Woodworking encompasses a broad range of activities and occupations that are executed in different ways and entail varying types of work. Whether it involves manually crafting a table or utilizing a digital CNC machine to create a sign, any endeavor within the realm of woodworking is covered by this term.
It is not possible for a woodworker to master every type of woodworking due to the large number of disciplines within the field. In addition, there are some woodworking practices that one may never encounter simply due to the extensive variety. Moreover, various cultures possess their own unique woodworking disciplines and traditions.
Our Guild has members skilled in various areas of woodworking, and woodworking itself has numerous aspects. To explore the descriptions and images of different types of woodworking our members excel in, simply toggle the buttons below.
Woodcarving
Wood carving is a type of woodworking that involves using a cutting tool in one hand or a chisel in two hands, or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet. This results in the creation of a wooden figure or figurine, or the addition of sculptural decorations on a wooden object.
Woodturning
Woodturning is the art of utilizing a wood lathe alongside handheld tools to shape an object that displays symmetry around the axis of rotation. Similar to the potter’s wheel, the wood lathe is a straightforward device that has the ability to create diverse shapes.
Woodturning involves spinning a piece of wood on a lathe at speeds ranging from 250 to 4000 RPMs, and simultaneously shaping the wood using either a gouge or a chisel. The products resulting from woodturning are characterized by their round shape. Woodturners produce a wide variety of items, such as bowls, vases, cups, pens, candle holders, plates, and various other objects.
Woodturning allows ample opportunity for woodworkers to express their artistic talents, with less emphasis on precise measurements and pre-planning compared to other woodworking practices. One can readily make spontaneous choices and refine the piece gradually throughout the turning process.
If you have an experimental and artistic nature, woodturning is strongly recommended. Woodturning is easy to learn but difficult to become skilled at. Woodturning provides a wonderful entry point into the world of woodworking.
Pyrography (Wood burning)
Pyrography, also known as pokerwork or wood burning, is the artistic technique of embellishing wood or other substances with controlled burn marks, which are produced by using a heated object like a poker, all done completely by hand. The term itself, pyrography, originates from the Greek words “pur” (fire) and “graphos” (writing), symbolizing the act of “writing with fire”.
Scroll sawing
Intarsia and marquetry (Wood mosaics)
Marquetry involves the application of veneer pieces to a structure in order to create decorative patterns, designs, or pictures. This technique can be used on case furniture, seat furniture, small objects with smooth surfaces that can be veneered, or freestanding pictorial panels that are appreciated independently.
Marquetry, meaning “inlaid work” in Middle French, differs from the ancient craft of inlay or intarsia. In inlay, a solid body of one material is cut out to accommodate sections of another material, creating the surface pattern.
Furniture
The mainstream demand for traditional furniture making is being affected by the mass production of inexpensive furniture created by large corporations using low-quality materials, despite the continued significance of this important traditional craft in today’s world.
The number of individuals valuing traditionally crafted furniture with high-quality solid wood has been increasing. Numerous specialized woodworking enterprises manage to survive and flourish by offering custom furniture of excellent quality.
Knowing how to make furniture is a valuable skill for hobby woodworkers. The satisfaction and pleasure derived from crafting your own coffee, which you use regularly, is immense.
Boxes
Boat building
Wood, which is buoyant, widely accessible, and simple to manipulate, is the conventional material utilized for constructing boat hulls and spars.
When considering its popularity among small boats, such as dinghies and sailboats of around 6 meters (20 ft) in length, it is important to note that its abrasion resistance is influenced by the wood’s hardness and density. However, if fresh water or marine organisms manage to penetrate the wood, it can lead to its deterioration.
Miscellaneous
Boxes can be created using various techniques, such as band sawing, turning, and traditional dovetail joinery, and serve both functional and decorative purposes.
Epoxy woodworking
If you have been using YouTube or conducting research on woodworking in recent years, it is highly likely that you have come across the trendy epoxy river tables.
The process of epoxy woodworking involves the addition of epoxy to wood, typically by casting the wood in epoxy resin to create a combined object. Epoxy is also widely used in woodworking for purposes such as glue, coating, repairs, sealants, and more.
One advantage of using epoxy for woodworking is that it can be manipulated and shaped even after it has hardened, just like wood. Additionally, epoxy allows for the incorporation of colors and patterns, offering an opportunity to enhance the individuality of your woodworking projects.
Construction
The word construction often brings to mind carpentry for many individuals, and this association is entirely accurate. In fact, carpenters typically engage in substantial construction work during their professional endeavors. After all, construction essentially falls under the category of woodworking, involving the utilization of wood to fabricate structural elements such as house framing.
If you aspire to work with woodworking, pursuing a career in construction as a carpenter is likely the most straightforward path. Although construction typically involves the creation of larger structures, it can also encompass crafting the frame for a table. However, this analogy is rarely employed in conversation.
Cabinetry
Cabinetry is closely associated with the craft of furniture making, with a specific emphasis on creating cabinets and shelves. These furniture pieces are essential in all areas of a home, requiring a functional and aesthetically pleasing design. Numerous woodworkers choose to specialize in cabinet making, which is such a vast realm within woodworking that one can dedicate their entire career solely to this craft.
The dissimilarity lies in the fact that cabinetry and furniture making have contrasting purposes. Cabinets are designed to remain stationary for the majority of their lifespan, whereas furniture is crafted with the ability to be moved. Cabinets primarily focus on having an aesthetically pleasing appearance on the visible sides, whereas furniture requires a visually appealing look on all sides.
You can use lower-quality materials for the parts of the cabinets that are not visible.
Woodworking art
Woodworking art encompasses a wide variety of creations made from wood, allowing for great flexibility in interpretation. While a more precise definition is elusive, examples of woodworking art may include wooden replicas of vehicles, installations crafted from driftwood, and aesthetically pleasing objects that evoke emotions rather than serving a practical function.
While the article classified woodworking art separately, I believe that all the other forms of woodworking mentioned on this list can also be considered as art.
Woodcarving
Woodcarving involves using a knife, gouge, or chisel to shape and decorate wooden objects. This traditional craft has existed for thousands of years and can be found in various parts of the world with their own unique woodcarving traditions and techniques.
Woodcarving comes in many different shapes and forms, with one of the simplest being whittling. In whittling, one only needs to take a piece of wood and carve something out of it. Quite often, these whittlings take the form of humorous little characters such as gnomes or snowmen.
Relief Carvings, which are a well-known form of woodcarving, entail the removal of wood from a flat piece of wood in order to create the illusion of the object protruding from the surface, similar to a three-dimensional painting made specifically from wood.
Joinery
Joinery, a highly favored form of woodworking, involves the connection of wood pieces through joints. These joints are extensively employed in the fabrication of furniture. By incorporating joints in woodworking, the reliance on nails and screws is diminished, resulting in projects that exhibit enhanced strength and durability.
Many individuals find great satisfaction in achieving high precision and intricate craftsmanship, opting to exclude nails or screws entirely from their woodworking endeavors. On occasions, joinery alone serves as the sole means of securing wooden components, rendering wood glue unnecessary.
There are several woodworking joints that are highly popular, such as butt joints, biscuit joints, bride joints, dado joints, dovetail joints, finger joints, lap wood joints, and mortise and tenon joints.
