Woodworking, Wood Burning, and Crafting

Woodworking and crafting combines skill, artistic technique, and creativity with materials and methods enjoyed by many woodworkers, carvers, and crafters. Within this collection of wood crafting resources you'll find Web sites that explain and illustrate wood working techniques, carving, crafting, and pyrography; and those that share free tips, techniques, project patterns, and tutorials for a variety of creative wood working projects.

If you are a woodworking enthusiast, you might enjoy this free Woodworking Catalog from Rockler.com as well as browsing their assortment of Woodworking Plans.

Online Woodworking Resources

Northwest Wood Carvers Association
Features basic step-by-step woodcarving lessons, articles, and patterns. Topics include: where to start; sharpening your tools; and intarsia: how to do it. Projects include how to carve a golf ball, key chain fish puzzle, canes and walking sticks, carving safety, and other submitted patterns.

Craftsmanspace
An assortment of free "do it yourself" (DIY) projects and plans with detailed manufacture and assemblage descriptions of various wooden, metal and glass objects, classified in wrought iron, furniture and decoration, garden, kids toys, stuff for animals, and fun.

Bridgewood Design
Free project plans, woodworking terminology, catalogs, estimating wizard, and useful information for selling your projects online.

Classic Carving Patterns
"The woodcarving site dedicated to the designs, themes, and ideas for your next woodcarving project." Features a free carving primer with techniques and glossary for learning wood carving basics online; free online tutorials with step-by-step carving instructions; and free lessons, patterns, projects, and tips.

Flying Frog Boomerangs by Tom Conally
"Your complete boomerang information center." Features informational and instructional information for the art of boomerang making. Topics include: how boomerangs are made (construction), how to design and build a triblader, how an airfoil works, boomerang throwing manual, wind chart, hazards, and safety.

National Woodcarving School
"Offers free step-by-step introduction tutorials to introduce relief and chip carving to the newcomer. The National Woodcarving School is an e-woodcarving school for the beginner and more advanced carver. ... Includes detailed step-by-step pictures and corresponding text to help you learn the fundamentals in relief and chip carving." Other tutorials for projects, sharpening techniques, wood finishing / staining techniques, and the art of woodworking are fee-based.

Spoonlady: Hand Carved Wooden Spoons
Features an eight step-by-step tutorial for how to carve a wooden spoon, even if you've never carved before. Discusses selecting your wood, choosing a pattern, cutting your pattern, gathering your carving tools, carving, sanding, and finishing.

Women in Woodworking
"A site designed especially for the growing number of women woodworkers, as well as craftswomen and home improvement enthusiasts. Consider this your special online home: a place where women can learn, chat, see, and find out more about the wonderful craft of woodworking!"

The Woodburner
An extensive woodburning (pyrography) resource for beginners and advanced artists. A large list of tutorials will teach you how to get started in wood burning, select and prepare wood, add color, and finish wood. Plus, find over 175 free woodburning patterns to download. Includes finished project galleries and community forums.

Woodstrokes and Woodcrafts
"Provides a wide selection of easy-to-finish decorative wood painting projects ranging from craft fair novelties and decorative home-accents to useful house wares and wooden toys. Projects are accompanied by full-color step-by-step photographs, easy to follow how-to instructions, and full-size pattern for almost every project."

Woodworkers Auction
"The ultimate world of fine woodworking from the hobbyist to the master woodworker." Features woodworking articles for art and interior design; and topics covering carving and engraving, woodworking plans, tools, supplies, unfinished wood projects, special project how to's, and architectural styles.

Woodworking at About.com
A solid woodworking resource and community covering all topics related to woodworking, crafting, and carving. Topics and articles include: adhesive and glues, antique tools, basics, free catalogs, finishes, glossaries, hand tools, sawmills, kit projects, project plans, safety, software, power tools, troubleshooting, and free projects.

Woodworking.com
"Your woodworking start page." Features articles, forums, and topics for woodworking 101. Topics include artistic woodturning, lathes, wood planes, furniture making, shop layout, getting started, woodcarving, home improvement, free projects, and step-by-step instructions.