Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? Who Cares!

Article - September 5, 2013

In my opinion, classifying woodworking projects by skill level is a mistake. Since I publish woodworking project plans and videos in the Guild, I often receive emails asking me why I don’t specify whether a project is Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced. There’s a very good reason for it, which we’ll get to in a minute. You’ll also notice that our Viewer Project Gallery makes no mention of difficulty level. Instead, we simply list the number of years the person has been woodworking. We’ve all seen these traditional skill level classifications in magazines, project plans, and woodworking classes and as a result some folks don’t know how to gauge the appropriateness of a project without the label.

These classifications have a couple critical flaws. First, they depend heavily on our ability to self-identify with one group or another. Since there are no tests or regulations on woodworking skill levels, it’s pretty much a crapshoot and most of us simply make our best guess. Even if you consider yourself an Intermediate woodworker, how often have you found new woodworkers or non-woodworkers absolutely blown away by your “advanced” skill level? Depending on the perspective, you may or may not view your own skill level clearly. Second, even if you manage to rate your own skill with some level of accuracy, that doesn’t mean the people producing the plans/classes rate skill level on the same scale as you. There is no official published protocol for this stuff and most times the publisher is making their best guess. To make matters worse, did you ever notice that skill levels differ based on the intended audience? Is it fair to say that Fine Woodworking’s intermediate projects might be considered advanced in WOOD Magazine? Wonderful! Now I need a chart for woodworking publication skill level conversion rates!! Obviously I’m having a little fun here in an attempt to illustrate a point.

I think we would all look at a face grain cutting board and classify it as a beginner project, right? We might also look at a Philadelphia Chippendale Highboy and call it advanced. But what about everything in between? The giant mass of projects that fall somewhere between extreme beginner and extreme advanced represents a gray area that is nearly impossible to classify meaningfully and consistently.

Why do I care? Because I find these mostly meaningless classifications to be potentially limiting and discouraging. Most beginners will shy away from intermediate and advanced projects simply because they assume they just aren’t ready for them. After 5 years, they might still consider themselves a beginner and haven’t yet progressed beyond napkin holders and bird houses (not that there’s anything wrong with those projects). But if the woodworker’s goal is to become a highly-skilled craftsperson, he/she should intentionally take on projects that are beyond their current perceived skill level. Will they make mistakes? Yes. Will they need to make a couple parts more than once? Probably. Will they learn at an exponential rate because of these mistakes? You bet! One of the best ways to avoid mistakes is to experience the heartache of making them! Conversely, there is no better way to slow your progress than to do the woodworking equivalent of treading water: only working projects you already contain the skills to create.

I came to this conclusion during my first teaching gig at the William Ng School several years ago. Each class I teach attracts woodworkers with a wide variety of skill levels. That’s just how things go at woodworking schools. But I didn’t necessarily expect there to be a complete newbie in the class. One of my students was a busy LA professional who decided to take a woodworking class just to blow off some steam. He had absolutely no experience yet hoped to build a complex piece of furniture within five days. I had my doubts, but since I’m always up for a challenge I dove right in. I gave the guy extra attention where needed, especially as it concerned safety and using various tools for the first time, but other than that he was treated the same as everyone else and I certainly didn’t do any of the work for him. By the end of the five days, this “non-woodworker” was the first one finished and he made the fewest mistakes. He was given a series of steps and the tools to accomplish them and rose to the occasion. My mind was thoroughly blown. Since then, every class I teach at the William Ng School seems to have that same scenario with at least one person completely new to the craft. I am always delighted to work with them because they are usually full of pleasant surprises.

More recently, and in greater numbers, my experience with my fellow Wood Whisperer Guild members has reinforced my viewpoint. Time and time again a completely new or relatively new woodworker comes in and knocks out what I consider to be one of our more advanced projects. I can’t tell you how many “wet under the wings” woodworkers have built classic Guild projects like the Split-Top Roubo and the G&G Adirondack Chair. You can see some of them in our Guild Gallery if you are interested.

