Welcome! I’m Ram, a long-time tech worker based in Surrey, UK, who decided to step away from the keyboard and pick up a chisel for a hobby.
After spending over 30 years in software and IT, I felt a growing pull toward something tactile—a desire to create physical things with my own hands instead of sitting in front of screens all day.
How It All Began
My dive into craft didn’t start with a master plan. In fact, I spent weeks stuck in research paralysis, debating between clay throwing, glass making, horology, drawing, painting, and woodworking. Why did woodworking ultimately win? I don’t really have a neat answer. A little bird inside simply nudged me toward the timber.
That nudge led me to enroll in the Woodwork – Beginners and Improvers course through Surrey Adult Learning at The Henrietta Parker Trust (HPT) Workshop. Going in, I was genuinely apprehensive. I wasn’t sure what to expect regarding quality, depth, or the level of engagement required.
Instead, I found a purpose-built, wonderfully equipped space designed to foster both traditional craft skills and personal wellbeing. That course officially launched my journey into woodworking.
My Workspace
You won’t find a £10,000 workshop or industrial cast-iron machinery here. My workspace is a typical UK residential garage.
The saying “small drops make an ocean” is really true when it comes to building a workspace. Over the past few years, I have slowly gathered small tools one piece at a time—primarily sourced through quick B&Q runs, Screw-fix, Amazon orders, Gumtree finds, and a few hidden gems picked up at summer car boot and flea-market sales.
Instead of dropping big money on a fancy workbench, I pressed an old IKEA kitchen table into service. My starter toolkit was pieced together on a modest budget of around £150–£160, focusing on the essentials: Japanese pull saws, a basic set of chisels, waterstones, and a pack of trusty G-clamps.
And when it comes to flattening or thicknessing large pieces of timber, I don’t buy heavy machinery—I simply rent a few hours of shop time at professional workshops.
The reality check? Even with budget discipline, woodworking takes real investment.
The fact of the matter is that even after carefully controlling my spending, I’ve still invested a considerable amount of money getting to this point. When you stack up the essential safety gear, course fees, workshop memberships, timber, consumables like glues and sandpaper, sharpening gear, and tool upkeep, the costs quietly add up. It’s a real investment of both time and money, but every pound spent learning a tactile skill feels far more rewarding than leaving it on a spreadsheet.
I am a true “Beginner Maker,” learning step-by-step through trial, error, and plenty of scrap timber.
Why This Blog Exists
Woodworking YouTube and social media are filled with experts crafting flawless, museum-quality furniture in dream workshops. This blog is the exact opposite of that: it’s the raw, unvarnished reality of starting from scratch.
Here, I document the real journey:
- The Missteps & Gaps: Splintered pine end-grain, saw cuts that shot past depth lines, and miter joint boxes that required a few rounds in the bin before holding shape.
- The Practical Lessons: Figuring out workholding on a budget, discovering why razor-sharp chisels matter more than perfect bevel angles, and working within compact spaces.
- The Small Victories: Turning reclaimed bed slats into usable step stools and watching raw timber turn into something functional.
- The Living Glossary: Compiling a personal dictionary of every tool, timber term, and technical phrase I run into—documenting not just textbook definitions, but the actual first-hand bench impressions and hard-won lessons behind them.
Join the Journey
Whether you are a fellow tech worker longing for a hands-on outlet, a beginner setting up your own garage corner, or an experienced maker willing to offer a bit of wisdom to an apprentice, I’m glad you’re here.
Feel free to follow along, drop a comment on my latest mistakes, or share your own experience or advice!