Bored Panda got in touch with David Walton, a woodwork enthusiast from the UK. On his Instagram profile, ‘Unplugged Woodworking’, he shares videos revealing the process and behind-the-scenes of making pieces of furniture. Walton is also the author of the ebook “How to Build and Use a Roman Workbench with Hand Tools”. We wanted to find out a little bit more about the crafty world of woodworking and asked a few questions related to this topic.
We were interested in what initially sparked David’s interest in woodworking, and how he embarked on this craft. We found out that: “I've always been interested in woodworking/DIY from a very early age, having watched on a regular basis cousins, uncles, grandad, etc. performing tasks of DIY, most of the time out of necessity. It was always encouraged and deemed a good trait to be able to do things around the house like hanging doors, replacing skirting boards, etc.”
Walton added: “I do also believe that working with our hands is part of our DNA/biological programming, and can't be avoided/must be discovered by ourselves.”
We were wondering if the DIY enthusiast could share a memorable project that not only tested his woodworking skills but also pushed the boundaries of his creativity. David shared with us: “One of the most memorable projects was when I first built a dovetailed blanket box out of oak. There were multiple dovetails that needed to be spot on, as these are visible to the eyes and part of the visual design. Hand-cut dovetails become harder the more you have in one straight run, so that was a real test of skill at the time.”
Walton continued: “As far as design, I feel I've never really pushed the design. I do try/tend to keep the design simple. Where I do push things is the engineering side of things. Currently, I'm working on a van kitchen/bed design that slots together without screws and glue. This is pushing the limits of making it work, but in essence, it's still visually simple.”
Safety plays a pivotal role in woodworking. This is why we wanted Walton to tell us more about the safety precautions and practices he adheres to in order to ensure his well-being while working with wood. We’ve learned that: “I work with hand tools, so I have less of a need for safety equipment, compared to a power tool user. I think one main aspect for me is to understand and respect many of my tools, although not electric, still have the potential to put me in hospital. From time to time, I may feel the need to use PPE like glasses, but ultimately, if you are unsure, or/and inexperienced, PPE should be used. We are all our own safety officers!”
Woodworking is often described as a therapeutic and meditative pursuit. We were curious how it personally helps David unwind and tap into his creative side. He told us: “Woodworking with hand tools can be very meditative, and will bring your mind and body to the present as like a meditation. You become connected to the tool you're using. Listening to changes in tones gives you cues to adjust, feeling differences in your hands which speak to you, looking at the formation of the grain in the wood, telling you where to start, any problems, and how the wood will behave while being worked.
Lastly, Walton added: “This all brings you to the now. The past and future are forgotten, and you truly live in the now, or at least I do.”
