When the time comes for retirement, many try to take up a hobby to keep themselves occupied and free from boredom. For those who are crafty and enjoy working with their hands, carpentry is a great way to get into it. However, before you blindly dive into it, a bit of research is needed to make sure it's something that will pique your interest. Otherwise, starting will become a big waste of time. To be able to understand and develop basic knowledge in carpentry, you need to become familiar with what carpentry is, the different techniques used and the numerous tools involved. Beginners may wonder, what exactly is carpentry? Carpentry can be described as “a broad range of woodworking activities that includes the construction of buildings, furniture, and other wooden objects” (Harris 3). It is one of the oldest professions and has existed since the late 17th century (“Carpentry”). Carpentry is made up of four main areas of concentration: rough carpentry, ships, trim and finishes. Rough carpentry is intended for large-scale structural work such as framing, formwork and roofing. Naval carpentry deals exclusively with the construction and maintenance of ships. Falegnameria Rifiniture develops moldings and finishes for windows and doors. Finished carpentry includes parquet, joinery, cabinet making, tool carving, furniture making and fine woodwork. It is also the area dedicated to hobbyists and beginners. Some would suggest that “there is a seductive power to wood” in carpentry and “it takes an artist to design it with elegant contours, burnished grain, and silky textures” (Whiteley 128). Within each concentrated area of ​​joinery there are many techniques and specialist areas. It takes a true craftsman to make some of these, such as inlay and parquet. Both involve the middle of the paper before gluing the pieces together. Sanders are also used for this purpose and help in the "finishing process" (Barret 106). For carving purposes, a combination of rasp and shaping file are needed. When it comes to carpentry, special tools such as doweling jigs and marking calipers are used for layout and alignment. Two simple but important tools needed are clamps and whetstones to hold and maintain sharp tools. While you may start carpentry as a hobby, it can lead to a promising career due to the variety of specialties. It “has often been respected for its importance in society throughout much of history” (Harris 3). When considering whether to take up carpentry as a hobby, make sure you understand what it entails, its specialties and the types of tools used. Once this is achieved, there is no telling what can be done or built in the art of carpentry.