Beginners Woodworking Category

[duke]

I may be alone regarding this but I think this category is greatly needed. Hell a lot of techniques I have picked up on this forum have been new to me, even though I have been doing this for the the last 30 years plus and making a living doing so.
As much as we think nothing is new to us it is far from reality.
I think it would be beneficial to draw newbies with limited experience to the forum.
After all woodworking covers a broad spectrum.
Sorry but not sorry to rock the boat.

 

[Cabinetman]

I learn new stuff on here all the time too. I don’t think any of us don’t really.
Not really sure what you are suggesting re beginners though. I feel that we help beginners a lot, our own Dr Al was quite inexperienced at woodwork only a couple of years ago though you might not believe it now!
Serious question, do we come over as a bit unhelpful or unwelcoming?
Edit, maybe a bank of techniques? And methods?

 

[duke]

I am just saying a beginners category would be an added plus to this forum. I am not putting down any one here. If it sounds so my apologies Ian.
We do come over as helpful and welcoming as well all civil, I am just suggesting another category.
Yes Dr Al has added a lot for us and I am greatfull. My OP is not refrencing any one.
I joined in 2020 and didn't post till 2024 , talk about a latent poster.
I asked to be band from the other site as I was disturbed from the content from certain deviants.
Don't know what else to say.

 

[Cabinetman]

No don’t worry, alls good!
A new forum for beginners, maybe it would encourage some to ask for help? For them to come out of the shadows?
Lets see what the consensus is.

 

[duke]

My only degree is in horticulture but as a result I have learned to be a boiler maker, re furbishing a green house heating system in the late 70"s.
That was fun and educational, following this I gained glazing skills and wood working skills. Wood working skills are very selective, compared to a Chipendale piece I am a butcher. I can live with that but I would like to
learn.

 

[duke]

Ian , you better get your shop build progressing or I will lose interest, LOL.

 

[RogerS]

Ian , you better get your shop build progressing or I will lose interest, LOL.

I think he may be too snowbound to do that

Seriously Ian, how’s it going?

 

[duke]

Snowbound, It is a daily issue like mine.
I can relate!

 

[duke]

Time to maybe get some rest. Looking forward to responses, maybe!

 

[Windows]

I like the idea of more signifiers on the site that would encourage more people including beginners (like me) to join & post. Maybe in the “rules” post in Welcome, it could say something about welcoming all skill levels if it doesn’t already.

I joined in 2022 at absolute zero and only felt like I was starting to get the hang of things in 2025 after I finally did the 2nd part of my initial goal of secondary glazing (still not complete).

I’ve found the forum really helpful both from reading others’ threads and the responses to my own. Not sure what if anything would have encouraged me to post more in the early days, but I guess if I had it would be more obvious that beginners are well supported here?

It was interesting reading back my intro post where I laid out my unpowered manifesto and seeing where my current reality is rather different from that ideal. LOL.

Any beginners who are reading this, don’t be shy. Sign up for an account, post your introduction message, and then you’ll be ready for deeper posts when the mood takes you.

 

[duke]

I like the idea of more signifiers on the site that would encourage more people including beginners (like me) to join & post. Maybe in the “rules” post in Welcome, it could say something about welcoming all skill levels if it doesn’t already.

I joined in 2022 at absolute zero and only felt like I was starting to get the hang of things in 2025 after I finally did the 2nd part of my initial goal of secondary glazing (still not complete).

I’ve found the forum really helpful both from reading others’ threads and the responses to my own. Not sure what if anything would have encouraged me to post more in the early days, but I guess if I had it would be more obvious that beginners are well supported here?

It was interesting reading back my intro post where I laid out my unpowered manifesto and seeing where my current reality is rather different from that ideal. LOL.

Any beginners who are reading this, don’t be shy. Sign up for an account, post your introduction message, and then you’ll be ready for deeper posts when the mood takes you.

Great for your thoughts, I value your response.

 

[duke]

I like the idea of more signifiers on the site that would encourage more people including beginners (like me) to join & post. Maybe in the “rules” post in Welcome, it could say something about welcoming all skill levels if it doesn’t already.

