Woodworking is an extremely useful and fun hobby. As a beginner, it’s important to remember that second part—it should be fun! No matter what type of project you’re taking on, it should be something you enjoy doing rather than something you see as a chore.
Here are some tips from our lumber yard in Franklin County, MA for beginning woodworkers to keep it fun while also allowing you to learn more about the craft.
When you’re just getting started with the hobby, it might be difficult for you to find projects that are truly at a beginner level. This can be understandably discouraging and frustrating, and it might feel like you’ll never improve to the point where you can take on more complex projects. But this is consistent with any type of hobby you’ll start—it might seem boring or frustrating at first, because you’re not going to be great at it right away, but you need to learn how to do the easy things before you can do the more difficult things.
Think of it this way—when choosing projects, always select one that will help you walk away with a brand new skill. If you find you’re not learning anything in these processes, you can then move on to more difficult projects. As you continue building a resume of beginner projects, you can then pursue projects you’re more excited about.
Again, remember that woodworking is supposed to be a fun hobby. You shouldn’t have to push yourself to finish projects, and you shouldn’t feel like you have to set rigorous deadlines. Maybe some days you’ll only work for 15 or 20 minutes, or not even at all. Make it a hobby you can pick up at any time, spend some time relaxing and focusing on, and then set aside and come back to on another day.
Woodworking can quickly become an expensive hobby, especially for beginners who have not yet built up the same amount of tools and equipment as more experienced woodworkers have over many years. Therefore, to make matters easier on yourself financially, try to only do projects that allow you to use equipment already in your shop. Use scrap wood for projects whenever you can so you don’t have to go out and purchase new boards for every project you take on.
With regard to tools, remember—you have many years to collect a shop full of equipment. If you find yourself in need of tools, try purchasing them secondhand or borrowing them from other people before going out and buying them brand new. This will be especially helpful for specialty tools or more expensive items that simply are not in your budget.
We’ve emphasized it a couple times already, but it’s important to remember that woodworking is a hobby that should never be a source of stress. Have fun with it, and learn a lot!
For more information, contact our lumber yard in Franklin County, MA.
Posted: to Lumber Yard on Wed, Mar 21, 2018
Updated: Wed, Mar 21, 2018
