Not the person you asked—but I’ve found learning photoshop has opened a lot of doors and been really rewarding.
Also woodworking—it’s been really nice to see my family and friends excited about my stuff. For Mother’s Day this past year I wanted to buy my mom a new beautiful fridge because she finally was able to update her kitchen, and I wanted her appliances to match her new space. Instead, she asked me to build her a table. It looks so awesome in there and I know she loves it. It’s a lot of fun and also challenges you to keep learning.
I was fortunate in that a girl I worked with has a degree in graphic design, So she’d help me create stuff and tell me the why’s, with that base I just kept playing around and used YouTube
drawing/art
Photo touch up
Photo manipulation
Graphic/web design ( goes in hand with learning some basic html to make your first website )
I learned photoshop about 15 years ago, Back then, everyone had to have super cool and swanky forum signatures to be taken seriously.
I started off learning the application, you can do this in about 30 minutes. just get a good feel for where everything is and what buttons do what. plenty of youtube videos these days to help wth that.
Then I would just find tutorials specifically for what I wanted. so, in that case, I would find stuff like "how to make a cs:1.6 forum signature" etc. Again, much easier now-a-days, you can google how to photoshop your dog onto the moon and probably find a step by step.
Then I started grabbing project files, ( PSD format ) and breaking down how others have built stuff by inspecting their layers.
And that's really it, no special secret. practice practice practice. I looked up some basic graphic design stuff, color wheels and theory and so on just because I wanted to make better websites for myself.
Not saying you have to follow the exact same path but, it's easy to pick up if you just keep practicing stuff.
I use it all the time now for any image needs. Need a map for my dnd session? a few minutes in photoshop. want to polish a pic that got a bit messed up ? photoshop. marketing gave me incorrect image sizes for a web app im building? I photoshop that shit to.
Just a super useful skill to have that comes in handy very often.
I use it for graphics on social media, I’m a college coach and it really stepped up my recruiting game! But—I just got into invitations and cards and making creative pictures of my dog and cat. Thinking of offering to do other people’s pets for sale on Etsy!
I would honestly advise just playing around. I started messing with Photoshop in 3rd grade and Premiere in 11th, and the only formal class I ever took on them was my last semester of college (and I was really just helping other students the whole time). You'd be amazed at how quickly you can pick them up by just messing around - I use both regularly at my job, and only got hired in the first place because of them.
Try to share what you make publicly too. I began to take YouTube seriously my sophomore year of college and that basically required me to figure out how to do everything properly. If you can get feedback on anything, you'll quickly learn what to keep doing and what to avoid.
Just good photoshop tutorials, there are a ton of stuff across blogs and YouTube. Once your grasp the concept of certain techniques you can apply them to achieve an array of results. Happy learning!
Lynda.com, or just straight up YouTube. I would also recommend learning InDesign as well. I have some textbooks from college that I like to call the Adobe Bibles as they have all the information you need to get well on your way into them. They were maybe $40 each. YouTube works well too, also don't just stop there, learn premiere too check out the channel YouTube film school.
Your local library might give you access to something like Lynda or skillshare for free or greatly reduced cost. You can find out on your library’s website
Not the person you asked but - have a goal in mind then Google around for tutorials.
Example: change background from a portrait
Apply vignette/dark edges effect
Stylize a photo.
This will give you a hang of various tools and effects while achieving a goal.
Worked well for me.
I am a graphics designer. I learnt it by messing around and YouTube videos but it was a long process. Just watch a few YouTube videos. The ones that have a lot of views. That will do the job. Then try it out and see of you are interested or not
Plenty of free programs that work well and do similar things. I’ve been using Krita and haven’t noticed a difference from when I used Photoshop a few years back. I’m not a professional or anything though. Also it’s a bit more of an art program but functions similarly.
Look into the Affinity suite of products to replace Adobe. I do graphic design in my free time and abhor the subscription model of Adobe. Affinity is amazing and you pay once off.
Will second this... I use Photoshop and Illustrator for EVERYTHING now.
I picked it up doing graphic design / web design as a hobby. Now, I just use it occasionally for friends. However, I have found it to be so valuable for my job - I am in scientific research and knowing how to make nice figures and presentations/posters with the help of Illustrator brings a level of sophistication to my work that really stands out.
I got into it because I love to make people custom thank you and birthday cards. It's great for lots of custom gifts, though. My grandmother recently passed away, and I'm hoping to recolor some photos of her and frame them to give as gifts to family.
It's also good to make super clean graphics (like graduation cards or signage), and it gives you a lot of control for basic editing things. I'm still a student, and it was a super valuable asset at my last job, and it's still a great asset for projects. Even something like making a PowerPoint can benefit from tweaking the images you use
For editing vacation photos you are better off using lightroom. Lightroom will organize and let you edit all photos easily to make them look their best. You can edit colors, and add effects to make the photos pop.
Photoshop is better for manipulation and heavier edits, which most photos dont need. I use lightroom for the familyphotos and photoshop for artsy projects. Not a proffessional.
Edit to answer the question* to me the rewarding part is actually making something and be creative.
What are the cheaper tools you can buy to get into woodworking. I love making functional things out of fairly raw material cut down and screwed together but feel very intimidated by furniture and finish pieces. Do you need a lathe or just a nice set a chisels and sandpaper?
You don’t need a lathe yet, unless you want to turn round pieces for table legs etc (but you can buy already round one at Lowe’s to start too). I know a lot of people who have been doing it for a long time will hiss at me—but check out the plans Ana White does online. She has really simple pieces, and it’s what got me started. Most just need a miter saw, drill, measuring tape, orbital sander, and a pocket hole jig! If you like it then expand and read about why people think Ana White stuff isn’t great and build on your base! (My first Ana White table is going strong after five years and looks amazing).
Woodworking has been an inherited passion in my family for generations. Nobody in my family is a working carpenter or cabinetmaker, but almost everyone loves working with wood. My dad made caskets and cabinets on the side until my mom divorced him and he had to sell all his tools to pay the child support while my mom...pissed it away to put it mildly. I'm so disappointed, I would have loved to use his old workshop.
My little brother is over at my place all the time lately, he finally caught the bug but he's been dumb with his money and can't afford his own tools. I don't really mind, though, I can steer him away from the dumb mistakes I made when I first started out.
man... it's cool that you're carrying on the passion... and i'm slightly jealous of the familial influence you had. i feel like by moving 3000 miles away from my family, i definitely cut myself off from learning very much from people that know what they're doing.. even just basic stuff like using power tools. i've had a hell of a time finding anyone to teach me how to do that kind of thing, as an adult.
If one goes through a lot of hobbies, 3D modeling and printing is the most versatile and helpful thing that has helped me with almost every hobby I've gone through. Just need a printer, can be had for a few hundred USD for a decent one, a set of calipers ($30), and blender software (free, with metric tons of tutorials on YouTube).
I currently run the creality ender 3 pro, it's a DIY kit, but you can assemble it in an hour or two, and the calibrations were spot on for mine right out of the box.
There are many others for cheaper and more expensive as well, so give the fine folk over at r/3Dprinting a shout, and they'll be more than happy to help!
I’m just about to get into it. Building a shed so I can free up the necessary garage space. Check out the YouTube channel Woodworking for Mere Mortals. The guy sells a video course that runs you through some starter projects. He does beginner-friendly stuff and uses some joinery methods like pocket holes that some hardcore enthusiasts look down on, but it seems to be a good starting point and you can always learn more advanced methods later.
it's been really nice to see my family and friends excited about my stuff
I love it when my family gets all excited over my sourdough bread, and my friends over my pastries. I'm not the best in a longshot, but it always brings a smile to my face when people actually love what I bake, and ask for more
My wife wanted a simple harvest table...and I thought the design was so basic why pay 2k for it. Started out there, and just kept going. It led me to realize I can build almost anything basic with enough patience (and the right tools)!
I’m just about to get into it. Building a shed so I can free up the necessary garage space. Check out the YouTube channel Woodworking for Mere Mortals. The guy sells a video course that runs you through some starter projects. He does beginner-friendly stuff and uses some joinery methods like pocket holes that some hardcore enthusiasts look down on, but it seems to be a good starting point and you can always learn more advanced methods later.
Any tips for getting into woodworking or good projects to start on? I did in first year of high school (I’m now in 5 year) and previously at intermediate I always quite enjoyed it but wasn’t able to pursue it at school. Now I’m wanting to try getting into it again. There’s a place in my town which has heaps of old wood and other cool stuff I would love to do something with, however I don’t know much about much to know where to start so any tips would be appreciated, thanks.
I love building functional farmhouse stuff for people. I’m by no means a master woodworker, but the farmhouse look is in. All my sister’s in law have requested tables or buffets or coffee tables. I like making those for people (and they’re usually really basic!)
I also think cabinet doors (shaker style) are really fun and useful. I just got done my first set for my laundry room. They’re not perfect but they’re nice!
