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| wwor:woodworking [2025/12/24 20:24] – Dave Darby | wwor:woodworking [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
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| # Woodworking | This topic is part of [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. |
| | ====== Woodworking ====== |
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| ## What is woodworking? | ===== What is woodworking? ===== |
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| It's the creation of objects from wood using hand or power tools. Woodworking is more diverse than it first seems - it includes everything from rustic [green woodworking](/grwo/green_woodworking) to intricate and precise cabinet-making. Carpentry is the name given to this activity by most people, but in the industry this refers more to the construction of structural [woodwork in housebuilding](/buil/building) which is usually carried out on site. People who make doors and windows and similar objects are called bench joiners and are usually based in a workshop. A good woodworker knows how to get the best out of different materials, from [natural timber](/wodl/woodland_management) to plywood or strandboard. It's not just about proficiency with tools, but also design and planning. | It's the creation of objects from wood using hand or power tools. Woodworking is more diverse than it first seems - it includes everything from rustic [green woodworking](/grwo/green_woodworking) to intricate and precise cabinet-making. Carpentry is the name given to this activity by most people, but in the industry this refers more to the construction of structural [woodwork in housebuilding](/buil/building) which is usually carried out on site. People who make doors and windows and similar objects are called bench joiners and are usually based in a workshop. A good woodworker knows how to get the best out of different materials, from [natural timber](/wodl/woodland_management) to plywood or strandboard. It's not just about proficiency with tools, but also design and planning. |
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| ## What are the benefits of woodworking? | ===== What are the benefits of woodworking? ===== |
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| - It's about using a renewable, biodegradable and non-toxic resource - wood - to make useful, environmentally-friendly and healthy items for yourself, your friends and family. | - It's about using a renewable, biodegradable and non-toxic resource - wood - to make useful, environmentally-friendly and healthy items for yourself, your friends and family. |
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| ## What can I do? | ===== What can I do? ===== |
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| To get started doesn't have to be expensive. Wood is a readily-available material, and sometimes free if you know a friendly landowner or tree surgeon, or if you recycle old pieces. We'd suggest that you steer away from MDF – it contains toxic ingredients like formaldehyde, and so there are health risks associated with cutting it. There are times when using other man-made materials like plywood makes sense – it's much more economical for making box-type structures such as wardrobes, kitchens and other cabinetry. Using solid wood in that situation can be difficult and expensive. | To get started doesn't have to be expensive. Wood is a readily-available material, and sometimes free if you know a friendly landowner or tree surgeon, or if you recycle old pieces. We'd suggest that you steer away from MDF – it contains toxic ingredients like formaldehyde, and so there are health risks associated with cutting it. There are times when using other man-made materials like plywood makes sense – it's much more economical for making box-type structures such as wardrobes, kitchens and other cabinetry. Using solid wood in that situation can be difficult and expensive. |
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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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| - [British Woodworking Federation](https://www.bwf.org.uk/) | - [British Woodworking Federation](https://www.bwf.org.uk/) |
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| ## Specialist curators of this topic | ===== Related topics ===== |
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| | - [[diys:diy|DIY]] |
| | - [[craf:craft|Craft production]] |
| | - [[wodl:woodland_management|Tree / woodland management]] |
| | - [[rufu:rustic_furniture|Rustic furniture]] |
| | - [[timb:timber_building|Timber building]] |
| | - [[fell:felling|Felling axes & crosscut saws]] |
| | - [[grwo:green_woodworking|Green woodworking]] |
| | - [[chsw:chainsaws|Chainsaws]] |
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| | ===== Specialist curators of this topic ===== |
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