A craft of challenge and reward

Woodworking is hard. I don’t mean it’s a slog, though sanding can come close. But it’s not the most languid hobby, not if you take it seriously. For starters, woodworking is physically demanding. It takes strength and dexterity just to move planks of wood around your shop. Plus, mistakes can be costly, and therefore the work requires persistent attention to detail. And the more you learn, the more you realize there is more to learn. From sharpening to joinery and sanding to finishing, whole worlds of knowledge await your understanding.?

But what really makes woodworking such an arduous affair is the fortitude required to do it well. It necessitates the mental wherewithal to anticipate and solve the seemingly countless problems you’ll meet during even the simplest projects.?

So why do we do it? Why do we take on these challenges even though we may not need to? I’m sure we all could answer with a heartfelt story involving a mentor in one manner or another. But personal accounts of how we got into the craft aside, I think we stick with it for the return on investment: We learn patience and problem-solving skills and gain an aptitude for how things go together. The craft is great for our constitutions; it makes us stronger and wiser. All helpful in and out of the shop. And the more you put in, the more you get back. There’s harmony in it. Challenge and reward.?

This issue balances the two nicely. On page 31, step up to the exacting techniques required for the unique library steps project. Earn a place to display your tiny treasures by making the wall shelf on page 22. Take power carving (p. 40) for a spin and glimpse its array of techniques and tools as you create a custom bowl. See the specialty clamps article on p. 28 to help you solve how to hold together or to hold down your projects of unusual shapes and sizes. Finally, take on the small challenge of the humble crosscut sled (p. 46), and enjoy the numerous rewards it provides while aiding you in future work.?

But before accepting the challenge of your next project, take a moment to pat yourself on the back. Acknowledge your accomplishments. Our avocation awards us so much, but we work hard for it. Whether or not you agree with woodworking’s level of difficulty, it’s clear we all gain strong hands and sharp minds for our efforts. Let’s put those tools to good use.