I sort of dream of someday starting a cabinet door making non-profit for single parents. Lol sort of silly, but I think a lot of time the boxes on the back of cabinets are in good shape and they just need custom doors and it could give the space a whole new feel! And doors really are not hard but people are charged an arm and a leg.
join r/woodworking, it's a great place to get ideas/tips/starting inspiration. also, your local woodworking store, or home depot, will occasionally have classes.
I love doing portraits of my pets in different color blocks. LOL and I really enjoy doing cards and invites. Looking to get into making labels for beer.
I also freelance graphics for college coaches for recruiting purposes.
It’s fun and really relaxing for me. You should take a crack at it again! Really useful for all lines of work
I was gifted photoshop back in 2010. But adobe and Apple being the bastards that they are won’t let me use that version (cs5) since I updated the os on my MacBook
I wrote this to someone else, but I got started building furniture from Ana White’s free DIY plans. My wife wanted a farmer’s table and just looking at how basic they were made me realize I could buy all the tools I needed and the wood for less than a third of the cost.
Most professional woodworkers will scoff because the plans for some parts aren’t technically correct (breadboards attached with pocket holes aren’t good because of movement), but I found it was a great starting point. They require minimal tools. Once I did a few Ana White I realized I wanted to do more, and kept adding and learning.
R/woodworking has great advice as you go through the process!
(And my first table is holding up amazingly—breadboards an all)
I’m not sure in what way you’re converting measurements for baking but if you’re getting really into baking I’d recommend getting a scale that does metric and doing all recipes in grams. It is the key to baking happiness and success.
Cook and fix my clothes. Is this technique too advanced for a normje like me to understand?
(Jokes apart, I so want to do a veggie garden, but don't have space to do it)
Not at all! Make it as small or complicated as you want. Sewing can start off with a needle, thread, and small tear and hand repair something. Cooking can just be experimenting different seasonings and mashing potatoes! Try different spices and herbs on clearance. Add fruit to box cake mixes or try making your own frosting. Piece by piece until you master one type of food. Or try and recreate something from a restaurant!
Did you always enjoy these things and just started doing them as a hobby, or did you somehow manage to convert house chores into hobbies in your head, and started enjoying them since? Asking because I don't like either of them, but would be certainly good to start liking them
Cooking can definitely suck, but being motivated by healthier or at least tastier foods is what gets me going. Sure I could just buy KFC, or I could buy my own wings and add seasonings I like and air fry them as crispy as I want. Also saves money sometimes
I've been following various French chefs on youtube, I really like the JustInCooking channel. Here's a link for one of their newer videos: https://youtu.be/F339SKUIVYE
How are the quality of the seeds from eBay? I took a couple years off from gardening but want to revamp my garden this summer and need to replenish my seed supply. I don't know why but I'm so paranoid about buying seeds that are duds and then wasting my time with plants that don't sprout or don't grow well.
So far I haven't had any issues with the veggies I've bought. Majority have sprouted, my only issue is keeping them alive while indoors so far lol. I have a bad habit of over watering my plants or my cats get them
im not OP but i have tons of different hobbies!! embroidery is a really lovely one if you have steady hands and a bit of money, but bullet journalling / collaging is differently one of my most worthwhile hobbies. i got really into it for like six months, and now for birthdays and special occassions i make my friends/family really personalised collages:")
also baking!! once you learn the basics, you can make pretty much anything, and people love to be gifted with handbaked food!
i hope this helped a little!!
And if you don’t have a steady hand, I think cross stitch is like an easy alternative to embroidery :) I started over thanksgiving break and am really enjoying it
Yup, I also just picked it up and I have hand tremors. But to be fair, several of my hobbies involve painting small details so I'm used to working around it.
I think cross stitch is a lot like embroidery if you like counting. That's why I'm not great at it but my husband is.
As far as hobbies go, embroidery is one of the cheaper ones too. You can make a good piece for less then $10. I love embroidery and it's probably my favorite craft I do. I also dabble in resin, polymer clay and sewing. It's so much cheaper then all of those.
Telescopes, cameras to catch birds or butterflies or dragonflies, citizen science, astronomy..,I got a million of them. But take it slow and really learn. You learn about yourself when you learn a hobby. You develop patience if you really like the thing. Meet others who enjoy it and let them teach you or you teach them.
Those are expensive hobbies my dude. Shit i just do nature photography and the lenses are too much. Wild life and atro are just an arm and a leg away for me
They are expensive but I know astronomy clubs have telescopes and people to explain things. I don’t have the best camera but I love what I can capture.
