Woodworking and Woodcarving

History

Woodworking developed in conjunction with the invention of tools during the Paleolithic period. As metal replaced stone and flint, forests could be cleared and shelters constructed with felled trees. The adz, with its curved blade, allowed for trees to be hollowed and turned into dugout canoes. Chisels were used to carve the first pieces of furniture.

As metalworking technology advanced during the Bronze Age, smelted copper hand tools became quite commonplace. New tools were designed to do the jobs that may have previously existed only in the imagination. Perhaps the most significant tool invented during this time period was the lathe, which allowed for blocks of wood to be turned into bowls and other round objects.

Woodworking continued to develop during the Middle Ages. In Europe, for example, sawmills dotted the landscape and woodworking specialists established their own guilds.

European woodworkers brought their techniques and tools to America in the seventeenth century. The apprentice system developed specialized craftsmen including coopers, who made butter churns and casks, and wheelwrights, who turned blocks of elm into wagon wheels. These early American woodworkers played an important part in the growth of the country.

As communities developed among religious sects, the Shakers, or the United Society of Believers, settled into various locations and began to produce furniture and other functional items. Today the Shakers are revered for their plain furniture styles, which encourage the beauty of the wood as the dominant focus.

The Industrial Revolution is largely the result of the development of power tools, including planers, saws, and boring machines, which were used to build the large machines responsible for the growth of other industries, especially textiles.

The mass production of tools during the nineteenth century encouraged individuals to set up home workshops, leading to the do-it-yourself movement that remains popular today.

Few new actual types of tools have appeared on the market since the nineteenth century, although the industry continues to enhance and refine both hand and power tools and equip them with important safety features. The "universal wood worker," in which three or more tools are consolidated into one, is one of the few modern additions to the extensive inventory of tools available to both the hobbyist and master woodworker. On the other hand, computer numerical control (CNC) machinery and other highly automated systems have radically altered woodworking at the mass-production level.

Woodworking encompasses a variety of specialties, including marquetry, parquetry, chip carving, scroll work, cabinetry, and sculpture. While some craftspeople seek new designs for functional items, many woodcarvers look to classic styles from the past.

Drawing and measuring supplies:

• T-square
• Rulers
• Steel measuring tape
• Compass
• Protractor
• Carpenter's square
• Marking gauge
• Pencils
• Chalk line
• Level

Hand tools:

• Knives
• Gouges
• Planes
• Chisels
• Files
• Rasps
• Benchstone
• Hand drill
• Hand brace and bits
• Hammers
• Mallets
• Screwdrivers
• Clamps
• Wrenches
• Pliers
• Saws
• Anvil
• Awl
• Drawknife

Power tools:

• Table saw
• Band saw
• Joiners
• Planers
• Router
• Drills
• Drill press
• Sanders
• Flexible shaft rotary tool

Accessories:

• Vise
• Miter box
• Sawhorses
• Jigs
• Cut resistant gloves

Fastening supplies:

• Glue
• Nails
• Screws
• Fittings
• Bolts, nuts and washers
• Dowels
• Hinges
• Brackets

Woodturning supplies:

• Lathe
• Gauges
• Skew chisel
• Scrapers (square nose, round nose)
• Parting tools
• Grinder
• Scroll chuck
• Jacob's chuck
• Bench drill
• Bandsaw
• Long-hole boring kit
• Dressing-stone for the grinding wheels
• Calipers

Finishing supplies:

• Sandpaper, steel wool
• Sanding block
• Tack cloth
• Wood filler
• Wood sealer
• Wood putty
• Stain
• Shellac, lacquer, enamel, varnish, oil
• Brushes
• Rags

Techniques

Safety issues are the most important consideration in woodworking. While novices need an introduction to the proper care and use of tools and the hazards of other woodworking materials, experienced craftspeople also need regular reminders.

Safety tips:

• Always remain alert and focused.
• Always read and follow the instructions that accompany both hand and power tools. If equipment has been purchased secondhand without an instruction booklet, contact the manufacturer.
• Learn which tool is best for the job. Don't improvise without an expert opinion.
• Unplug power tools when not in use and before making adjustments, lubricating, or changing parts.
• Keep tools properly sharpened and lubricated.
• Always point the sharpened ends of tools away from the body.
• Wear eye, ear, hand, and respiratory protection, even for a job that just takes a few seconds.
• Remove all dangling jewelry before using power tools.
• Always use a push block or strong stick to push wood through power machines.
• Never work when tired, distracted, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Do not rush. Woodworking should be an enjoyable activity done at a comfortable pace.
• Clean up sawdust and other debris regularly, especially around power tools.
• Keep a phone and a first aid kit nearby.
• Always supervise children and other novices.

Trends

The appeal of wood is ageless, despite the proliferation of inexpensive substitutes. Wooden chairs, coffee tables, cabinets, pepper mills, jewelry boxes, and hundreds of other items continue to be produced by hand in every design imaginable. The most popular handmade wooden goods are those that are both functional and decorative. Furniture designs that continue to be trendy include Shaker reproductions and Mission-style tables and chairs.

In many ways woodworking employs the same techniques and even many of the same tools that have been around for centuries. However, modern technological trends have had an impact, especially at the industrial scale. CNC machinery and other automated systems mean that in many cases computers can guide much of the actual work once a piece has been designed. Many mass-produced wood products may in fact have minimal input from a human worker. However, this has helped fuel a resurgence of interest in artisanal, handcrafted wood products, which can often command premium prices. Therefore highly skilled craftspeople continue to exist alongside large-scale woodworking factories.

During the last few decades of the twentieth century, increased public awareness of the depletion of trees in tropical rainforests and redwood forests has caused many woodworkers to avoid those endangered woods. As the number of forests being managed with sustainable forestry methods increases, some woodworkers are again indulging in mahogany, teak, purpleheart, and other exotic woods. Others promote the environmentally friendly use of local and new-growth woods.

Woodworking & Woodcarving for Fun vs. Profit

Woodworking offers profit-making opportunities for both hobbyists and master craftspeople. One can craft and sell a wide variety of goods in the retail market, including objects such as turned wooden bowls and pens, wooden toys, cutting boards, and business card holders. Career opportunities for advanced woodworkers include cabinetmaking, custom furniture design, and yacht-building. While recreational woodworking can be carried out almost anywhere provided the right tools are available, an operation that is profitable enough to be one's primary source of income will likely require a dedicated woodshop space and a wider array of specialized equipment.

Learning More

Organizations

Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) <https://woodworkcareer.org/>

Woodwork Institute (WI) <https://woodworkinstitute.com/>

Woodworkers Guild of America <https://www.wwgoa.com/>

Woodworking Network <https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/>

Wood Products Manufacturers Association (WPMA) <https://www.wpma.org/>

Northeastern Woodworkers Association (NWA) <https://woodworker.org/>

Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) <https://www.cabinetmakers.org/>

The American Association of Woodturners (AAW) <http://www.woodturner.org/>

Books

Blackburn, Graham. Traditional Woodworking Handtools: A Manual for the Woodworker. Gramercy, 2000.

Fraser, Aime. Getting Started in Woodworking: Skill-Building Projects that Teach the Basics. Taunton, 2003.

Gross, Barry. Learn to Turn: A Beginner's Guide to Woodturning from Start to Finish. Fox Chapel Publishing, 2005.

Jackson, Albert and David Day. The Complete Manual of Woodworking. Knopf, 1996.

Onians, Dick. Essential Woodcarving Techniques. Sterling, 1997.