Wood is one of the most satisfying building materials for a home maker, imbued with a history of years or decades in every ring. The fluctuating color and knots and varying textures in wood give each piece its own personality, and by working with the material, a maker is able to work with nature, rather than against it. An appreciation for wood begins with an understanding of the grain, the relationship between sapwood and heartwood, and the implications of moisture levels on cutting and joining. When the home maker has an appreciation for the lumber, selection becomes more than a purchase — it’s a conversation — and it ensures that the project will endure as long as the house it’s built for.
When you’re working with wood, you learn to honor its essence even after it’s been harvested. Green lumber smells good and shows its grain when planed, old reclaimed wood boasts provenance and inherent flatness that can’t be found with new material. You learn the way different woods behave under the tool: oak requires a sharp edge and firm pressure, walnut moves smoothly but only shows its true figure after sanding and finishing. Each small insight helps instill a sense of patience as time and again it proves how rushed planning, cutting, or sanding can result in a split, tear-out, or ruining of the inherent beauty of the wood. Slowly, this patience becomes instinct, and each new project is a chance to hone your skills.
For many, the most satisfying and spiritual part of the process is the finishing. Finishing oil allows the wood to feel and look its best and show the beauty of aging with the years. Shellac or varnish offers protection without hiding the beauty of the wood. Some guys rub on oil, some wax on top of a stain, and some leave wood completely unfinished. A craftsman will find what works for them and their style and it will be their defining trademark. There is nothing more fulfilling than putting on the final coat and watching a piece pop. A good craftsman does not take control of the wood but only assists it in being its best self.
Using wood sustainably is one more aspect of having a connection with it. By using sustainably harvested wood, branches that have fallen from the tree, or a tree grown locally, you are cutting down on your carbon footprint, and tying the object to the local area. Some woodworkers enjoy leaving a small amount of imperfections such as checks, worm marks, or live edges, to let the tree’s history shine through. Rather than seeing these marks as flaws, they are an attribute that can’t be found on a piece of furniture coming off of a assembly line. This mindset helps to slowly evolve the view from an emphasis on the perfect piece of wood, to finding the piece with character.
Ultimately, natural wood is more than just a craft – it’s an ongoing relationship with the material that remains dynamic and grows as you go. Every project is a new learning experience on the movement of grain, the aging of finishes, and the way the details of a piece resonate in a larger space. Natural wood pieces, whatever they may be, possess a certain character and feel that can’t be replicated by manufactured wood products. And if you stick with it, it can be a teacher as well – one that appreciates the care you give it, and will reward it back with character that gets better with age.
