can use to start your collection. Buy only the tools you need to build the upcoming project. Trust me, your tool collection will continue to grow as you gain experience and build more.
• Look for cheap, free, and used: It is much easier to get started in the woodworking hobby if you spend less. Free wood for pickup, used tools at markets, and discount prices on lesser-known brand names are strategies many novices use.

How to Start Learning Woodworking

When it comes to how to learn basic woodworking skills, there are only two paths to choose from:

1. Going it alone;
2. Learning from others.

How to Start Learning Woodworking: On Your Own

You might see something and think you want to build it, then buy some wood and tools you imagine are necessary and start; I would not recommend it, though.

What I am getting at here is a less organized approach to learning. Some people can grasp things without much effort, almost by intuition. If you are like that, you can watch a video or read an article and then build it.

That can be frustrating and expensive for someone interested in how to learn basic woodworking skills.

How to Start Learning Woodworking: With Help

I feel far more comfortable suggesting that you learn the basics of woodworking through an organized approach.

A good instructor or series of classes will start with simple concepts and “build” on them. You gain a solid woodworking foundation this way, with the only real downside that it might not be as fast-paced as you want.

Beginner projects should be fun and assemble quickly. That will build confidence, but do not be afraid to challenge yourself as you gain experience.

Beginner-oriented woodworking should encompass skills that you can use on different projects. Focused woodworking skills are fine if all you want to do is carve spoons or turn bowls, but most of us want to explore to find our passion. Learn general woodworking skills from others and then narrow them down into projects you like to build.

Learning projects should incorporate often used hand and power tools. Specialized tools will limit you, and may turn you off to woodworking quickly.

WorldSkills UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to Learn Basic Carpentry Skills

The woodshop is not the only place to practice how to learn basic woodworking skills. Deciding how to learn basic carpentry skills is helpful for jobs around the house that do not involve fine woodworking. Some beginning woodworkers find carpentry jobs easier to learn from, as they are:

• Using rough materials: Most repairs and additions use panels and building lumber instead of more expensive woods. That costs you less when you make rookie mistakes. The only time this is not the case is on some finishing work;
• More forgiving: Blowouts on drilled holes through interior wall studs are not as big of a deal as they would be on a cabinet. Hammer indents on a basement support beam will not affect your project like it would on a kitchen table. Blemishes caused by novice errors are usually passable on a DIY project compared to fine woodworking.

So, what offers the best opportunities to discover how to learn basic carpentry skills?

1. Learn through classes or on the job;
2. Trade journals and websites;
3. Carpentry books and videos.

Class and Jobsite Experience

Nothing will beat learning hands-on with knowledgeable people. They teach you how to work efficiently, safely, and fast. The negative here (for beginning DIYers or hobbyists) is the time commitment as a student in a classroom or as a laborer at job sites.

Trade Journals and Websites

These resources are detailed and focus on engineering, codes, methods, and safety. These articles or blogs might be too focused for a beginner's interest.

Books and Videos

I find generalized books and YouTube videos helpful with most carpentry applications. You might struggle to find a specific solutions with generalized materials.

Woodworking Classes Online

One of the best ways to experience an organized set of how to learn basic woodworking skills will be woodworking classes online. The best online woodworking classes will provide you with:

• More flexibility: A good series of classes should come in a format that allows you to start and stop when needed. If the instruction is worthwhile, it should be easy to follow (and pick back up on);
• Multiple teaching styles: The best online woodworking classes will offer you more than videos. I think it is important to have audio files, diagrams, and written information to support video content. The more comprehensive the material, the better chance you have to learn from it;
• Complete instruction: Some online classes provide generalized materials. At the risk of coming across as redundant, I find the best instruction covers a project like it will be the first one a woodworker attempts (it just might be);
• Teaching over personality: How to learn basic woodworking skills has been improved with the various social media platforms. Sadly, some content weaves personal beliefs, politics, or scams within the learning format. Avoid woodworking classes online that focus on other things besides woodworking.

What would I suggest for woodworking online classes? The Woodworkers Guild of America is a good example, in my opinion.

The organization provides free materials on places like YouTube, so you can see if the content is worth a membership. Membership packages offer full access to multiple teaching methods (audio, diagrams, written, and video). They also provide access to woodworking plans and discounts on shops products, benefits that only the best online woodworking classes offer students learning the craft.

Check that any online class offers fun projects within your skill level and budget.

Free Online Woodworking Classes

Wonder how to learn basic woodworking skills cheap? Online resources like the one you are reading now will not cost you anything. If you are looking for more structure, there are free online woodworking classes out there.

There are things that I want you to keep in mind as you look into free classes:

• Are they free?: One of the ways that people attract you to their online content is to advertise “free” builds. Before you print a cut list and grab some tools, check that the instructor offers all steps for “free.” One scam is to provide part of the build free, then charge for the final build instructions;
• Is it safe?: Most free content is created by fellow hobbyists. As a new woodworker, you might find it hard to determine if something is safe. Keep an eye out for dangerous practices like improper tool usage, workpieces that are not secured, or lack of safety gear. If it looks unsafe, do not do it;
• Are the instructions complete?: Finally, keep in mind that free content is usually a passion project. You might find the perfect build and start the project, only to find out the instructor has not uploaded the final video in an instruction series in over three years! Research ahead of time to make sure you are not left hanging.

There are quality free online woodworking classes. Good instructors use multiple platforms for all learning styles. They include a project introduction that discusses tools needed, materials you will need to buy, the length of time the project will take, and potential issues.

The content will be comprehensive, and the best free resources will offer several alternative approaches on how to learn basic woodworking skills.