Are you a "Self Taught Woodworker"?
On one of my walks I ended up thinking about this. Language and its intent interests me. The term "Self taught" was playing tricks with my mind. Being a professional I don't use the term (more on that later). It's a label many home woodworkers apply to themselves. Sometimes as a badge of pride, sometimes to self deprecate. I kept thinking and I tumbled down the rabbit hole. Truly being self taught to me would be having no prior knowledge of woodworking. No access to books videos or magazines. No instruction manuals, plans or a family member to guide. I then thought, even our tools are highly evolved vessels of knowledge. Even the timber we use, in the majority of cases, is prepared fit for us to process. Should we take it right back and stare up at tree and wonder, what do I do with this? Is starting with a tree self taught? Clearly not.
When I got back I looked up the meaning of self taught to ease my mind. "Having acquired knowledge or skill on one's own initiative rather than through formal instruction or training." Okay I thought. But anyone who's completed any type of education from primary school, apprenticeship or university study knows that you don't get far without initiative. It's not as if you sit in a class and just absorb information like a computer downloading a new operating system. If it was that easy, I wonder if I would be typing this piece now.
If I reflect on my own situation I can see I've had the opportunity to do both. The self taught and the formal route. Is it odd that the further away I get from my apprenticeship the less use it seems? Don't be fooled by the term apprenticeship. It sounds good, sounds reassuring, a quality from a bygone age even. But it's not essential. In the professional world it's about verifying someone can reach a standard. Just because you completed a formal apprenticeship, it doesn't make you a master (that's a discussion for another day). It doesn't even mean that your work is even that good. You did enough to get signed off.
When I did my apprenticeship there was the opportunity to undertake joinery or carpentry. Or if you wanted to, you could do both. I chose both. That's not showing off, it wasn't double the work. It's remarkable how wood trades overlap, so evidence in one would contribute to the other. But I can't deny, there was more effort and initiative required. I had both done within the three years. My reward? The same pass that everyone else got. No mention of extra effort or the quality of my work just "my papers". My qualification was worth the same as someone who just made it over the line. I did receive a couple of awards. I got a nice big trophy two years in a row with a mini one to keep for the rest of my days. I have no idea where they are now although my parents have photos of me receiving the awards.
Because I got my work done before others (mainly because I got on with it, not because I'm gifted) I would be offered other jobs. Myself and an apprentice with a similar outlook to me made a pair of garden benches. I borrowed the van from work and delivered them to the client, an employee of the College. I enjoyed making the benches and they looked good. Those benches also taught me about people. We weren't thanked for our work, I wasn't offered money for my fuel, not even a drink after delivery. I made clear to my lecturer my disappointment and learned a valuable lesson. Make sure you define what you expect from your client or customer. You can never assume. You know the saying? Never assume, it makes an ass out of you and me. I have plenty more apprentice stories that will be great to share.
If I'm honest, If acquiring knowledge or skill on one's own initiative is the measure of self taught, I'm more self taught that trained. Learn to sharpen a handsaw properly? Thank you Jim Kingshotte and your pocket reference book on sharpening. You made it clear when all videos and other sources failed to make the grade. Getting the most from my hand plane? David Weaver and Warren Mickley from woodworking forums, they have information that totally eclipses the tripe you see from most sources. Get the most from a band saw? Fine Woodworking! They made it easy to understand the key points and in Michael Fortune's video it's all info and no sales. Perfect! I could list more but you get the picture.
Ultimately this rabbit hole is not productive. But self taught? Who isn't? The real learning starts when we take responsibility for our actions, look to improve, be more productive and look after our safety. I think most of us woodworkers are ultimately all self taught and are all the better for it.