WOODWORKING
Woodworking is the activity or skill of making items from wood and includes cabinet making (cabinetry and furniture), wood carving, joinery, carpentry, and woodturning. Historically, woodworkers relied upon the woods native to their region, until transportation and trade innovations made more exotic woods available to the craftsman. Woods are typically sorted into three basic types: hardwoods typified by tight grain and derived from broadleaf trees, softwoods from coniferous trees, and man-made materials such as plywood and MDF. Hardwoods, botanically known as angiosperms, are deciduous and shed their leaves annually with temperature changes. Softwoods come from trees botanically known as gymnosperms, which are coniferous, cone-bearing, and stay green year round. Although a general pattern, softwoods are not necessarily always “softer” than hardwoods and vice versa. Softwood is most commonly found in the regions of the world with lower temperatures and is typically less durabl...