I Can’t Stop Cutting Wood

I see, I saw

Wooden you like to give it a try?

Woodworking is good for us. It’s a scientific fact. Activities such as woodworking and carpentry — those that require our full attention — are considered to be good for our mental heath. They help us to handle stress and cope with problems. Working with wood may even benefit those suffering from depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Woodworking is a ‘whole brain’ activity. It engages the mind, it requires concentration and attention to detail. The repetitive motions of sawing, nailing, screwing, sanding, lacquering, and polishing, occupy the mind completely and are soothing and relaxing.

My first attempt at carpentry was when I was in college. I made a stool from a very basic pattern. I remember how proud I was of my accomplishment. There’s no doubt that producing something with your own hands is good for developing self-confidence. It is surprising how quickly you can improve your skills. Like everything, practice makes perfect.

I’m not very experienced with wood carving. I only know a whittle

Woodworking is something that children can enjoy doing with you. Introducing simple woodworking into their life will help them to develop their fine motor skills, hand and eye coordination, spatial awareness and problem solving, as well as reinforcing their maths lessons with simple calculations. It also teaches them how to handle tools safely and responsibly. Even if you are not a super-confident woodworker yourself, there are dozens of tutorials on sites such as Youtube to guide you through simple projects to complete together. Here my elder granddaughter is working on a hedgehog house. You can see how proud she is of her final piece.

I heard you did some carpentry today. You must be so proud of yourshelf.

Woodworking and carpentry doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. You can practise sawing, nailing and screwing on foraged tree branches (4cm to 10cm thickness), logs, driftwood, and broken furniture. Some building firms, arborists, and sawmills may provide cheap off-cuts for you to practise on. Pallets can often be sourced free of charge and are ideal for a range of simple projects. When working with children you should take care not to use any woods treated with arsenic salts as the sawdust from this wood can be toxic.

You will need table surface of some kind to work on and some basic tools. A vice or G-clamp to hold the wood still, a small saw, a pair of pliers, a hammer and nails, a screwdriver and screws, and a drill. If you are working with young children a cordless drill is safer than a mains powered drill. A hand-drill is even better. Make sure hair is tied back and there is no loose clothing which can tangle in the drill-bit. You will also need a pencil, ruler, glue and sandpaper.

What do you call a piece of wood with nothing to do? Bored.

Take up woodworking for a hobby and you’ll never be bored again. The possibilities are endless.

Why not do like my senior son-in-law and recycle — it’s good for the environment and cheaper than buying wood. Here is a photo of a hall table he made from an old wardrobe he dismantled. I love it.

Hmmm…very stylish. Look out IKEA, you have competition. Talking about the Swedish conglomerate, did you know that, to make their furniture (which is sold worldwide) IKEA uses about 1% of the world’s wood supply? That’s a lot of lumber. (source: Pacific Standard)

Carpentry is hard work. That’s why I get hammered after work

Whatever your skill set, and whatever your age, why not give woodworking a go. You may surprise yourself.

As well as being a useful skill, woodworking has many health benefits. Working with wood will improve your maths skills, build muscles, boost your mood, improve your cardiovascular health, and it will help reduce anxiety and stress. It will also enhance your creative development.

Start with something simple such as a bird feeder, welcome mat, garden planter, pet bed or some rustic bookends. Once you hone your skills you can attempt something a little more challenging maybe wood-turning or wood-carving.

Remember — you’ll never know if you can work with wood unless you give it a go. And — afterwards — don’t forget to reward yourself on a job well done.

(Puns largely sourced from: Punstoppable, some are all mine)