What is the easiest way to learn how to do woodworking from scratch if you are clueless?

[episodic]

I've always wanted to make furniture. I have no clue how to woodwork.

Is there a woodworking for dummies kinda thing?

 

[lokiju]

Practice, nothing helps more.

Also Home Depot does little work shops on the weekends for various things, might be worth checking your local one to see if they offer any also.

 

[FoBoT]

start with a kit
they provide all the stock wood you need and good plans

i built my first daughters baby crib from a kit

 

[IGBT]

..home depot has a lot of self help books on that and many other crafts.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
start with a kit
they provide all the stock wood you need and good plans

i built my first daughters baby crib from a kit

Can you or someone point me to an online description of the type of kit you refer to?

 

[Eli]

Buy tools.

Buy wood.

Work wood with said tools.

 

[shimsham]

watch some daytime pbs or something along those lines. while not really instructional, just watching and grabbing some tips should help. short of formal training, its just trial and error.

 

[Howard]

Think.

Keep thinking.




Don't stop thinking.







Always think about what you're going to do.










DON'T STOP!


EDIT: Oh yeah. Safety's very important. Losing fingers and arms and eyes is no fun.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Most stuff is pretty basic I think. Look at how furniture is put together.

 

[ChooChooChooseMe]

Go take a woodworking class?

 

[CrazyPerson]

try this

 

[Pliablemoose]

Check out Woodcraft & Rockler websites, they have short classes at their stores.

You can also click on link in my sig... Don't talk to Winston Smith, he's convince you to purchase beautiful but expensive hand planes

When/if you start buying the tools, pay careful attention to the want ads, used tools work great & you save some serious $-there's always a widow looking to clear out their dead husband's wood shop, and lots of woodworkers love to upgrade their tools.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Norm Abram.

 

[skyking]

If you are the outgoing type, find someone who does that kind of thing and join in. If you get a good mentor, it will save tons on wasted material and time.

 

[ScottMac]

There are usually some woodworking hobbyist groups in the neighborhood.

Check around for a Woodcraft or Rockler store in your area, they have classes for the various woodworking interests. They would also be able to connect you to the various woodworking hobbyist groups.

Watch for a woodworking show in your area. They usually happen ~every six months or so for any given area (suburban Chicago is ~Feb & Oct).

Get some woodworking magazines and check the classified section for events and groups in your area.

Good Luck!

Scott

 

[Pliablemoose]

Woodcraft University

Rockler locations & classes

Woodworking Shows

 

[Ornery]

Buy some unfinished furniture. Try putting a nice finish on it, including all the requisite sanding, sanding, more sanding, sealing, conditioning, staining, blending, varnishing, steel-wooling, varnishing, more steel wool, more varnish... and when you're done, behold the mediocre results! That's all you'll need to know, to not even bother building your own stuff in the first place. Hey, I'm saving you a fortune in time & tools here!