20 Best (Completely Addictive) DIY Woodworkers on YouTube

Woodworking is a very interesting craft to watch, and there’s something amazing about seeing a great woodworker build something from scratch out of a piece of lumber.

Even if you’re not a woodworker, or you are a beginner just getting started and learning the ins and outs of the craft, or you have been working with wood for many years, watching great woodworking videos on YouTube is an excellent way to learn about making different pieces, and maybe inspire you for your next project.

I’d like to draw your focus to 20 amazing YouTube woodworking channels that are worth checking out and subscribing to for their amazing work. Have an addition for our list, comment below. I promise to respond to all of them.

01. Frank Howarth

The work that Frank Howarth does is absolutely enchanting. It’s not the best channel to learn from if you’re a beginner, but it’s still worth following for everyone interested in woodworking simply to admire the beautiful work that he does. Regardless of what he’s making, from a bookshelf to a wooden phone case, the pieces are always very artfully created, and all of it is done with incredible film-making skills and stop-motion work. Even for those that have never watched a woodworking video, this is a must-see channel to subscribe to.

02. John Heisz

John Heisz is based in Canada, and his work is a lot more accessible than Frank Howarth, but no less visually stunning. Some of his videos are absolutely crazy, but his channel is worth subscribing to simply because it’s so approachable and useful, from novice-level instructions for no-measuring methods to making your own tools. His videos have a very informal feel to them, and he really engages with his viewers to make each video very interesting.

03. Jay Bates

Jay Bates is the go-to YouTube channel for novice woodworkers that want to learn more about the craft. His work is extremely accessible, regardless of whether you have the tools and knowledge. His choice of techniques, his tools, and even his friendly and easy to follow presentation style are all extremely appealing to watch. Jay Bates understands that the biggest obstacle in woodworking for those starting out isn’t the work itself but it’s in the planning stages. When you first start out, you’re unsure about the process. For example, if you want to make a wooden iPhone case, you have to figure out how to make the wooden phone case you want to make, what tools and materials will be needed, and how much to buy. Therefore, Jay has a whole series of tutorials on planning projects for woodworking called SketchUp.

04. GarageWoodworks

GarageWoodworks is run by Brian Grella, who actually has a PhD in medicinal chemistry. On this channel, you’ll find an interesting mix of atmospheric videos that don’t really have much in the way of explanations, but also some excellent woodworking videos that break down the how-to aspect of making different items, like a stunning wooden bowl created with only a router and a drill press. Novice woodworkers will appreciate this channel for its excellent guides to different projects.

05. HomeMadeModern

The HomeMade Modern site is actually a commercial, but it’s fantastic as it showcases that commercials don’t have to be annoying to viewers. This channel is run by a tool company called Ryobi, but instead of making a channel with commercials about its tools, it’s a fantastic woodworking DIY source. The videos are produced professionally in a similar fashion to “authentic” YouTube DIY woodworker channels, but they’re all explained clearly and easy to follow for beginners. The style of the videos makes this a great channel to subscribe to, and the bonus is that all the projects shown in the videos require only standard tools to make, nothing complicated.

06. Jimmy Diresta

Jimmy Diresta is a talented woodworker who can create everything and anything, and he has a very distinctive and original video style. They are extremely meditative and it’s interesting to watch his creations take form under your eyes. His tool of choice is the bandsaw and he has used many different materials successfully. Also interesting, he seems to love branding every possible surface with his name and has placed it strategically all over his work. Jimmy Diresta will be the first person to say that his videos aren’t instructional, they’re entertainment, and it’s absolutely important to accept that, because he does not always follow the best woodworking safety practices in his shop.

07. The Wood Whisperer

This woodworker has been active on YouTube for many years now and has amazing videos to watch, both free and paid content. He has a lot of video tutorials, such as magazine racks, wooden iPhone cases, and much more. What’s great about his channel is that all of his projects have a purpose, like making a wooden phone case, but he uses that purpose to showcase many different techniques you can use on other projects in the future. The Wood Whisperer, known as Marc J. Spagnuolo, is extremely knowledgeable and entertaining to watch. With a background in tech, his videos are extremely well made and high quality. Although not all the content is free, there’s enough on there that will get you well on your way to improving your woodworking abilities. The Wood Whisperer.

08. Woodworking for Engineers

This is a Canadian website, not YouTube channel, but it’s a great one to follow because you will learn how to build so many useful things such as a stand-up laptop table. This format is different because they’re not actually videos, but more of a presentation slide approach, where each step will be represented by a single image and detailed text instructions and links. This is actually easier to browse and look through the site, but the downside is that there’s less visual information than you would get in a traditional video like those on the rest of this list. There is some video content like useful tutorials, but it’s not the primary means of instruction. Woodworking for Engineers is really for those that want to be inspired to make something other than typical home furniture and is full of geeky wooden contraptions, such as the laptop table, an adding machine, or a phone case made of wood.

