There's no shortage of woodworking advice out there.
Spend five minutes on YouTube, scroll through a few woodworking Facebook groups, or ask a question on an online forum, and you'll probably get a dozen different opinions about how something should be done.
Some of that advice is incredibly useful.
And some of it is absolutely terrible.
The problem is that bad woodworking advice doesn't always sound bad.
Sometimes it comes from someone who genuinely knows what they're doing. Other times, it's something that has been repeated so many times that people just assume it must be true.
And if you're a beginner, it can be difficult to figure out which advice is actually worth following.
After years of woodworking and creating content through Rocky River Woodworks, I've developed some pretty strong opinions about the advice woodworkers give each other.
So let's talk about some of the worst woodworking advice out there, why I disagree with it, and what I think beginners should do instead.
Listen to The Scrap Pile: The Worst Woodworking Advice I've Ever Heard
1. "Buy Once, Cry Once"
You've probably heard this one before.
The idea is that you should spend the money upfront on the best possible tools because you'll only have to buy them once.
And to be fair, there's some truth to it.
Cheap tools can be frustrating. Poorly made equipment can affect accuracy, reliability, and safety. And sometimes spending more on a quality tool is absolutely worthwhile.
But I think the phrase gets thrown around far too casually.
If you're just starting woodworking, do you really need a $3,000 table saw?
Do you need the most expensive router, planer, or dust collection system available?
Probably not.
The problem with the "buy once, cry once" mentality is that it assumes everyone has the same needs.
A professional cabinetmaker using a machine eight hours a day has very different requirements from someone building small projects on weekends.
I'd rather see beginners buy reliable, appropriately sized tools and learn how to use them before spending a fortune on equipment.
Buy what makes sense for the woodworking you're actually doing.
Not the woodworking you imagine yourself doing ten years from now.
2. "You Need a Table Saw to Be a Real Woodworker"
I love a good table saw.
It's an incredibly versatile tool, and for many woodworking shops, it's one of the most useful machines you can own.
But do you absolutely need one to get started?
No.
There are plenty of woodworking projects you can build with a circular saw, drill, router, hand tools, and a few other basics.
Depending on the type of woodworking you enjoy, you might not need a table saw at all.
A woodturner, for example, may spend most of their time working at a lathe.
Someone interested in carving might use an entirely different collection of tools.
The idea that there's one specific tool every woodworker must own is ridiculous.
Your tools should reflect the projects you want to build.
And whatever tools you choose, learning their safe operation matters much more than owning a particular machine.
3. "Never Use Screws or Pocket Holes"
This is one of those arguments that seems to come up constantly in woodworking discussions.
Some people act like using screws or pocket-hole joinery automatically makes a project inferior.
Apparently, if you're not cutting traditional mortise-and-tenon joints or dovetails, you're doing something wrong.
I don't agree with that.
Different joinery methods serve different purposes.
Pocket holes can be useful for cabinet face frames, certain furniture components, and other applications where the joint is properly designed and the fasteners are appropriately placed.
Traditional joinery can offer advantages in strength, appearance, and longevity.
But that doesn't mean every project needs complicated joinery.
Sometimes screws are the right choice.
Sometimes glue and dowels make more sense.
And sometimes a mortise-and-tenon joint is exactly what the project needs.
Good woodworking isn't about using the most complicated technique. It's about choosing an appropriate technique for the job.
4. "You Can Make a Fortune Selling Cutting Boards"
If you've ever searched for ways to make money woodworking, you've probably seen someone recommending cutting boards.
And sure, people sell cutting boards.
Some woodworkers have built successful businesses around them.
But the idea that you can buy some hardwood, glue together a few boards, and immediately start making great money is misleading.
There's a lot more involved.
You have material costs, production time, finishing supplies, packaging, marketing, and competition.
And customers have plenty of inexpensive alternatives.
The same applies to wooden signs, furniture, keepsake boxes, and just about any other woodworking product.
Just because something can sell doesn't mean it's automatically profitable.
If you're interested in making money woodworking, I'd encourage you to calculate your costs, research your market, and test demand before building a bunch of inventory.
Because selling a product and making worthwhile money from it are two different things.
5. "You Should Turn Your Hobby Into a Business"
This is another piece of advice I think deserves some pushback.
There's a tendency to believe that if you're good at something, you should figure out how to make money doing it.
And woodworking is no exception.
Someone sees a project you built and immediately asks why you aren't selling them.
Or they tell you that you should start taking custom orders.
But here's the thing.
Not every hobby needs to become a business.
There's a big difference between building something because you want to and building something because a customer expects it by Friday.
Once you start selling woodworking projects, you're dealing with deadlines, pricing, customer expectations, and all the other responsibilities that come with running a business.
And those things can take some of the enjoyment out of woodworking.
I've talked about my frustrations with custom orders before.
Making money woodworking can be rewarding, but it's not necessarily the right choice for everyone.
Sometimes it's perfectly fine to keep woodworking as something you do because you enjoy it.
6. "The More Expensive the Wood, the Better the Project"
I think a lot of woodworkers, especially beginners, get caught up in using expensive hardwoods.
And I understand why.
There are some beautiful wood species available.
But the cost of the lumber doesn't automatically determine the quality of the finished project.
A poorly built project made from expensive walnut is still a poorly built project.
And a well-designed, carefully constructed project made from inexpensive pine can still be excellent woodworking.
