Woodworking is the skill of making items from wood, and includes cabinetry, furniture making, wood carving, joinery, carpentry, and woodturning.
Wooden house with wooden furniture, spinning wheel, loom and various tools
Artists can use woodworking to create delicate sculptures.
Ancient Egyptian woodworking
Damascene woodworkers turning wood for Mashrabiya and hookahs, 19th century
An adze or adz is an ancient and versatile cutting tool similar to an axe but with the cutting edge perpendicular to the handle rather than parallel. Adzes have been used since the Stone Age. They are used for smoothing or carving wood in hand woodworking, and as a hoe for agriculture and horticulture. Two basic forms of an adze are the hand adze —a short-handled tool swung with one hand—and the foot adze (hoe)—a long-handled tool capable of powerful swings using both hands, the cutting edge usually striking at foot or shin level. A similar tool is called a mattock, which differs by having two blades, one perpendicular to the handle and one parallel.
Native Alaskan boat builder using an adze
Contemporary stone adzes from New Guinea
19th century knowledge woodworking adze and axe
Micronesian of Tobi, Palau, making a paddle for his wa with an adze