I recently emailed the Guild and asked them to send me pictures of their first or near-first projects. I wanted to see what these talented and energetic people were capable of building while most considered them beginners. I received over 80 submissions within two days! Obviously I can’t include them all here but I did pick some of my favorites. A big fat thank you to everyone who submitted a project and I truly regret not being able to showcase them all.

Check out some of these projects built by Guild members when they were very new to the craft. Each one of these projects was either a first or second project with the maker having 0-2 yrs experience:

Allen Grant, Chris, David, Dustin, Greg

Jalen Waggoner, Josh, Justin, Kerry, Marilyn Guthrie

Paul, Riley, Robert, Roger, Scott

Tim, Tom Buhl, Vic Hubbard

As you can see, even a beginner can produce fairly high level work. Would these woodworkers have been better off if they set their sights lower and focused only on projects appropriate for their noobness? I think not! Instead, they tackled projects that required them to think, practice, and improve. Well done my friends!

The intention of this project showcase is to inspire. I really don’t want anyone who might not have progressed as quickly as these folks to feel that they are somehow behind the curve. Each one of us is on our own personal woodworking journey and we all need to work at our own pace and comfort level. But I do encourage you to constantly challenge yourself. Progress as fast as YOU can, not as fast as other people can. In other words, bring your personal best to every project and you will get better quickly.

With the proper guidance and the right tools, no project is out of your reach! Take all skill level ratings with a grain of salt and instead of fixating on Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced, examine the project itself and the skills, tools, and techniques required to make it in order to determine if it’s right for you. And if you are a lifetime student of the craft, you’ll nearly always choose projects that contain elements you don’t currently know how to accomplish. You don’t want to necessarily bite off more than you can chew but you should always have a good substantial mouthful.

Discussion

kevin delk September 5, 2013 10:04 am

Yes. Very good way to put it.

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Stan P September 5, 2013 10:48 am

Well said Marc. Woodworking is a life long journey, one that you will hopefully continually be learning in as you go through it. Part of the fun of the journey for me is trying something new. as you have said many times there are more than one way to accomplish a task. Even if I make a similar item I will try one or more different techniques on the second or even third item or try a way to correct a technique that I screwed up before. Thanks for your postings.

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TylerW September 5, 2013 11:20 am

Very good article. As a fairly new woodworker (~1 year) I typically focus more on the tools required for a project, rather than the supposed skill required for a project. If I don’t have (and can’t afford) one of the tools that the project requires, and I can’t dream up a way to get by without it, I’ll pick a different project, otherwise, all projects are fair game!

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jim September 5, 2013 12:21 pm

Good article. Should distribute to the masses.

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Mike September 5, 2013 1:56 pm

I am with you Marc, I hate labels. They are for people with no imaginations. Unfortunately there is an audience out there that needs them to survive.

FWW recently ran a letter from a guy complaining that their inlayed cutting board was not “fine woodworking” and shouldn’t go in the magazine (he said it was more suited for a “craft” magazine, whatever that is). I thought that was funny because to me it was one of the more interesting, original, and innovative things they had run in a while. I think the letter writer kind of missed the point. Yeah, it was a nice cutting board. But think of all of the other things you can do with that technique. It might not take “advanced” skills to build, but I gaurantee if you made a end table or serving tray or headboard with an inlayed design like that, you would get high fives from woodworkers and non-woodworkers alike.

There is definitely a demographic of people that measure themselves based on the skills they acquire. “I can cut a half blind dovetail” “Look at my five way mitre joint” “This entire entertainment center is held together with no screws or glue.” Don’t get me wrong, I am constantly trying to build my own skills. But one of my favorite, and most impressive looking projects, is a bench I build will nothing but butt joints and glue. Here the difficulty was in the design, not in the joinery. Unfortunately sometimes people miss the point. I will take interesting design over complicated joinery any day.

