Thread: Should you have an interest in doing woodwork in your leisure time?

If you are doing cabinet work for your job, [unless in a high end company] you'll be doing lots of boxes, benches, cupboards, etc; but the joy of the woodwork comes in the making a nice piece of, say furniture to a high standard at home in your own workshop, no stress or time pressure and all your own creation using your day to day learned skills.
I come from an engineering procurement background and had medical retirement thrust upon me, so I find the woodwork very relaxing and enjoyable even though I don't have the carpentry trades background.
I hope that ramble helps.
Enjoy the beauty of the timber; enjoy the mastery of creating beautiful woodwork.
Cheers, Crowie

This is a very hard question to ask us to tell you what to do in your leisure time. It is best to live a balanced life from work to time ones self.

Originally Posted by Wood101Work

Still thinking about entering the cabinetmaking trade, have a few more questions though...

After I finish a trade school program for cabinetmaking, I would like to find a job working in a cabinetry shop, an already established company. I don't have the skills/personality to run my own business. I also don't think I would want to do any woodworking in my free leisure time, since I'll be doing it as a full-time job. When I'm done with that at the end of my work week, I would like to do other things like play sports, video games, etc.

Is woodworking supposed to be something you love doing all the time? I understand you should like doing what you plan on working with in your life, but how much should you love woodworking? So much that you wanna do it all the time?

are you looking for
a job
a career
a passion
the most fulfillment in life comes from combining all three

the cabinet makers I know all make things for themselves or paying customers in their own time.

a typical beginning cabinetmaker will spend close to 100% of their time making kitchens and other "flat pack" stuff.
those who make stuff for themselves at weekends are creating a path to more interesting custom work and more fulfilling job offers in the future.

and those who demonstrate commitment and intelligence at the trade school might get an offer to work in a custom shop while still at trade school

What other hobbies do you guys have here when you're not working with wood?

photography, bike riding, raising children, having fun

I used to program for a living. I had a deep passion for it and when I got home from work I'd always be hacking away at my own personal projects. After a few years I found myself doing less of my own work in my spare time and more of works' work and struggling with late nights trying to do my own thing which lead into making no time for friends and social thing. Eventually I burned out...extremely hard. I couldn't even touch a keyboard for a while without stressing out.

I guess my point is: no matter how strong your passion, don't forget there are other things in life, so balance it well. Work is *required* at work. Hobbies happen at home and if you don't get to do something woody, special and personal, so be it. You'll find or make time later...or change career so your hobby doesn't blur with work.