One of the worst experiences that the global pandemic brought was limiting the amount of time you could spend outside. Gone are the days when Friday nights used to be for cracking a few cold ones with the boys and relishing in watching your favorite team win against their rival.
Those kinds of Friday nights are still allowed, of course. Instead of the bar, however, you’ll have to talk to one another over the screen in your own living rooms. These days, you also probably have too much time on your hands when you’re not too busy working-from-home.
Workman’s Chores
Those were all in the earlier days of the pandemic. Currently, the discovery and development of a vaccine have given everyone new hope after almost a year of sheltering-in-place. Lockdowns have begun to ease, and the bar you and the boys used to hang out in has probably reopened.
Unfortunately, the threat of a new strain of the virus is still very much real. Safety protocols like social distancing and wearing masks are still encouraged. Going out for unnecessary reasons, on the other hand, not so much.
If you’re still uncomfortable with leaving the house, for yourself and your family’s sake, there are plenty of hobbies out there to explore. Everything from leatherworking, fishing, or simply working out can have a huge effect on your physical and mental well-being during these trying times.
Idle hands are no good for any man. Staying active and keeping yourself busy is a good, healthy way to take care of yourself. Let’s face it. Men need some alone time, too. There is one particular activity worth trying out now that’s perfect during these pandemic-ridden moments: woodworking.
From Timber to Treasure
Woodworking is the perfect craft for anybody looking to put their hands to good use. This involves cutting, joining, and finishing raw wood to turn it into something practical. If you’re looking to get started, there are many free online woodworking classes readily available.
All you need is a dedicated shed equipped with the proper tools. Get yourself a workbench, a couple of saws, some hand planes, hammer, and mallet alongside the other instruments found in your toolbox, and you’ll be good to go. Keeping a remedy for allergic reactions at the ready is also important because there will be lots and lots of dust.
Starting with the Small Stuff
Your first project for woodworking doesn’t necessarily have to be big and grand. Before going into all-out woodworking, consider trying your hand at whittling first. Whittling only involves the carving of raw wood using a knife or blade.
Creating little trinkets or figurines will help you hone your craft. It’s also a good place to test out different types of wood and see which one works best for you. Establishing a proper relationship with your material is the key to any good craftsman.
Handy, Practical Items for the Home
Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, getting into woodworking will be a great avenue for you to improve various skills. More than that, it will also put your creativity to the test. You’ll essentially be making a visual image from your mind and turning it into reality through the wood.
You could make anything from a bowl, a table, or a sculpture if you put enough practice, time, and effort into it. The sense of fulfillment will definitely be something else. Seeing a project from start to finish will only fuel your drive to create more items in the future.
It’s also a good practice to minimize costs in your household. This way, if you’re ever looking to renovate a part of your house or repair a piece of furniture, you won’t have to hire someone else to do it for you. As the man-of-the-house, making cabinets, chairs, and other things should be a breeze.
Creations from an Artisan’s Hand
Somewhere down the line, your woodworking skills will be good enough that if you wanted to make a profit out of it, you could. It was observed that the woodworking industry, in general, was able to easily recover despite the circumstances that the pandemic brought.
Creating commissioned items or sculptures for other people shouldn’t be something that’s necessarily out of your reach. Woodworking can extend far beyond just being a hobby. It could be a good way for you to make some extra cash on the side or even establish an entire business.
Ultimately, woodworking transcends more than just taking some raw material and crafting it. It’s the perfect symbol for manhood, especially during the time of a pandemic. Translating something strong, idle, and monolithic into something practical, productive, and well-formed.
