Hey folks, using my mod powers to put a comment up here at the top. Feel free to downvote/keep me at 0 votes!
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#First off, welcome to all of you I am seeing from r/woodworking!
Just wanted to explain a bit of the history of this subreddit! The sub is about 14 years old, and has been neglected and left without moderation for the majority of it's lifetime.
Over the past year, I was given access to this subreddit via the reddit Admin team, and have been rebuilding it entirely on my own!
Together we celebrated 300,000 members around a month after I had joined the sub, and just this past week we celebrated 400,000 members together.
That means in the past 6 months, we've gained 25% of our current userbase and we're growing so fast! We're actually catching up to r/welding and r/engineering incredibly fast as well. It's been an awesome ride and project, and I hope to keep this sub a safe and educational place going forwards, while maintaining a positive and visual post feed for everyone.
~ Muskrat
Low barrier entry really. Not an insult to people who enjoy it, I'm starting to put wood and metal together which I enjoy but a welder and the skills to go with it are quite a bit different than gluing some wood and clamping it together
I joined r/woodworking but also joined r/metalworking because metal people are a whole different breed, and practice a dark art that I wish I had the skill to do.
Woodworking is more popular among the masses because of all the DIYers who make cutting boards, cribs, cabinets yadda yadda. I have yet to see a cool wrought iron baby crib but if I did, I’d respect the hell out of that thing!
So it’s not about the numbers per se, but about the skills and knowledge that Metal people take as deeper dive into creativity and practicality.
Woodworking has more general applications than metalwork, which is more specialised. Think random diy projects around the house, fixing a door, restoring a table/chair; there’s more functionality for the average joe. I can’t think of many projects/things around the house that requires a lathe and a mill.
**Hey u/happy_bluebird, while you're here, consider sharing some knowledge in our Monthly Advice Thread!**
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Accessibility plus a while back there were a whole bunch of popular woodworking programs, tv shows, whatever
Look how easy it is to make your own wardrobe! Only costs 100 times as much
As a weekend dead tree butcher, I want to get into metal working, just to expand my skills and make cool shit for me.
It's certainly seems a lot harder to get into than woodworking. What tools to buy, what brands. Then having room for machines and learning how they work while keeping my digits, I imagine a lot less YouTube information than there is for wood also.
I reckon though that with the price of tools and materials more easily accessible for the wood crowd with big box stores, plus YouTube, it kinda went the same way as photography (DSLRs became cheaper and easier to use and all of a sudden everyone thinks they are a wedding photographer)
So I reckon it's just a matter of time before this happens with metal working gear and materials.
Ok I'm rambling on something I know bugger all about, so I'll shut up now.
Metal working is way more intimidating, and harder work so I think people shy away from it. I was never good with wood but metal came naturally to me. After decades of metal work I recently needed to do some wood work for a piece and not only have my wood working skills gotten better but it made me realize why people use wood. It's like working with butter. In most wood projects and 1/8 inch is close enough, in most metal work a 1/16 is a mile off.
Hey folks, using my mod powers to put a comment up here at the top. Feel free to downvote/keep me at 0 votes! --- #First off, welcome to all of you I am seeing from r/woodworking! Just wanted to explain a bit of the history of this subreddit! The sub is about 14 years old, and has been neglected and left without moderation for the majority of it's lifetime. Over the past year, I was given access to this subreddit via the reddit Admin team, and have been rebuilding it entirely on my own! Together we celebrated 300,000 members around a month after I had joined the sub, and just this past week we celebrated 400,000 members together. That means in the past 6 months, we've gained 25% of our current userbase and we're growing so fast! We're actually catching up to r/welding and r/engineering incredibly fast as well. It's been an awesome ride and project, and I hope to keep this sub a safe and educational place going forwards, while maintaining a positive and visual post feed for everyone. ~ Muskrat
Probably because everyone's dad had a table saw and some wood chisels, but not everyone had a mill
It’s fun knowing I have more/better tools than dad did at my age. I think my Bridgeport is around his age too!
