Over the past several decades, woodworking has grown from a lowly Industrial art to a mainstream activity enjoyed by millions of people. Yet, despite the shifting demographics and all the new developments in tools and materials, the fundamentals of woodworking haven’t changed very much. To get an idea of what the future may hold, I asked our visitors to make some predictions: “What will woodworking be like fifty years from now?”
“I see genetically engineered trees, and endangered species will be a thing of the past. Titanium saw tables will be the rule of the day, and Intelligence will be built into tools to prevent accidents. New chemistry will give us ‘self-healing’ varnishes to seal scratches, and new adhesives will automatically blend with our materials. Even with all that, handwork and skill will be highly prized.”
“I see expense! With the prices of domestic hardwoods rising like gasoline, I hope solid wood construction does not become prohibitive for the weekend warrior.”
“Due to massive infighting between the two political parties over how to cut energy costs, hand tools will become the ‘in’ thing. Some woodworkers will have solar cells in their shop. Wood will come mostly from Russia. People with hand skills will be in big demand.” “
The good: Logging practices will assure sustained availability; tools will automate the craft to where less skill is needed and safety is enhanced; and people will still be actively working wood into their 80s. The bad: Wood dust will be listed as a carcinogen, and anyone who ever generated wood dust will be sued and denied insurance.”
“I believe that we will have many more tools, and they will be less expensive. CNC and other technologies will be more common, enabling accuracy and speed for anyone. However, working with hand tools will be a mark of pride.”
“I see more privately owned schools opening to teach woodwork. ing, as insurance costs force public schools to drop it.”
“In 50 years, the wood products manufacturing process will be accomplished with ultra-lightweight, intelligent kinematic robots that are more versatile, less costly, and more accurate than the heavy metal dumb brutes we’re using today. The artisan will continue to use the chisel, hand plane, and sanding block.”
“God will still be growing trees, albeit on ground we haven’t paved yet. Continued high stress jobs will demand continuation of woodworking hand skills, providing personal pockets of sanity in a crazier world than we now live in.”
“It won’t matter how tools evolve, there will still be woodworkers with missing digits.”
“I’m sure people will still be looking for the best way to sharpen their chisels and plane irons even 100 years from now. New technologies will increase productivity, speed, and accuracy, but someone will still need to know how to put all of that to the best use.”
“…real woodworkers will have shucked the modern marvel jigs, machines, and step-savers most of us have fallen for. No modern machine in my arsenal can come close to the surface produced by my finely tuned, 80-year-old Bailey #7 jointer plane.”
“Computer technology will change everything. We’ll be able to view and manipulate a 3-D holograph of a china cabinet, even presenting full-scale custom designs to a client on site. It will look like the real thing, as long as no one puts any china on the shelves!”
“Power tools will still be behind the technology curve, good wood will be as expensive as it is now, and there will be less free time. But, the joy, the sense of accomplishment, and the ‘built-for-my-kid’s-kids’ motivation will still be there.”
“Gee, do you suppose… table saws will have an arbor lock for safer blade changing, consumer grade shop equipment horsepower specs will be in real HP, cordless tool batteries will last longer than 20 discharge cycles, and bulky home shop machinery will fold up when not in use?”
“Batteries will be replaced by fuel cells using enriched alcohol-based fuel. Ceramic blades will replace carbide. Big tool motors will be variable frequency AC with 90%+ efficiency because of high energy costs. Energy credits will be issued by the government with daily allotments for use.”
“In 50 years, the line between home-shop and industrial equipment will blur and disappear; the buying public will continue to lose its ability to discern quality from junk, hence more junk; finishing materials will come in a thin roll and be applied by heat; museums will proudly display shake shingles, wood matches, and toothpicks.”
“My personal wish is modest — an affordable drill press designed for woodworking, to replace those misfit tools from the metal shop now foisted on us.”
“Fifty years from now, I will finally be finishing up the projects currently being added to my ‘to-do’ list.”
What are your thoughts on this? Add your comments below!