I joined in 2022 at absolute zero and only felt like I was starting to get the hang of things in 2025 after I finally did the 2nd part of my initial goal of secondary glazing (still not complete).

I’ve found the forum really helpful both from reading others’ threads and the responses to my own. Not sure what if anything would have encouraged me to post more in the early days, but I guess if I had it would be more obvious that beginners are well supported here?

It was interesting reading back my intro post where I laid out my unpowered manifesto and seeing where my current reality is rather different from that ideal. LOL.

Any beginners who are reading this, don’t be shy. Sign up for an account, post your introduction message, and then you’ll be ready for deeper posts when the mood takes you.

Has the magnet window catch worked ok for you?

 

[Lons]

I'm not convinced that a beginners category would be of much benefit Scott though I see where you're coming from as IMO the biggest fear people have is asking a question that makes them look stupid even though to them is a big issue and so they tend to lurk around for a long time.
Most of them will be trawling youtube et al for as much iformation as they can find, much of which is bad advice.

Maybe a "silly question" thread? As long as it relates to relevant forum content such as wood or metal working and not off topic which is more open to disagreements and abuse.

 

[AndyT]

I've been doing some sort of woodwork for over 50 years but if I was to start, say, veneering or carving, I'd definitely be a beginner.

If people are open about what they can or can't do, they'll get the help they need. If they aren't, I don't think a special subsection will persuade them.

With the current software, I generally start at What's New and struggle to find the list of subsections anyway. I expect others do the same.

 

[duke]

Don't get me wrong, I am invested in this forum, advice and related expertise is great. Simply being an potential washed out senior is concerning. But yet son asked me how to prune a fruit tree, I guess I am still useful.

 

[duke]

I've been doing some sort of woodwork for over 50 years but if I was to start, say, veneering or carving, I'd definitely be a beginner.

If people are open about what they can or can't do, they'll get the help they need. If they aren't, I don't think a special subsection will persuade them.

With the current software, I generally start at What's New and struggle to find the list of subsections anyway. I expect others do the same.

Andy current software crape is both useful and interesting, side note my wife thinks I am a Victor Meldrew. I told her that your lucky I love you.

 

[Lons]

Don't get me wrong, I am invested in this forum, advice and related expertise is great. Simply being an potential washed out senior is concerning. But yet son asked me how to prune a fruit tree, I guess I am still useful.

And there's the rub Scott. We have some apple trees that I've allowed to get a bit out of control and meaning to prune but haven't a clue. I almost did it a couple of days ago when that yellow thing in the sky made a rare appearance but didn't do it. My approach quite wrongly would have been to get out the pole hedgetrimmer and chainsaw and just give the damn things a haircut.

So we're all beginners at something and always will be. whether we ask for help is down to our nature and personality.

 

[duke]

And there's the rub Scott. We have some apple trees that I've allowed to get a bit out of control and meaning to prune but haven't a clue. I almost did it a couple of days ago when that yellow thing in the sky made a rare appearance but didn't do it. My approach quite wrongly would have been to get out the pole hedgetrimmer and chainsaw and just give the damn things a haircut.

So we're all beginners at something and always will be. whether we ask for help is down to our nature and personality.

When in doubt prune it out. A prof from Cornell University said this at my graduation.

 

[AndyT]

According to my brother, who went to horticultural college, "Growth follows the knife" and he also says that even the most intelligent trees can't tell if you are cutting bits off because you want the tree to be smaller, or pruning them so they grow bigger.

 

[Lons]

According to my brother, who went to horticultural college, "Growth follows the knife" and he also says that even the most intelligent trees can't tell if you are cutting bits off because you want the tree to be smaller, or pruning them so they grow bigger.

That must be the same for grass.

 

[duke]

Are you familiar with Capability Brown , well known English landscaper.

 

[Woodbloke]

When in dought prune it out. A prof from Cornell University said this at my graduation.

