I've always had a knack for crafting and I'm hoping to turn woodworking into a lifelong hobby. I have some spare time during the winter and I'm ready to invest in the right tools to create beautiful pieces—especially desk tops. My dad has some basic tools and knows how to build things, but his focus is more on functionality than aesthetics. I'm really aiming for high-quality finishes and would love to tackle projects with epoxy as well. I know mastering this skill will take a lot of practice and possibly some failures, but I'm looking for recommendations on reliable resources to learn techniques, tools, and everything in between. Are there specific YouTube channels or websites that you've found particularly helpful?
3 Answers
You should definitely check out Instructables! They have a ton of step-by-step guides on all sorts of projects. Pinterest is also a goldmine—just set up an account, save what you like, and categorize your projects. For more specific plans, try these links: Steve Good's site has loads of free scroll saw patterns, and Woodworkers Workshop has tons of categories. My Outdoor Plans and WWGOA both have great tutorials too! They're well-explained and not too overwhelming for beginners. Also, Rockler and Popular Woodworking offer free plans that are worth a look! Keep an eye out for cutting board ideas on Cutting Board Designer as well, it might be right up your alley!
Starting small is key! I suggest trying out simple projects like cutting boards or jewelry boxes. They can vary in complexity but don’t require much material, so if something goes wrong, it’s not a huge loss. Plus, you could incorporate epoxy into a jewelry box to practice more intricate designs. Once you get the hang of those, you can begin scaling up to larger projects. Just remember, you can apply most techniques from small projects to the big ones later on!
You're amazing! Thank you so much for this wealth of information!