Whether you are considering branching out with your woodworking and making products to sell to others rather than using it as a hobby or you are looking to take on a career in woodworking you may be wondering what you can do to help advance these dreams. Let’s take a look at some top tips to help you advance as a woodworker, whatever path you have chosen to follow.
Have the right machinery
If you are looking to make products to sell, then having the right machinery is essential. It isn’t necessary to buy brand new. Refurbished woodworking machines like those available from Calderbrook Woodworking Machinery can be a great investment that will serve you well for a long time to come. Consider the types of products that you will be making and what machinery could help you to speed up your processes. You will, of course, need to make sure that you have a space large enough to use them in, so whilst you are still setting up your business, you may need to think on a smaller scale.
Practice, practice, practice
They say that practice makes perfect, and it certainly helps when it comes to honing those woodworking skills. Learning new techniques and how to use new machinery can take time to perfect, so if you want to turn your woodworking skills into a career, then you will need to ensure that you can use them to their best advantage. This means when it comes time to learn new techniques or how to handle a new machine, you should take time to have at least a few practice runs first. Time spent practicing is never wasted and will help you to perfect what you are doing so that you can be more efficient and use your time more wisely.
Master the basics
There are a great many intricate and complex skills that you can learn in woodworking, but if you do not take the time to master the all-important basics, then there is a chance that later on down the line, you may encounter a problem. The basics will help you to learn the more complicated techniques, so it is well worth taking the time to learn things like butt joints before you move on to a more complex inlay dovetail half mitre. The more you have learnt, the quicker it should be to master new skills.
Take some professional qualifications
Whilst the skills you can learn on your own may be enough to help you if you have chosen to make a career selling your own items, if you are looking for a career in woodworking, then professional qualifications really are the way forward.
You may want to combine this with some form of apprenticeship that will help you to practice your skills in a real-world environment. Enrolling on a course that will gain you the relevant skills will show your commitment to your chosen path and should also help you to secure a job within your chosen field.
Know your market
Setting up your own business is never easy, but if you put in the research, then you have more of a chance of making a success of it. This means knowing what products you are most likely to be successful in selling and making sure that they are priced to appeal to your customers whilst covering all your costs and giving you some profit. Don’t underestimate things like your turnaround time for any pieces you make to order. If you can’t fulfill your orders in your quoted time, you risk unhappy customers who may leave your business bad reviews.