Getting a little bit off topic here but we have quite a few Japanese Maples in the garden which love the pruners! You can be as tough as you like with them without doing damage, so if I'm aiming to keep a tree in shape, I generally prune new growth back to a pair of buds. Dead or dying wood always comes off as do any branches that touch and cross. I generally prune for a pleasing overall shape.

Back on topic though:

I've been doing some sort of woodwork for over 50 years but if I was to start, say, veneering or carving, I'd definitely be a beginner.

If people are open about what they can or can't do, they'll get the help they need. If they aren't, I don't think a special subsection will persuade them.

With the current software, I generally start at What's New and struggle to find the list of subsections anyway. I expect others do the same.

I'm in the same bateau as Andy. I've been doing this wood mangling lark since the very early 70's but there are areas where I'd definitely struggle, French Polishing and Marquetry to name just two. I quite understand why newcomers to the game are a bit shy (if that's the right word) about joining the forum and getting stuck in.

The point made earlier about UToob is completely valid! There's a vast amount of utter crap, much of it dangerous, on the platform as well as some very useful and skilled contributors. The trouble is, newcomers think ALL of it's the real deal, but it takes a lot of experience and knowledge to separate the 'wheat from the chaff'!

I'd also add that a newcomer could gain much of that knowledge from participating fully on WH2 and more importantly, bombarding us with questions.

Here's my suggestion then, FWIW. On the 'Forums' page where it says 'Lets Get Woodworking' it shouldn't be beyond the abilities of the Mods to insert a line or two the effect that say 'all are welcome, especially newcomers and we love questions'

Or something to that effect - Rob

 

[AndyT]

Are you familiar with Capability Brown , well known English landscaper.

We do seem to be well off your original topic, but he's pretty well known over here with lots of his work readily visitable. If you did a survey and asked people to name a famous landscape gardener, I'm sure he'd come top of a very short list.

 

[Spectric]

If you have an area just for beginers then how do they learn if no experienced people visit, how did we learn in the real world ? We would be working with skilled people so we learn and could be taught, we were not on our own. The worst place for beginners to try and learn is you tube as they will not be able to know if the info is good, bad or just dangerous so maybe having some sites that experienced people say can be trusted and used.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

If you have an area just for begginers then how do they learn if no experienced people visit, how did we learn in the real world ? We would be working with skilled people so we learn and could be taught, we were not on our own.

I think there is a point here, I would hope posting in an appropriate area with a descriptive thread title, and if need be with a preamble explaining you are a novice, please be gentle, would get a reasonable response ? I think people who are really keen on their hobby want others to share in the same enjoyment, so try to be helpful. Well, mostly.

 

[Cabinetman]

I think he may be too snowbound to do that

Seriously Ian, how’s it going?

Thanks for asking, it’s SLOW. Family stuff, travelling and a week in Florida for some r&r but I have been faffing about with the side door, pics to follow, but even that has now stopped as the snow is half way up it!
Then it’s back on with the insulation and building the front wall, ceiling joists in and then lining out.
I desperately need to get this up and running as I’m really in need of somewhere to work on all the projects I’ve got planned

 

[AndyP]

I think there is a point here, I would hope posting in an appropriate area with a descriptive thread title, and if need be with a preamble explaining you are a novice, please be gentle, would get a reasonable response ? I think people who are really keen on their hobby want others to share in the same enjoyment, so try to be helpful. Well, mostly.

I do not think in all the time we have been running WH2 that any first time poster could have been put off by the introductory replies they would have received from anyone here.
A trawl through the projects section would provide examples of projects of varying skill levels I think.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

I do not think in all the time we have been running WH2 that any first time poster could have been put off by the introductory replies they would have received from anyone here.
A trawl through the projects section would provide examples of projects of varying skill levels I think.

I was thinking of hobbyists generally, not on WH2 (who are a jolly helpful lot !). I have come across odd crafters (not on here) who - rather than sharing their knowledge - have a slightly protectionist attitude, you can't possibly expect to be competent at this until you've spent 10,000 hours learning kind of thing. I personally suspect this has its roots in days gone by to use apprentices as underpaid labour. Bit like we do with junior doctors today.

