Frequently Asked Questions
Woodworking is the art, craft, and trade of creating things from wood. For example, furniture, bird houses, bookshelves, toys and things of that sort. It differs from the carpentry trade in which a skilled carpenter puts his expertise to use in the construction of buildings (i.e. houses, barns, sheds, garages etc.).
See “What is woodworking?” above.
We’ve put together a detailed list of the top 25 tools you should have in your woodshop. Take a look at that for some great ideas about where to begin.
Article: Top 25 Essential Woodworking Tools
There are many types of woods to choose from but we’ve already done the hard work for you. Check out our article on the best woods to use for woodworking:
Article: Top 10 Best Woods for Woodworking
For more details about where to find lumber read our article specifically dedicated to that topic.
If you’re looking for a book loaded with extremely valuable content but on a tight budget then you’re in luck.
You can download a FREE digital copy of The Art of Woodworking simply by entering your name and email address in the download form on the right side of this page (or at the bottom if you are viewing this site on a mobile device).
If you’re looking for additional information to add to your library then here are a few gems that we think you’ll really like:
1) The Complete Book of Woodworking (by Tom Carpenter and Mark Johanson)
2) Build Stuff with Wood (by Asa Christiana)
3) Woodworking for Dummies (by Jeff Strong)
4) Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture (Part of: Dover Woodworking (24 Books) | by Gustav Stickley | Jan 1, 1986)
5) The Joint Book: The Complete Guide to Wood Joinery (by Terrie Noll | Mar 21, 2009)
6) Woodworking: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide (by Tom Carpenter | May 13, 2019)
7) The Complete Guide to Joint-Making (by John Bullar)
This is a very small list of knowledge available to you. We recommend that you continue to study the craft and become a master of your trade. That requires a commitment to lifelong study and education, which is preceded by a love and passion for the art of woodworking.
Never stop learning!
The answer is so simple it still amazes me. It’s so they don’t roll away. Yep, that’s it. So, if you were looking for a more detailed explanation of why a carpenter pencil is flat then you’re probably disappointed right about now. But, the truth is, they are flat so they don’t roll.
Next question please!
Actually, there’s another reason why they are flat. According to my father, whom I consider to be an expert woodworker, it’s so they can be sharpened to a finer point which is useful for more precise measurements.