Material selection should depend on what you're building.
You need to consider durability, appearance, workability, wood movement, and how the finished piece will be used.
Sometimes expensive hardwood is worth it.
Other times, it's completely unnecessary.
I'd rather spend money on appropriate materials and good craftsmanship than assume a high lumber price automatically makes something better.
7. "Just Watch YouTube and You'll Learn Everything"
Now, this one might sound a little strange coming from someone who makes woodworking videos.
And don't get me wrong.
I think YouTube is an incredible resource for woodworkers.
There are talented creators sharing valuable information about joinery, finishing, tool maintenance, and almost every other woodworking subject imaginable.
But watching woodworking videos isn't the same thing as actually woodworking.
You can watch fifty videos about cutting dovetails.
That doesn't mean you'll be good at cutting dovetails the first time you try.
You still have to practice.
You still have to make mistakes.
And you still have to learn how different tools and materials behave in real situations.
There's also the issue of conflicting information.
Just because someone demonstrates a technique in a video doesn't automatically mean it's the safest or most appropriate method.
Use videos as a learning resource, but verify safety-critical advice against tool manuals and reputable instruction.
And most importantly, get into the shop and actually build something.
8. "You Don't Need All That Safety Equipment"
This is where bad woodworking advice goes from being annoying to potentially dangerous.
There are people who treat safety equipment like an unnecessary inconvenience.
They'll tell you they've been doing something a certain way for thirty years and have never had a problem.
But that doesn't mean the practice is safe.
Woodworking involves sharp blades, rotating machinery, airborne dust, noise, and other hazards.
Appropriate eye and hearing protection, effective dust controls, respiratory protection when needed, and properly functioning machine guards are important.
And safe operating procedures matter just as much as protective equipment.
I don't care how experienced someone is.
Experience doesn't make you immune to accidents.
I'd much rather take a few extra minutes to work safely than risk a serious injury because someone convinced me a safety precaution wasn't necessary.
9. "If You Want to Get Better, You Need Better Tools"
There's always a newer, bigger, or more expensive tool available.
And it's easy to convince yourself that upgrading your equipment is the answer to every woodworking problem.
But sometimes the problem isn't the tool.
Sometimes it's technique.
Maybe your saw needs to be properly adjusted.
Maybe your measuring process is inconsistent.
Or maybe you simply haven't practiced a particular skill enough.
Of course, there are situations where better equipment makes a real difference.
A reliable, accurate, and safe tool can improve your results and make woodworking more enjoyable.
But buying more equipment isn't a substitute for developing your skills.
Before spending money on an upgrade, I'd ask myself whether the tool is actually limiting what I can accomplish.
If it isn't, maybe the money would be better spent on materials for another project.
10. "There's Only One Right Way to Do Woodworking"
This might be my least favorite woodworking attitude.
The idea that there's one correct way to build something and everyone who does it differently is wrong.
Woodworking is full of different techniques, tools, materials, and approaches.
Someone who primarily uses hand tools might approach a project differently from someone using power tools.
A professional furniture maker might prioritize different things than a hobbyist building projects on weekends.
And someone using a CNC machine is going to have a different workflow from someone cutting everything by hand.
That doesn't automatically make one person right and the other wrong.
Of course, there are important standards when it comes to safety, structural integrity, and proper construction.
Not every method is equally safe or suitable.
But beyond those considerations, there's often more than one reasonable way to accomplish a task.
And I think woodworkers would be better off sharing knowledge instead of constantly arguing about whose method is superior.
The Problem With Woodworking Advice
Here's what I think a lot of bad woodworking advice has in common.
It takes something that might be true in one situation and presents it as a universal rule.
Maybe buying an expensive tool makes sense for someone running a professional shop.
Maybe traditional joinery is the best choice for a particular project.
Maybe selling cutting boards is profitable for a woodworker who has developed an efficient production process and a reliable customer base.
But that doesn't mean the same advice applies to everyone.
Context matters.
Your budget matters.
Your experience matters.
And the types of projects you enjoy building matter.
That's why I'd encourage beginners to be skeptical of advice that starts with words like "always," "never," or "every woodworker needs."
Sometimes those statements are useful safety rules.
But when it comes to tool purchases, joinery preferences, and woodworking business decisions, things are rarely that simple.
Learn From Others, But Figure Out What Works for You
One of the great things about woodworking is that there's always something new to learn.
And I think experienced woodworkers have a lot of valuable knowledge to share.
But you don't have to agree with every opinion you hear.
Ask questions.
Try different techniques.
Learn why something works instead of simply copying what someone else does.
And don't let somebody convince you that you need an expensive workshop or a particular collection of tools to enjoy woodworking.
At the end of the day, the goal is to build things safely, develop your skills, and enjoy the process.
The best woodworking advice helps you become a better woodworker. The worst advice makes you think there's only one way to get there.
Listen to The Scrap Pile
This article accompanies an episode of The Scrap Pile, a woodworking podcast from Rocky River Woodworks.
In this episode, I'm discussing some of the worst woodworking advice out there, why certain recommendations can be misleading, and what I think woodworkers should consider instead.
Listen to "The Worst Woodworking Advice I've Ever Heard"
What's the worst woodworking advice you've ever received?
Was it a tool recommendation, a woodworking technique, or something someone told you about making money from the hobby?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.