Choosing A Woodworking Power Tools Online Forum
Although you can learn many things from trial and error, how to best operate your woodworking power tools is not one of them. You need to have some sort of instruction before you can safely use such dangerous equipment. Although you've read the instructions backwards and forwards, you probably still have some questions. Joining an online woodworking power tools forum can help you get the answers you are seeking from people who have been in the same position as yourself.
It Should Be Free
If you are a beginner to woodworking power tools, then there is not need to pay to join a woodworking online forum. Paid forums are generally looked on as a scam by the online community. There are some woodworking forums that are part of an invitation-only membership or is a perk from joining a woodworking guild or association. But there are more than enough free online woodworking power tools forums for you to choose from.
It Should Be Active
You should be able to see when the last post was put onto the forum. Ideally, there should be posts from today. At the most, the posts should be only one week old. This indicates that the woodworking power tools forum has an active community that often checks in on the conversations and questions asked. You don't want to post a lot of questions and never get any answer.
It Should Be Reasonably Polite
Any online forum is going to attract certain elements that have nothing better to do with their lives but start flame wars and toss around insults. You can't help but find some nastiness on any forum. But if you check out a few threads on the forum that always seems to have foul language, insults, racial slurs or anything like that, then this indicates that the forum is not well moderated. Find another.
It Should Be For Your Level Of Experience
You should be able top read several threads (conversation topics) on woodworking power tools forums with out having to join. (You do need to join if you wish to comment). There should be sections for "newbies" as well as more experienced woodworkers. By getting a taste of the type of threads being posted, you can quickly determine if there are other people who are at the same level of woodworking that you are.
Be sure to read the FAQ and any Terms of Service before joining, just so you know what is expected of you and what topics of conversation are not allowed on the forum. And have fun.