09. Steve Ramsey

Steve Ramsey, also known by the channel name Woodworking for Mere Mortals, is a very entertaining woodworker to watch. There’s a big community of users around this channel, and because of that a lot of information floating around. The design isn’t the best of those on this list, but it may be one of the most instructive. He also really engages his viewers in his projects which is exciting, and will often post things that are fun or engaging, not all about projects.

10. I Like To Make Stuff

This channel, simply called I Like To Make Stuff, is all about tinkering around in the work shop and trying different things, from working on a controlled dust collection to building bookcases with secret doors. This channel is all about coming up with cool ideas for building stuff and then showing the process behind making it happen. If you want to be inspired for your next project, or you just like seeing inventors at work and the creative process behind their ideas, this is the right channel for you.

11. Drunken Woodworker

This woodworker has extremely high standards for his work, loves to share his craft with others and explain how to make different objects, and also happens to really enjoy his beer. Many people will relate to these videos for these reasons and he is very popular. His approach to woodworking is very accessible and easy to understand for all viewers, and he comes up with amazing finished products, curved inlays, and more. Drunken Woodworker.

12. Brian Oltrogge

Brian Oltrogge Channel. This addition on our list comes from Johnny Elkstrom, a popular lifestyle editor at 1 Day 2 Write and Next Coursework. An ardent supporter of Brian Oltrogge’s work, Elkstrom says that “this guy isn’t limited to just woodworking, but all kinds of DIY work. If your interests expand beyond woodworking to metal work, leather work, casting and 3D printing, this is the channel for you. Brian Oltrogge is a genius when it comes to make prototypes then build something.”

13. Darbin Orvar

Linn’s channel, unlike others on this list, is more focused on industrial projects although she does a mix of everything. Quality work is very important to her so none of the videos have any short cuts. She has videos showing projects ranging from tool boxes to knives, lamps, note books, or iPhone cases. This is definitely the channel to watch for inspiration as there is such a wide diversity of projects showcased here.

14. Chris Salomone

This highly understated channel has produced some absolutely magnificent projects, and all the videos are narrated and full of important details, including how to choose products to the right methods to use when making your project. You definitely won’t be confused or left wanting after watching his work.

15. Get Hands Dirty

Another female woodworker, Cristiana from Portugal, is a must-watch artist on YouTube. She has such a wide range of DIY projects including tech, woodwork, and metalwork. This is the place to check out to see true innovation and creation at work. You’ll see that her favorite project is one that creates an exciting and different solution to everyday problems that people have.

16. Ishitani Furniture

This channel showcases absolutely mind-blowing levels of craftsmanship by hand, without tools. This woodworker’s shop, methods, and his personal flair and style all capture the old-fashioned method of hand crafting pieces. Everything he does shows his love and respect for the craft, down to his beautiful and immaculate shop.

17. April Wilkerson

This step-by-step channel is the one to follow when you have some major home improvement projects on your to-do list, as she will explain how to get through them one step at a time to avoid overwhelming viewers. She’s a great host and there’s no shortage of projects and inspiration on this platform.

18. The Samurai Carpenter

Arts blogger Jonathan Thureau, well known for his articles at Write My X and Brit Student, his favorite YouTube woodworking channel is the Samurai Carpenter. As Thureau shares, “this woodworker mostly creates wood projects but will also sometimes release something showing stone or metal work which is also high quality. This is a great channel for getting new ideas for interesting projects like wooden phone cases or other little wooden gadgets.”

19. KRTWOOD

This man is more than a woodworker, he’s a pure artist. He is a professional woodworker by trade, but this channel is all about his personal projects which he does on the side for fun. The videos are a bit more difficult than others to follow if you’re a beginner, but it’s worth subscribing simply for the fun and wonder of seeing what he’s able to create and give you something to aspire to.

20. Izzy Swan

Izzy Swan is more of an inventor than a woodworker, and his channel is absolutely mesmerising to watch as his projects come to life before your very eyes. Although some of the videos just show the progress of his creation, many of them are step by step guides that anyone can follow along with. Subscribe to this one channel right away.

There are so many DIY videos and woodworking tutorials on YouTube, some of which are also incredible, but we couldn’t mention them all here, so we had to choose our 20 favorite artists.

Carpentry and woodworking videos are the best way to truly see the different opportunities that exist with wood. Until social media and YouTube, craftsmanship and woodworking was a dying art, but now people can document and share the amazing creations that they make.

Whether you’re interested in learning how to make a wooden iPhone case, a canoe, new furniture for your home, or you just want to watch artists at work, these YouTube channels are the perfect place to start!

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About the Author

20 Best (Completely Addictive) DIY Woodworkers on YouTube

Joel Syder, an all-around handyman, writes for Dissertation Help and PhD Kingdom. He loves writing about his creations to help others tune in to their artistic side and sharing his latest project ideas. You can find more of his work at Academic Brits.

Cover Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash