Woodworking projects can get expensive quickly between purchasing quality wood, tools, finishes, and hardware. However, many clever woodworkers have found ways to significantly cut costs through sourcing discounted or repurposed materials, buying used tools, efficient wood usage, and even selling their own creations. This article outlines key woodworking-tips-and-tricks to implement frugal woodworking and reduce expenses.
| Key Takeaway | Details |
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| Find discounted and repurposed materials |
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| Use wood efficiently |
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| Purchase used tools |
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| Smart outsourcing |
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| Offer woodworking services |
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| Additional budget suppliers |
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Find Discounted and Repurposed Materials
One of the biggest woodworking expenses is materials, especially solid wood boards from the lumber yard charging by the linear foot. However, before heading to the store, check online classified ads, community boards, and neighborhood apps like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for people giving away free wood or woodworking-mistakes offcuts and scraps for cheap.
Construction crews will often have leftover wood materials they cannot use and are happy for someone to haul it off the site. Go introduce yourself and ask if they have any waste wood to keep out of the landfill. With some light prying and cleanup, reclaimed wood from old furniture found curbside or at thrift stores can give great character to projects too.
Use Wood Efficiently
Carefully planning woodworking projects to minimize waste stretches your material purchases much further. Rely on scrap wood pieces for small builds like cutting boards, coasters, and even kids toys rather than buying additional boards. Invest time researching important wood joinery methods like pocket holes or dovetails that utilize more efficient geometric cuts to combine smaller pieces into sturdy finished products.
Get creative with those leftover woodworking-community odds and ends by edge gluing pieces to make wider boards. Irregular shaped scraps also work beautifully for things like rustic wall hangings, abstract art pieces, or mounting backdrops for wire wrapping stones and crystals.
Purchase Used Tools
Outfitting a workshop with all new power tools and hand tools runs up staggering bills. However, you can often find high-quality used versions through online auctions, garage sales, and second-hand tool dealers at a fraction of retail prices. Focus first on versatile basics like a miter saw, orbital sander, circular saw, jigsaw, hammer, and adjustable wrenches.
Learn to clean up and tune vintage tools to like-new condition. As skills advance over time, add more specialized tools into the mix. Starting with pre-owned goods significantly lightens the initial investment while still gaining core functions.
Smart Outsourcing: DIY vs Custom Orders
Not every project needs to be a solo endeavor if time and abilities limit what you can reasonably take on. Weigh the costs of purchasing better materials against reasonable fees your local woodworking-mistakes tradespeople charge for things like complex joinery, trim carpentry, furniture building, turning legs, and finish work. Their expertise can elevate the end result beyond your current skill level.
Alternatively, focus DIY efforts on simpler designs with readily available construction lumber, plywood, or repurposed materials until additional experience makes more advanced builds achievable.
Offer Your Own Woodworking Services
Once a degree of comfort with common woodworking methods and tools is reached, consider covering material costs by producing custom cutting boards, signs, shelving units, and decor to sell locally or online through Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, or even consigning through boutique home goods stores.
Teaching hands-on woodworking classes can also generate income while giving back to the woodworking-community through sharing skills. Offer to build or repair smaller items for neighbors in exchange for tools or shop materials needed for personal projects too.
Additional Budget Wood Suppliers
Check with local tree removal services for discounted live-edge slabs or burls from freshly felled logs. The lumber only gets more expensive the further down the processing chain it goes.
Establish relationships with managers at construction materials depots to ask about damage discounted goods or placing scrap bins out back for you to glean boards and plywood from.
Attend auctions, estate sales, barn clean outs, and flea markets for second hand tools and Farmhouse style furnishings to refinish. Sometimes the worn, vintage look sells for more!
Conclusion
Woodworking does not need to be an expensive hobby or profession. As outlined above, there are numerous ways to source discounted raw materials for builds, keep waste low through efficient design skills, purchase used tools in usable condition, outsource only when reasonable, and even profit from passion projects through selling creations or teaching others.
With resourcefulness and creativity, these woodworking-safety tips help stretch budgets dramatically. We welcome any other frugal workshop ideas and experiences in the comments below!
FAQs
Where can I find used woodworking tools?
Used tools can be found on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, garage sales, estate sales, consignment stores, antique malls, and second hand stores. Brick and mortar flea markets are also great places to negotiate deals on pre-owned tools.
Is it safe to use scrap wood for projects?
Yes, scrap wood is usually safe for projects as long as precautions are taken to check condition and watch for nails, screws, staples and other hidden metal pieces. Also beware of any chemical treatments and only use uncoated natural wood scraps.
What are the best places to sell DIY wood projects?
DIY wood projects can be sold on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, consigning through boutique home goods stores, at local craft fairs and flea markets, or by setting up an Etsy shop to sell online.