6 Intermediate Woodworking Projects for Learning Woodworkers

Start building with inspiration from these projects made with a moderate skill level

Want to build great woodworking projects but don't have a ton of experience? 

That's okay! Everyone is always learning and you've already accumulated a lot of knowledge from your previous projects. So let's put that knowledge to use and learn about some great woodworking projects for those at an intermediate skill level.

These projects vary on scale and complexity, but most can be accomplished with the right materials and just a few hours of hard work, whether you're working with basic starter equipment or more specialized machinery like a portable sawmill.

So let's learn more about the best intermediate woodworking projects to inspire you:

Live-Edge Slab Bench

Courtesy of Lucky Stand Lucky from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Live-edge slabs can be gorgeous, and using a "folded" design that continues the live edge across corners can lead to breathtaking results.

Whether for outdoor furniture or the center-piece of your foyer or mudroom, a live-edge bench like this is sure to stand out. Complicated due to the angle cuts you need to make to get accurate straight corners and maintain its squareness, this is a great project to take on if you have some live-edge slabs and are looking for something unique to make with them.

Slab Picnic Bench

Courtesy of Greg K. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Made with slabs milled on his Woodland Mills HM126 Portable Sawmill, Greg's live-edge slab picnic bench stands out due to the coloration and patterns of the wood grain. While this might seem like an easy project, the underlying structure which needs to support multiple peoples' weight is more complicated than you might think.

But with beautiful results you can't deny that an impressive project like this would demonstrate how much you've grown as a woodworker or carpenter.

Blended Wood Table

Courtesy of Chris S. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Want to make your project stand out? Have different cuts of scrap wood from different projects you want to put to use?

Chris' table is made from a few different cuts, and the difference between those pieces creates a jaw-dropping aesthetic. The legs were also milled from old telephone poles, giving them an aged look that makes it stand out. Finding woodworking plans online won't get you anything like this, which came up purely from Chris' imagination and the wood he had laying around from his HM126 Portable Sawmill.

Custom Wood Stairs

Courtesy of Cedar Edge from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Want to put your measuring skills to the test? Stairs can be a difficult but rewarding project because of their requirements: they need to be deep enough to comfortably walk up or down, but can't be too high or low. Many places have very specific dimensional requirements for stairs too.

So it might be worth trying your hand at doing a project that requires stairs. Put those power tools to use and draw up some designs. It won't be your first project, but something to build up to as you get more comfortable building.

Epoxy Resin Table

Courtesy of Karlos A. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Epoxy is an incredibly popular material, great for charcuterie boards to live-edge tables and much, much more. It makes use of reclaimed wood and lets the imperfections in the material shine.

Karlos' epoxy table is an excellent example, filling the gap inside the table and suspending nuts and pinecones inside to give it a natural feel. A lot of people go for bright colors when using epoxy, but this example is fantastic because it lets the natural coloration of the wood shine.

You can do one of these suspended epoxy projects with anything, from ornamental cutting boards to floating shelves, tables or desks. Give it a try and share the results!

Wooden Rocking Chair

Courtesy of Wally K. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook Group.

Rocking chairs used to be a staple in most peoples' homes, but have fallen out of fashion in recent decades.

Bring back rocking chairs with this relaxed design that Wally made, that makes a great chair for lying down and relaxing on the back patio or by the pool. Milled with lumber from his HM130MAX Portable Sawmill, it's an awesome design that's both functional and comfortable.

What should I build for my next intermediate-level woodworking project?

Need more ideas for what you want to try next? Some more ideas you could try include:

• • A wardrobe or dresser with adjustable shelves, great for spouses with a lot of clothes

  • Picture frames, excellent gifts for special occasions

  • Small boxes for storing toys for your children or grandchildren

  • Adirondack chairs have a lot of complicated angles but lead to a very comfy seat

What tools should I have for this stage of my woodworking journey?

Look at your workshop and see what tools you're missing, or what ones could speed up your processes.

• • A table saw or miter saw are useful, but do you need any other saws to make cuts more convenient?

  • A portable sawmill is great for milling lumber, excellent for making custom dimensions.

  • Need a way to sharpen your bandsaw blades? Consider a bandsaw blade sharpener like the RS30 PRO to get your blade edges sharp fast.

  • Build any shop furniture you need yourself, like a new work bench or seating.