A Basic Carpentry Skills Guide For Homesteaders

Learn basic carpentry skills with this homesteading guide complete with carpentry tips and woodworking ideas! No individual should even think of homesteading with a hammer in one hand and a saw on the other without any idea what to do next. A minor problem like one picket fence out of place doesn’t need calling for a professional. Knowing basic carpentry skills will let you handle the situation yourself without the hefty fee. Homesteading and creation go hand-in-hand so learn your carpentry 101 here and let’s get building!

Basic Carpentry Skills Every Homesteader Must Learn!

1. Know Your Basic Carpentry Tools

Primitively, sticks and stones worked, but it isn’t the case in this modern time even in homesteading. As I always say, having the right tools for the job will make everything so much easier. If you want to learn basic carpentry, you have to get the basic tools you need. Oh, and don’t forget the tool belt. If you want to see the full list, check it out here.

2. Measuring

Estimating and looking at your project at face value are woodworking mistakes to avoid at all cost. You can never really accomplish a woodworking project until you have the right measurements with a tape measure. Even when you think you are measuring it right, something is still bound to miss. So as a general rule: measure twice, cut once! And I’m sure you’ll eventually find out that your other important carpentry tool is a pencil.

3. Marking

All your measurements will be a waste if you’re unable to make a spot-on mark. Whether it’s a small or huge woodworking project, a small glitch in measurement could send the whole project haywire. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to measure properly, mark, and cut parts easily and accurately.

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— Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) May 4, 2015

4. Cutting

A hand saw is convenient for small wood projects plus you don’t need a power source to operate this basic tool. While power saws are taking center stage, the value of a centuries-old hand saw cannot be denied. It’s a basic carpentry tool your homestead should never be without. Learning how to handle it is an essential skill to have.

There are a lot of tools you can use to cut your wood. If you don’t want to use carpentry power tools, you can opt to use a handsaw but it may take time. Circular saws are more popular nowadays, but be careful. Never let the blade touch your hand or you’ll be in big trouble. As a rule of thumb, always make sure your blade is sharp. If you’d like to find out how to cut using various power tools, you can follow the steps here.

5. Nailing

There are different kinds of nails for different kinds of wood material and function. Knowing the right nail for the job is half of the battle. You can get your nail guide here and get through this challenge of woodworking.

Driving The Nail Through

The second half of knowing your nails is how to drive a nail through and it can be a beginner’s nightmare. Well not quite. Professionals may just need about 2-3 hits but everything comes with patience and practice. Just a few woodwork projects can make you feel like a pro. Your tool, a hammer, is also very important. Using a hammer that’s too heavy may not be the best way to start your projects.

Other Tips:

• Nylon strings can be very useful when leveling. This way you will always know that what you’re doing is centered.
• You can also make use of other tools such as drills and screws in case your nail and hammer isn’t the right fit for the job.

Now That You Know the Basic Carpentry Skills, It’s Time to Put it Into Action!

Regardless of what you’re trying to build, whether a chicken coop or a pallet workbench, always remember to be cautious. Have the proper safety gear and know how to use your equipment first before starting. It would be harder to finish a woodworking project with an injury. Here are more woodworking projects you might want to look into and put your basic carpentry skills to test:

• Pallet Project Ideas | 23 Nifty Pallet Signs And Decors For Fall
• How to Build a Wooden Swing Set That Your Kids Will Love
• How to Build a Raised Flower Bed
• 17 Awesome Treehouse Ideas For You And The Kids
• How to Build a Log Cabin By Hand | Homesteading Ideas
• 13 Salvaged Wood Decorating Ideas | Homesteading
• How to Build a Treehouse
• How to Make a Sawhorse
• 22 Easy Woodworking Projects You Must Try | DIY Projects

Want to test your basic carpentry skills? Try building this easy bookcase for beginners from Keith Rucker – VintageMachinery.org:

Learning basic carpentry lessons is one of the essential homesteading skills to work on. Take these basic carpentry skills to add to the tricks you can pull out from your sleeves once the need arises. You might also practice for free or at a very low cost with these easy pallet projects for your homestead!

With your newfound basic carpentry skills, what basic woodworking project you have in mind now? We’re interested to know about it in the comments section below!

Up Next: How To Build A Tiny House | A Step-By-Step Guide

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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on March 26, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.