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| grwo:green_woodworking [2026/03/11 19:53] – Dave Darby | grwo:green_woodworking [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
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| # Green woodworking | This topic is part of [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. |
| | ====== Green woodworking ====== |
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| ## What is green woodworking? | ===== What is green woodworking? ===== |
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| 'Green' in this context refers to the working of wet or unseasoned wood that has recently been felled or harvested. Freshly cut wood contains a lot of water which will eventually evaporate, causing shrinkage. This 'wetness' can be of benefit in some green woodworking joints which rely on shrinkage to produce a tight fit. Wood can still be considered green for up to a year if left in a round log before being worked. Techniques for shaping green coppiced wood follow the grain, producing softer flowing surfaces - but increased strength, as the wood's linear fibres remain intact. Green woodworking requires a different set of skills and tools to modern carpentry, as well as a closer understanding of the nature of wood and the character of different trees. Originally, all woodworking would have been green woodworking. These techniques evolved to shape unseasoned wood when it was soft and pliable, and the wood simply dried over time after it had been worked. | 'Green' in this context refers to the working of wet or unseasoned wood that has recently been felled or harvested. Freshly cut wood contains a lot of water which will eventually evaporate, causing shrinkage. This 'wetness' can be of benefit in some green woodworking joints which rely on shrinkage to produce a tight fit. Wood can still be considered green for up to a year if left in a round log before being worked. Techniques for shaping green coppiced wood follow the grain, producing softer flowing surfaces - but increased strength, as the wood's linear fibres remain intact. Green woodworking requires a different set of skills and tools to modern carpentry, as well as a closer understanding of the nature of wood and the character of different trees. Originally, all woodworking would have been green woodworking. These techniques evolved to shape unseasoned wood when it was soft and pliable, and the wood simply dried over time after it had been worked. |
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| ## What are the benefits of green woodworking? | ===== What are the benefits of green woodworking? ===== |
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| - Green wood is soft and therefore easy to work with hand tools; this reduces the need for power tools, which are noisy, dangerous, require electricity and can cause dust-related respiratory problems. | - Green wood is soft and therefore easy to work with hand tools; this reduces the need for power tools, which are noisy, dangerous, require electricity and can cause dust-related respiratory problems. |
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| ## What can I do? | ===== What can I do? ===== |
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| You can give it a go by attending a course, and get more information from books (see resources for both). Then, if you're serious about green woodworking, get yourself a basic collection of hand tools, plus a shave horse and pole lathe, after which you can easily start making presents, kitchenware, toys, furniture, garden structures and general fixings for the home. Your skills will improve with experience and experimentation. | You can give it a go by attending a course, and get more information from books (see resources for both). Then, if you're serious about green woodworking, get yourself a basic collection of hand tools, plus a shave horse and pole lathe, after which you can easily start making presents, kitchenware, toys, furniture, garden structures and general fixings for the home. Your skills will improve with experience and experimentation. |
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| ## Further resources | ===== Forum ===== |
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| | This topic belongs to the section [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/crafts). |
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| | ===== Further resources ===== |
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| - [Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Green Woodworkers](https://www.bodgers.org.uk/) | - [Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Green Woodworkers](https://www.bodgers.org.uk/) |
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| ## Related topics | ===== Related topics ===== |
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| - [Bow making](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/bowm/bow_making) | - [Bow making](bowm:bow_making) |
| - [Craft production](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/craf/craft) | - [Craft production](craf:craft) |
| - [Felling axes & crosscut saws](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/fell/felling) | - [Felling axes & crosscut saws](fell:felling) |
| - [Hurdles](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/hrdl/hurdles) | - [Hurdles](hrdl:hurdles) |
| - [Roof shingles](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/rofs/roof_shingles) | - [Roof shingles](rofs:roof_shingles) |
| - [Round wood timber framing](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/rwtf/round_wood_timber_framing) | - [Round wood timber framing](rwtf:round_wood_timber_framing) |
| - [Rustic furniture](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/rufu/rustic_furniture) | - [Rustic furniture](rufu:rustic_furniture) |
| - [Sticks & crooks](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/stic/sticks) | - [Sticks & crooks](stic:sticks) |
| - [Tree/woodland management](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/wodl/woodland_management) | - [Tree/woodland management](wodl:woodland_management) |
| - [Woodworking](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/wwor/woodworking) | - [Woodworking](wwor:woodworking) |
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| ## Specialist curators of this topic | ===== Specialist curators of this topic ===== |
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