 

[duke]

Oh well, just a thought I had last night.

 

[RogerS]

Oh well, just a thought I had last night.

And it was a good one, Scott and so please keep 'em coming

 

[Windows]

Has the magnet window catch worked ok for you?

It’s working great. Thanks for the suggestion. It’s in use almost every day. You probably recall I screwed the magnet to the surface of the wall and now it’s painted the same colour as the wall so it’s not too obvious. Since install I’ve had a little practice plastering, so if I ever have nothing else to do and we’re planning to repaint that wall, I’ll maybe chip away some plaster and embed it in the wall to hide it completely.

 

[akirk]

It is always a challenge in running a forum as to whether everything appears in one place and is hard to find, or split across many places and therefore any one place appears to be very sparse as there are too many locations...

It also ties into how people use the forum - for example I simply read using the new posts function - so see everything in one place and have no idea unless I check where the thread was originally posted... others maybe hang out in one or more sub forums, but ignore others...

I think my general view is fewer locations - only splitting out where there is a lot of similar content which would benefit having its own home - other than that I am not sure that there is a benefit and it could end up with some areas not being read by those who go into individual forums...

 

[MartinF]

I think that Scott’s idea could be worthwhile. Whilst there is a wealth of information contained on this forum, much of it is hidden away in threads, some pages long. Although many on here may have had the opportunity to learn basic woodwork in school or known woodworkers who could help them when starting out, such opportunities are, to all intents and purposes, no longer available hence people turning to You Tube for help. As such, placing various topics in one place that might help beginners who access the forum could be of use to them even regular users of the forum wouldn’t need it.

So, how about a “Beginners Corner” mentioning You Tube videos and books that we would recommend. There are such recommendations in one or other of the various categories such “General Woodworking” and the like but how easy is it to search for them? The same goes for books. Such a section could supplement the “Tips and Tutorials” section.

As a starter, if someone was to ask me who to look at on You Tube when it comes to how to sharpen chisels, how to saw properly, how to make various joints etc. I would point to Matt Estlea. When it comes to building a basic work bench, perhaps Paul Sellers. As for recommended books, one that is often recommended is “The Essential Woodworker” by Robert Wearing. When it comes to power tools and machinery, in the past there have been recommendations for various You Tubers who demonstrate how to set up a bandsaw including our own Steve M. Peter Millard has done many useful videos on the use of track saws and dominos. In one of his videos, Ollie Bradshaw demonstrates how to make a quick and easy hinge jig. For the use of routers, Alan Holtham’s “Complete Routing” is first class. For furniture restoration, Thomas Johnson’s videos are to be highly recommended.

Finally, this section could be one where a newbie could ask basic questions without feeling stupid.

 

[Woodbloke]

It also ties into how people use the forum - for example I simply read using the new posts function - so see everything in one place and have no idea unless I check where the thread was originally posted... others maybe hang out in one or more sub forums, but ignore others...

I think my general view is fewer locations - only splitting out where there is a lot of similar content which would benefit having its own home - other than that I am not sure that there is a benefit and it could end up with some areas not being read by those who go into individual forums...

How folk use the forum is valid and important. I always start on the 'What's New' tab and then 'cherry pick' topics that interest me, so quite often I won't give much attention to quite a number. That said, if a newcomer posted a topic that didn't register an interest with me, I probably wouldn't read it, so maybe there is a need for a system where a newcomer's posts and questions can be easily flagged up and read? Dunno... - Rob

Edit - @MartinF idea of a 'Beginners Corner' has merit!

 

[RogerM]

I would certainly be happy to see a beginner's corner, or whatever you want to call it. However, it would need to be presented in a way that doesn't just encourage the "Hey, I want to do some woodwork. What tools should I buy and what should I make? Can I use some old pallets?" type of post, which I have seen proliferate elsewhere and with which I can't be ar5ed to engage. I have been a bit quiet recently because I have no major project on the go, but have always found this forum to be very helpful and constructive when I have asked questions.

