How to Go Professional With Woodworking

Summary: Woodworking is an honest career that can be quite lucrative in the long run. Here are some tips on how you can translate your skills to a professional setting.

Considering professional woodworking as a career? You’re not alone. Thousands upon thousands are looking to take their talents to the next level.

Fine Woodworking and Carpentry

There are essentially two major areas of woodworking – carpentry and fine woodworking. Once you’ve chosen which area suits your style the best, you can  branch off from there. Now, it’s important that this decision be chosen based on your current skill set. Opt for an area of woodworking that fits your purpose and give it your all. If something seems wrong or off while you’re doing the work, don’t quit, just try something new.

Base Your Decision On What Suits Your Skill Set

For instance, if you’re working on designing furniture that’s going to undergo the whole nine yards – custom cushion, premium upholstery, etc. – by hand and realize that your production level is lower than it is when you’re working with machinery, then you might want to consider opting to specialize in machine-based woodworking instead.

There are a wide array of specialties and subspecialties within both fine woodworking and carpentry. In fine woodworking, you’d typically see things such as: design, assembly, wood turning, and sanding. With so many specialties, you might feel obligated to be a “renaissance man” of some sorts, but it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be an expert in them all. As stated before, try out new skills and you’ll naturally fall into what you love doing, which can translate into success at the professional level. With enough luck, you could work your way into becoming a major supplier for big-name brands like Target, The Foam Factory, and others.

The Bottom Line

Finding success can take a lengthy amount of time, but don’t let this discourage you from trying to go professional in the first place. You’ll slowly find out, once you begin honing your craft, that things tend to fall together after becoming involved within the industry.