Green woodworking uses unseasoned wood to create furniture, and requires evaluating wood in its green state to account for shrinkage. It can be started immediately and uses techniques from the 17th century. Bodging is a technique used to turn wood with a lathe. Green woodworking tools are available at hardware stores.
Green woodworking is a technique that uses unseasoned wood to create various wooden objects such as chairs, stools, and tables. This method requires the ability to evaluate wood in its green state and plan its use, taking into account the shrinkage and twisting that tend to occur as wood ages and settles. There are numerous books that provide information on green woodworking, and people can also take educational courses to learn the basics. Many of these classes offer the opportunity to interact with master carpenters and pick up valuable skills and advice.
People have been working green wood for a long time, and some green woodworkers continue to use techniques first developed in the 17th century or even earlier. One benefit of green woodworking is that you can start work immediately, rather than having to wait for the wood to age. During the aging process, wood loses moisture, shrinking in size and tending to twist and shift as it settles. In conventional woodworking, people can speed aging by drying the wood in kilns, or they must allow it to lose moisture naturally, in stacks stored in a covered and reasonably dry area. It can be more reliable to work after shrinkage, as people don’t have to worry about designs distorting due to shrinkage.
The green carpenter can start from scratch with a felled tree, split the tree into usable pieces and then machine them. Other carpenters may choose to purchase wood that has already been split for use. Wood preparation requires some skill with forestry techniques. With the split wood in hand, green woodworking can begin. People can use a variety of techniques and tools to shape wood, taking care to account for shrinkage as they work with the wood.
One method available to green woodworkers is bodging, a technique in which people turn wood with a lathe to make chair legs, support posts, and similar pieces for woodworking projects. This is different from turning seasoned wood on a lathe. A skilled carpenter can produce very fine finished parts with a high degree of symmetry and a clean, uniform appearance. Novice practitioners of green woodworking can start with simpler, more rustic pieces where a uniform look isn’t necessary.
Green woodworking tools are available at many hardware and woodworking supply stores. People just starting out may want to consult a book or instructor for advice on the best tools for their needs. It can be helpful to look at reviews of different tools and brands to get an idea of what’s available and to learn more about the tools preferred and recommended by people active in the green woodworking community.
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