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Doug Menning September 5, 2013 2:41 pm

The carpenter I started working under, in building houses (mostly trim work) agreed to work with me for the very fact that I DIDN’T have much experience. He was very particular about how he liked things done. He was pleased that I had very few preconceived notions about how to do things. So while working under him he was always happy to show me how to do it (the right way) his way. Since then I have advanced and understand that he was a bit arrogant in his own skill assesment, however I learned to do alot of really cool stuff that most guys building houses may never learn. You can also learn alot from people that “don’t know jack”, when they aren’t jaded by doing it the ‘right way’ they often will do things the way that makes the most sense to them and will leave those of us stuck on doing things a particular way saying, why didn’t I think of that.

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Grantman September 5, 2013 3:45 pm

Wonderful words, Marc, and right on target. Labels are artificial barriers to creativity and are all too often self-limiting. One should simply find what they want to make and then figure out a way to make it. Our craft is not some secret cabal with intricate initiation ceremonies at each level one attains; it is open an available to everyone and there are dozens of ways to get stuff made if one does not have all the resources at the moment.

With today’s technology, instructions are available to anyone far and above what was available a generation ago when I had to rely on Tage Frid’s books and FWW mag. Your sites are contributory to the growth of the craft and the attitude expressed within the post is a great example of why you have the following you do.

Thanks, too, for including my tool cabinet. It put a smile on my wife’s face. OK, mine too. :-)

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Joe Oliver September 5, 2013 3:48 pm

What a great article, Marc! I thoroughly enjoyed it and agree with every single word. Thanks!

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fiddler September 5, 2013 4:24 pm

Well written Marc. I recently told someone that someone who works with wood never calls themselves a master craftsman, others may call them that but not themselves. I have been a “student of wood” for many years and sometimes I look back at some pieces I made when I first started and wonder how I did that. Expensive tools make the job easier not necessarily better. It is time and patience that make the job look right. No matter how many tools I get (never enough) I will never be able to reproduce those jobs. I learn something new every day in the shop so I don’t think I will ever call myself a “Master” and will always be a beginner.

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- patrick Monaghan September 5, 2013 5:17 pm
  
  Very well said Mark. All of it!
  I’m a big fan of your free site and one day, after i get all the proper tools together I will for sure join your guild. Untill then, Thank you for taking the time to do the free stuff.
  
  Reply
Chuck Riccardo September 5, 2013 8:00 pm

RIGHT ON!!!

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Beechwood Chip September 5, 2013 9:01 pm

Great article, Marc. Another problem with simple labels, is that woodworking isn’t simple. One person may be a whiz at cabinet making, but has never free-handed a curve. another may be be able to carve stunning images, but when they try to do kitchen cabinets nothing ever fits right. Hand tools, power tools, turning, finishing, carving, inlay… a person can be an expert at one of these and a novice at another.

So, down with labels!

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Bill Akins September 6, 2013 5:02 am

Great article Marc. As a hobbiest for about 7 years I used to look for beginner projects. But not anymore. I choose projects that are appealing to me no matter the level of difficulty. I remember in the 80’s and 90’s watching Norm an Roy create wonderful things. I had told myself that I could never have the large power tools Norm has or be able to hand craft items like Roy. Now I have a shop full of power tools, but as of late, I have been purchasing new and vintage hand tools and love working with them. No, I’ll not be planing a huge board without my power planer but I do use my hand tools more and more each project.

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Rapid Roger September 6, 2013 8:37 am

I love this article but, I would add that your attitude applies to more than just wood working. Your way of thinking applies to everything in life, from hobbies to jobs.
I remember when I built my first bed headboard with nothing more than a circular saw and a screwdriver and I showed it to my neighbor (who was a hobbyist woodworker) and told him how I had built it and the tools I used. He said “You can’t do it that way!” and I replied “I wish you had told me that before I did it!” But, he was obviously impressed with what I had done.

Rog

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Jeff B September 6, 2013 8:45 am

Great article Marc. I have often though tht esame thing. I am still at the level of smaller projects, but it has more to do with the tools I have and saving money to get more that I need for certain projects. I am chomping at the bit to do the Split-Top Roubo Bench, but I do nto hav eroom for it in my very small shop, BUT one day I iwll have a larger shop with enough room for such a beast of a bench.

