As the skill of man developed, with wood as the primary resource in the ancient times, woodworking came to be. The Egyptian and Chinese civilizations were the first to produce furniture from wood using metal tools. Through the years of development, works of arts from wood are seen everywhere everyday. In the ancient times, the common source of wood of many craftsmen is the trees currently growing in their area. The development and continuous innovations in trade and transportation paved the way in the availability of new types of wood. This change help the craftsmen produce various items out of wood.
Wood undergoes further processing to produce useful items and the process is appropriately termed woodworking. Some common wood products important in a home are tables, chairs, cabinets, book shelves, racks and many others. Wood is also carved into a masterpiece for decoration and aesthetic purposes. All these items are made from simple to complex ones as done by professional woodworkers. The quality and type of products to be made will depend on the quality of wood materials used. These wood materials come in three types each with their corresponding source or type of tree.
The most preferred wood type is the hardwood because as the name implies, its quality is superior. This wood usually comes from broadleaf trees characterized by tight packing of grains. On the other hand, softwood is an alternative raw material especially in the absence of the former and the lack of resources for the purchase of hardwood. This type of wood is derived from coniferous trees. With the advent of technological innovations, man-made wood such as plywood and MDF are developed. These are currently produced and sold in the market for home fixtures and woodworking.
Generally, basic things important in woodworking should be considered before starting the first woodwork. Availability of tools is necessary because no work can be done by bare hands. Some examples of these tools are saws of different types, chisels, axes, bow drills, clamps and adzes. Wood materials of different types and sources should also be available. Further, in doing woodwork, a separate space in the house should be provided for convenience.
With appropriate skills, training, tools, materials and work space, woodworking can be a successful one. Starters usually begin from the basic and more complicated techniques are developed through time. Whether woodwork is being done for the home need, as a hobby or for a living, all fall into the basic principles of woodworking.
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