We live in a digital era where information can be accessed from anywhere. From YouTube DIY videos to website articles, there is a wide range of places to get information and sharpen your woodwork skills.
However, nothing beats investing in education. The certifications, skills, and experience you get from school can put you on a higher professional pedestal.
Carpentry is a form of art that requires you to harness your creativity and come up with opulent pieces of furniture.
So, if you are still debating whether to enroll in woodworking classes, here are some reasons why you should follow through.
Skill Development
You must develop and hone the necessary skills to be good at doing anything. For instance, if you always struggle to write essays such that you have to hire a writer from essay writing service, you can decide to become good at writing by learning and sharpening your writing skills. Similarly, woodworking classes help build and sharpen woodworking skills.
The classes provide a structured learning environment conducive to building the skills required in the carpentry niche. A structured curriculum keeps you grounded and provides a clear guideline on handling various woodwork designs, from basic techniques to advanced craftsmanship. Even if you don’t plan on delivering carpentry services to clients, you can use the skills gained to do DIY projects at home.
Gain Hands-on Experience
The practical part of woodworking is where all skills are sharpened.
Taking online tutorials can be eye-opening to various carpentry techniques; however, attending a physical class promises hands-on experience since you will be required to handle multiple practical projects as part of the curriculum.
Watching DIY videos may not yield much hands-on experience since you must buy the necessary materials to put what you have watched into practice, which might be costly and discouraging.
Attending woodwork classes helps practice the theoretical skills taught in real-time and receive feedback from an experienced instructor. Sometimes, the input from an independent party is all one might need to understand various concepts better and rectify any mistakes they may not have seen initially. The hands-on experience gained from these classes will help you explore your creativity and develop unique styles.
Safety Training
Woodworking involves using various sharp tools that may need you to protect yourself. Safety training is a unit one may not pay attention to if they are self-taught, yet it is an essential aspect of carpentry. Safety training in woodworking classes involves learning about various tools and how to navigate using them without putting yourself at risk of being injured. Understanding the particulars of a tool’s operation helps you know how to use it safely. If you understand how to store every tool and how to put them to work, you’ll be boosting your safety.
Access to a Wide Range of Tools
It means that you will have access to state-of-the-art tools for your practice, and thus, you will not need to invest in expensive tools and machinery.
Starting a woodworking career may not be easy; thus, you need to cut costs, which is possible by attending classes since you will only have to pay for your tuition fees.
Additionally, some machines are pricey, and you may not be able to afford them, yet they contribute significantly to shaping your career in carpentry.
Watching videos online on how to do various woodworking projects without the relevant machinery and tools can be discouraging; hence, enrolling in a woodworking class is necessary to help you sharpen your skills on how to use them.
Networking
School always provides the best environment for networking since you will interact with people of similar interests and even find mentors along the line. The sense of community in school makes it possible for individuals to collaborate on projects, share ideas, and form lasting bonds. Some of your friends will recommend you for projects after school, and your instructors can become your mentors and guide you through your chosen career path. Besides, the interactions you make in a woodworking class will amount to something from helping you sharpen specific skills to future job recommendations.
Personal Satisfaction
Completing something you have set your mind to can be fulfilling. Some achievements go a long way in building our confidence since they make us feel good about ourselves. For instance, if you have an intimidating dissertation that makes you think, “Should I hire an expert to write my dissertation - EssayWriter.org?” but decide to work on and complete it, you’ll get a feeling of satisfaction. Whether you want to pursue carpentry as a career or use the skills gained for your projects, it is satisfying to learn new skills and even get a certification for them. Furthermore, woodworking classes allow one to set goals, overcome challenges, and experience the pride of creating something from scratch. Achieving your objectives improves your self-confidence, and you will feel good about your potential.
Woodwork can also be therapeutic, primarily if you work on a project alone since you will have more time for introspection as you work on wood. Meditation and contemplation can help you take a break from everyday life stresses. And woodworking classes help with that as they provide an environment where you can work on projects and still have a meditative space during solo projects.
Life-Long Hobby
Getting a woodworking certification doesn’t mean that you have to pursue carpentry professionally. Most people take woodworking classes to gain knowledge and handle their projects. Therefore, taking woodworking classes can help you develop a lifelong hobby in furniture making and other areas of woodworking. What’s more, taking up woodwork as a hobby can be an emotional outlet since you can take up some personal projects like fixing furniture for your house or installing your kitchen cabinets to escape reality. A woodworking hobby will help you cut down on the costs of buying complete furniture or hiring a carpenter for repairs.
Final Thoughts
Woodworking classes offer a structured learning process where one can learn, create, and network with others who share the same interests of working with wood. Whether you are starting your woodworking career or want to sharpen specific skills, it is essential to enroll in classes since you will get more practical knowledge that will help you refine your skills.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fred Felton
Content Creator / Editor
Fred Felton is a copywriter, editor and social media specialist based in Durban, South Africa. He has over 20 years of experience in creating high end content. He has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world. Currently Fred specialises in the wooden arts and crafts space, focussing on innovative wooden product design. He is also a keynote speaker and has presented talks and workshops in South Africa.