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Rick Roades September 6, 2013 9:39 am

This is a great article, and proves that the “masters” were right all along.

David Marks once said that it’s not that his skill is so much greater than anyone else’s, but rather that he will take any amount of time needed to make something turn out to match his vision.

Sometimes, I think patience is the greatest skill to master. Coupled with finding ways of safely doing something even though you may not have the slickest, most complete set of tools to work with, most of us can do way more than we think we can.

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james September 6, 2013 9:45 am

great article Marc .. Just picked up a t shirt and a set of templates at TWW Store.. time to get building
James

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BillP September 6, 2013 12:08 pm

Mark your absolutely correct, I can only do my best, not someone ele’s. I have watched your shop & tools and skills grow. Your getting pretty well known now in the woodworking world but you still are as down to earth an friendly as the first time I saw you. Your a great educator and a lot of fun to watch keep up the good work.

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Michael Kirkpatrick September 6, 2013 1:19 pm

I just like to do projects that are fun, no matter how hard or how long the project takes. That’s why I call it my hobby.
When I retire, my business card will say” I’m an expert at nothing and I can prove it.”

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Kyla September 6, 2013 2:41 pm

Thank you! I’ve had a difficult time calling myself a woodworker, even though that’s what my friends call me. I didn’t think I was good enough. But the truth is – I’m a woodworker because I love working with wood and building beautiful things! Even the simplest piece is still a huge accomplishment for me. Thanks for the encouragement!

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John Wolfe September 6, 2013 4:43 pm

Loved the article and think you are absolutely correct. I also agree with Rick Rhodes in that patience is a key ingredient. We’ve all become frustrated at our efforts at some point in time, but patience is what allows us to overcome (not avoid) that frustration. Patience allows us to take a step back, evaluate what went wrong, and move forward. That’s called learning from one’s mistakes and it’s an essential part of life, which includes woodworking.

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Gary September 7, 2013 3:14 am

Mark,
I really enjoyed this article, since I am one of those people that ignore that something might not be commensurate with my experience.
I too have tackled a few projects in my first few years of woodworking that by some may be considered complex pieces of furniture and I still receive complements on them

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Gary P September 7, 2013 1:09 pm

I always try to remember that if I break down the parts into sections it’s a lot easier on me. I figure I’m a “Older Newbie” to woodworking. While I stay away from inlay and veneer I will try just about anything. Sure I make mistakes.

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Kenji Horvath September 7, 2013 5:37 pm

Well said, Marc. I was wondering though if you ever thought of just listing out the various skills that will be used in the project. Something like “Dovetail joints, Rip cuts, Curved cuts, miter joints, etc.” This way you aren’t saying a project is a certain skill level but just the different skills that are going to be exercised in the project. This also has the added benefit of drawing people to certain projects who want to learn a specific skill. Personally if I was looking for a project to learn a skill it is tough to know which one to pick.

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Kirk Zabolio September 8, 2013 7:47 am

It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t know that you can’t do it.

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roger September 9, 2013 8:12 am

Well said, Marc. I work at my own pace, and don’t ever try to “keep up with the Joneses”, so to speak. I’ll listen to any critic/comment, good/bad/ugly. Life is gr8, even at one step at a time.

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Chris September 10, 2013 12:35 pm

Totally agree. I’m mostly by myself in my garage when I’m wood working. When I get out of my comfort zone on a project , due to complexity, I always say something like “well, here goes nothing” and once I’m through it, I’m really proud of myself for taking the leap.

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Jay Crihfield October 7, 2013 6:53 pm

This article is awesome, and definitely hits home with this beginner. I somehow got the crazy idea to try and design/build wine racks for a wine cellar we have in our house, and while it seemed way beyond my “beginner” skill level, the more I think about and plan everything out the more I think it’s worth taking a shot at.

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Dale R October 25, 2013 6:20 am

Very good article Marc. Skills are always difficult to define. As a relative newbie to woodworking people are amazed at my routered edges (as if I made them by hand.) A year ago I had never used a router and was equally amazed by this type of detail. Each new project teaches me something mentally but also physically.

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Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? Who Cares!

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