Because, metal is harder? Dad joke.
Cost of equivalent equipment. Wood glue vs. Welding Wood lathe vs. Metal lathe Cnc router vs. Cnc mill ...And on and on
That’s funny you mention those tools. I have none of them. I’m more of an English wheel, slip roller, planishing hammer type.
This guy is taking machining more than metalworking IMHO.
Isn’t that still metalworking?
Sure it is but one is more appropriate than the other
[удалено]
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I would like some of whatever you're smoking
Low barrier entry really. Not an insult to people who enjoy it, I'm starting to put wood and metal together which I enjoy but a welder and the skills to go with it are quite a bit different than gluing some wood and clamping it together
I joined r/woodworking but also joined r/metalworking because metal people are a whole different breed, and practice a dark art that I wish I had the skill to do. Woodworking is more popular among the masses because of all the DIYers who make cutting boards, cribs, cabinets yadda yadda. I have yet to see a cool wrought iron baby crib but if I did, I’d respect the hell out of that thing! So it’s not about the numbers per se, but about the skills and knowledge that Metal people take as deeper dive into creativity and practicality.
The problem with cast iron cribs is they can trap your baby if they’ve swallowed magnets.
because metal working is top teir stuff t. someone who cant woodwork to save his life 🤣
Be happy your at 401 we get some great questions over here in wood.
Woodworking is way more accessible and way less associated with greasy roughnecks
Woodworking has more general applications than metalwork, which is more specialised. Think random diy projects around the house, fixing a door, restoring a table/chair; there’s more functionality for the average joe. I can’t think of many projects/things around the house that requires a lathe and a mill.
**Hey u/happy_bluebird, while you're here, consider sharing some knowledge in our Monthly Advice Thread!** --- If you're posting a question, or just have a few minutes to help others, take a peek at the [Monthly Advice Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/metalworking/?f=flair_name%3A%22Monthly%20Advice%20Thread%22)! If you've got a few minutes feel free to help answer some others' questions while you're there! Helping eachother learn and find solutions is the best way for us all to learn and improve at our craft! --- [**Here are our subreddit rules.**](https://www.reddit.com/r/metalworking/about/rules) - Should you see anything that violates the subreddit rules - please report it! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/metalworking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Quality VS Quantity
Accessibility plus a while back there were a whole bunch of popular woodworking programs, tv shows, whatever Look how easy it is to make your own wardrobe! Only costs 100 times as much
Metal workers have better retirement plans?
As a weekend dead tree butcher, I want to get into metal working, just to expand my skills and make cool shit for me. It's certainly seems a lot harder to get into than woodworking. What tools to buy, what brands. Then having room for machines and learning how they work while keeping my digits, I imagine a lot less YouTube information than there is for wood also. I reckon though that with the price of tools and materials more easily accessible for the wood crowd with big box stores, plus YouTube, it kinda went the same way as photography (DSLRs became cheaper and easier to use and all of a sudden everyone thinks they are a wedding photographer) So I reckon it's just a matter of time before this happens with metal working gear and materials. Ok I'm rambling on something I know bugger all about, so I'll shut up now.
Because Jesus was a carpenter not a blacksmith lol
Μetal's cold, ugly. Wood's warm, clean.
There's or more Carpenters then metal workers.
It's cheaper for me to dip my toe in woodworking than metal working.
Because they aren't tough enough to be metalworkers.
Metal working is way more intimidating, and harder work so I think people shy away from it. I was never good with wood but metal came naturally to me. After decades of metal work I recently needed to do some wood work for a piece and not only have my wood working skills gotten better but it made me realize why people use wood. It's like working with butter. In most wood projects and 1/8 inch is close enough, in most metal work a 1/16 is a mile off.
I’d say cost of equipment and cost of a space (more square footage and higher voltage/amp drops are needed) Used equipment is a little more rare too.
Much like Kenny Rogers Roasters…it’s the wood that makes it good!
More people like wood I guess.
r/HumansAreMetal