Essay On Carpentry

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When it comes time for retirement, many try to take on a hobby to keep them busy and boredom free. For those who are crafty and enjoy working with their hands, carpentry is a great one to get into. However, before diving into it blindly, a bit of research is needed to insure it is something that peaks interest. Otherwise, starting will become a big waste of time. To be able to understand and develop basic knowledge in carpentry, one must become familiar with what carpentry is, the several different techniques used, and the many tools involved.
Beginners may wonder, what exactly is carpentry? Carpentry can be described as “a wide range of woodworking that includes constructing buildings, furniture, and other objects out of wood” (Harris 3). It is one of the oldest professions and been around since well into the seventeenth century (“Carpentry”). Carpentry consists of four main areas of concentration rough, ships, trim, and finish carpentry. Rough carpentry is directed towards large structural work such as framing, formwork, and roofing. Ship’s carpentry focuses solely on the building and maintenance on ships. Trim carpentry develops molding and trimming for window casings and doors. Finished carpentry includes parquetry, joinery, cabinetry, instrument sculpting, furniture building, and fine woodworking. It is also the area focused for hobbyists and beginners. Some would suggest that “there is a seductive power to wood” in carpentry and “it takes an artist to draw it out with elegant outlines, burnished grains, and silken textures” (Whiteley 128).
Within each concentrated area of carpentry lie many techniques and specialty areas. It takes a real craftsman to accomplish some of these such as marquetry and parquetry. Both involve th...

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...efore gluing pieces together. Sanders are also used for this purpose and aid in the “finishing process” (Barret 106). For carving purposes, a combination rasp and file are needed for shaping. When it comes to joinery, special tools like doweling jigs and marking gauges are used for layout and alignment. Two simple but important tools needed are clamps and sharpening stones for holding and keeping tools sharp.
Although one may start carpentry as a hobby, it can lead to a promising career due to the variety of specialties. It “has often been respected for its importance in society throughout much of history” (Harris 3). When considering whether to take carpentry on as a hobby, be sure to understand what it entails, its specialties, and the types of tools used. Once this has been accomplished, there is no telling what someone can make or build in the art of carpentry.

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