cabinetman

Has the Internet changed woodworking? You bet your bippy. Think about how easy it is these days for a complete novice interested in either a hobby, or a business, to get involved. That person can sign up on a forum and get all the latest details on tools, and supplies, and get talked through step by step on most any subject.

A little bit different when I got started. No Internet, very few outlets for supplies, tools and machinery, and not much help anywhere. Everything was pretty much trial and error, and a lot of errors.

I also think the Internet may provide a trickle down effect for the hobby, or as as profession. Maybe our young ones that hang out in the shop will get inspired to "carry on". One thing for sure about woodworking forums, the knowledge base gets shared and you get to "meet" some great people.

ACP

Speaking from the complete novice standpoint (still with a lot of error) the internet is the only way I could do this thing. There is no history of it in my family, didn't take shop in high school, I live in a city where I don't know anyone else that does it, etc., etc. Without the internet and forums like this it would be nearly impossible for me to learn this great hobby. So thank you to everyone that provides input and advise here and on other forums, you help more people than you know.

red

I agree with you 100%. Luckily for me, I took woodshop back in high school and had an instructor that gave me the woodworking bug. I thank it all to him. There were no computers to search for ideas or help. Woodworking guilds or groups were just not there either. I did it as a hobby for years, and then ran my own custom furniture business for many years. Now I’m in NASCAR and looking forward to returning to the woodshop and building furniture for customers someday. Red

__________________

jeffreythree

Look at the options you have these days from tools to wood. In a couple minutes I can find a new tool, check for reviews, and find the cheapest deal. Shoot, my phone can snap a pic of a barcode and search for the cheapest price on the 'net when I see something I just gotta have. It brings a whole new meaning to window shopping.

__________________
Some people collect tools, I collect wood Now as complete trees, too!
http://texaswoodlot.blogspot.com
http://jtcwoodcrafts.etsy.com

Dean Miller

The learning curve is so much faster with the internet. I still use books alot but when confused I go to the internet. Its made my woodworking hobby much more injoyable and rewarding. I grow hops and brew beer, samething, always someone happy to hand out advice. Dean

ACP

Well Jeffreythree, I just flicked my computer screen to kill that bug crawling around on it. lol. Imagine my suprise....

Wood4Fun

Pretty much my story as well. I am 100% self taught. The books that I have picked up have been at the suggestion of people on this and other forums.

seeing other peoples work, hearing how they did the finish, how they addressed a certain challenge/task... what tools they used, why they bought that tool, how that tool has performed... all valuable information.

All put together it is a sum greater than its parts

rrbrown

lmao
I thought about it for a second or two.

__________________
Semper Fi
Richard

Once A Marine Always A Marine.

Some choose to study history, but Marines choose to create history.