Bob G. wrote:
Just do not understand the comments about buying bandaids and setting
the speed dial for the Hostital on your telephone....Seems to me the
posters who made those suggestions are a little immature or whatever
you waish to call them...helpful they are not...

Anyway I am glad you at least express an interest in woodworking...

I will admit that I never took a single class (excluding wood shop in
Jr. High School) nor read any books on woodworking before I got
interested in woodworking...I just had a need as a new homeowner to
"fix" a few things around the house...and discovered that I could "do
my thing" and have a a relaxating evening at the same time...

Over the years I most have picked up a book or two but honestly I can
not remember doing it...I just learned the hard way...make a mistake
correct it..move on and make another mistake..

BUT if I were smart I would have at least spent some time in the
library just looking at how things are constructed... A good book on
Joints ..their construction strenghts and weakness would have saved me
a lot of frustration...

Like Bob, I got started in woodworking by remodeling my house, on the last room now. I would advise
you get started by building things for the shop: wall cabinets, router table, shelves. Practice
different methods of joinery on these pieces because you will make mistakes, lots of them. Much
better to make them on things for the shop made with "cheap" wood and be proficient before
graduating to more expensive things. Shop cabinets are also a great way to practice different
finishes and find the ones you like (and dislike).

I started in my house by remodeling a bedroom into my "play room" with a built in desk and floor to
ceiling bookcases. Looks OK to the uninitiated but I would be embarassed to show them to this
group. I'm ready to rip all the work out and start over, wish I knew what I was doing before I
started.

I took some classes, learned a lot by reading this group, got some help when I needed it. I still
consider myself a beginner, but a lot more advanced than when I started. I think woodworking is a
lot like golf or playing bridge, the more you learn, the more you know what you still have to learn.

Good luck and keep a thick skin when posting.