The now defunct "Woodwork UK" forum was frequented by some top-notch kitchen builders and fitters, plus allied trades, and I learned so much when I was building my kitchen and bifold doors. However, I also found that if I just asked a question "how do you do x....." I would be greeted with stony silence. However, if I showed that I had done some homework and suggested a number of potential solutions and asked for guidance, the help would pour out of the woodwork (see what I did there? ). So maybe focus on encouraging "self-help" and I'm sure newcomers will find that help will be readily forthcoming, but don't expect to be completely spoon-fed. Sorry if that comes out as sounding a bit grumpy. I don't mean it to be.

 

[GaryR]

However, if I showed that I had done some homework and suggested a number of potential solutions and asked for guidance, the help would pour out of the woodwork

I have found this approach to work well, too.

My view is that the General Woodworking subforum is a good place for questions from beginners.

 

[TrimTheKing]

Hi Scott

Please don't be put off, your suggestion is fine and with a sound basis for asking.

As Alasdair mentions, we've had a number of requests to add further fora, and while they too have solid basis for asking, there is a fine balance between having enough, and too many individual fora.

Can I suggest you come up with some wording that would attract 'you' as a beginner, that we can add into the welcome thread/rules area (I'm happy to tweak it with you) as a starter for 10 and we can go from there?

The Beginner's Corner idea I also like, but instead of a separate forum it could well be a sticky post or similar. Let's have a think about what that would look like (single list of resources that requests are added to, or something more) and see if we can't implement that too.

Cheers
Mark

 

[Accipiter]

It is always a challenge in running a forum as to whether everything appears in one place and is hard to find, or split across many places and therefore any one place appears to be very sparse as there are too many locations...

It also ties into how people use the forum - for example I simply read using the new posts function - so see everything in one place and have no idea unless I check where the thread was originally posted... others maybe hang out in one or more sub forums, but ignore others...

I think my general view is fewer locations - only splitting out where there is a lot of similar content which would benefit having its own home - other than that I am not sure that there is a benefit and it could end up with some areas not being read by those who go into individual forums...

I think @duke has a good suggestion putting such forward for consideration and it could be titled "Is this a silly question? " - then we can all post to it and not just *beginners*.

When I first joined this forum I was surprised to not find an option to select to receive a "Daily Digest" of new posts/replies to threads that had been made the previous day. I put this forward as something to be considered and was politely told it would be.

It's what I get from 'another' woodworking forum and I've found, *for me*, it can encourage me to pay a visit because some of the OP headings/replies come across as interesting... and I'd put forward that it increases visits/footfall to that forum.

With this forum (WH2) I'm having to wait for an email notification for a reply to a topic I've either marked as "watch" or made a comment on... otherwise it's sometimes a few days before I revisit. Like us all - or most - I've other commitments requiring my time and attention. Intentionally paying a visit to see "What's New" is useful but a "Daily Digest" would most likely put the proverbial boot in place to entice me over more often. It's a great place to be for sure... more 'calming' in content than another place at times and topics don't get 'heated'...

Sorry Scott to go off on another tangent...

 

[akirk]

go to your account (top right) and choose account settings;



click on the option 'receive activity summary email'

it doesn't send daily emails - that might be read as spam - but if you have not been for a little while you get a summary of what you have missed...

 

[Accipiter]

I've got everything ticked for this forum... including the summary. From what I've seen the two woodworking forums are pretty much identical for layout... (sometimes I've got mixed up as to which I'm on ) - except WH2 doesn't have the Daily digest visible to select.

If I want to see (feel the need) to see what's going on I have to visit either via a previous received email (from a few days ago) or via a Google search... DD would be so much easier.

I understand, and accept, that *some* email programs may see such as spam but,if signed to receive and it doesn't appear, it's easy for the individual member to go and check. Not everyone has to select to receive the DD - if it was available - as it would be up to the member.

1st photo is my account for this forum, the 2nd is the other place...