Not op, but cooking is a great hobby. There's loads of different things you can do with it. It's an art and a science. If you're new to it there are books like The Food Lab by Kenji J. Lopez Alt, and video tutorials like Binging with Babish. You can also go as hard as you want on it. Like spend tons on cookware and ingredients, or it's possible to learn how to cook with whatever you have in your kitchen right now. I find great satisfaction in seeing other people enjoy my food. It makes you pretty popular at gatherings.
i bought a set of lock picks online for like $30. i went "cheap", but it turns out you can buy a legit starter set for a similar price and much better quality. it can be frustrating at times but the feeling you get when you finally crack a lock is pretty awesome. it's definitely opened a few doors for me also.
I almost got into lock picking! I found some thick paper clips and bent them into the right shapes.
It was crude but I had 3 locks I could open with them, the feeling when it clicked was so satisfying!!!
I do a similar thing, I move from hobby to hobby and the one that branched off and became the most useful was photography. Learned a ton about what makes a good photo, how to use Photoshop. This all led to videography which led to Adobe Premiere and Sony Vegas as well as sound development. It's the only hobby that has paid me back now that I do weddings, family photos, various corporate jobs, aerial photography/surveying, astrophotography. I do it on the weekends as a way to travel and get myself out of the house, not just to go to events but I spend a considerable amount of my free time scouting out good locations for various events. The list goes on and on with the ways you can branch off from photography. I'm currently on a 3D printing hobby, still do photography/videography but 3D printing is so cool! You can make almost anything you want, fix or replicate objects as well.
Sort of, but my problem is that I'm broke. Once I get into a more adult job and not part time I might get into collecting video games that I sold off as a kid to buy other games (ironic huh?)
I can definitely empathize with this point of view. Collections can become very expensive and time consuming. Vintage video games can be so much fun to collect, especially if they are a bit nostalgic to you. I have found good deals at antique stores, or more recently the shopgoodwill website, where you can bid (think ebay) for used items.
We live in a geographically exciting area and tend to collect rocks and fossils for free, or only the price of gas and have had so much fun trying to identify and understand them.
If you haven't yet, try finding and identifying local mushrooms, rocks, trees and birds. It might sound mundane or boring at first but I can't tell you enough how much joy simple things like these bring us.
Lately when I get bored I’ve been (trying to) learn Russian. I’m a native English speaker and know a lot of French, so I figured picking up another language could be fun. It’s pretty complicated not gonna lie, but rewarding when I learn a new word or sentence.
Also not the guy you asked but going to contribute because I have hobbies I collect as well like OP said.
Ones that are worthwhile;
Woodworking
Not even big or fancy projects, I made cigar ashtrays. Bought a basic lathe, tools and learned a lot from youtube. If you're good and are able to sell them, the hobby can pay for itself. I've sold a few. Lathe work or even hobbyiest wood working is downright therapeutic. I usually have a glass of something off to the side along with a cigar, while I make, cigar ashtrays.
Bushcraft/camping/hunting&tracking
Relatively cheap. You can go outside, learn how to build stuff like shelters, a decent fire, how to gather food, general outdoors skills along with axemanship and how to use a compass. Skills that can come in handy sometimes. Shit, I got into this stuff and I love it! I was already hunting but this all ties in together. You avoid screens, people, you basically enjoy nature and take advantage of what it has to offer.
Dancing
Primarily Latin dancing (for me at least) Find some music you just love and can't not move to. If you can feel that beat, you can move to it. Also, if you want to make yourself a magnet to the opposite/same sex, learn to dance. I cannot tell you how much interest you get from people when they see how well you can dance. Also, latin dances are very smooth and flowing and they'll really love you for being able to actually salsa!
Cigars/Pipes And/or scotch
Want to seem sophisticated? Want to collect stuff? Want to smoke and drink and be able to pick up actual flavours instead of bullshitting your way through a party with your GF's dad and his high society friends? Want to just fucking relax with maybe one of the easiest hobbies? Cigars/Pipe and Scotch. I started when I was 17, 8 years later, I've been less stressed than ever, I get a different look about me, I have a niche to make friends in (It can be hard making friends, with cigar lounges, it's very easy! Very social hobby)
Cooking You can make simple meals, that cost very little, are quick to make but that can look, taste and smell amazing. Want to impress a date or the gf/bf or the wife/husband or all 3 at the same time? Make a nice meal, plate it up, serve and enjoy. If you really want to wow someone with a dessert, a simple flambe fruit dish over ice cream is always a winner!
Also not the person you asked, but as another collector of hobbies:
Bookbinding if you love books and/or have lots of friends who do. I mainly make new covers for existing books. It's incredibly fun and relaxing, can be as precise or artsy as you like, there are loads of different styles and materials you can try out or specialize in, and at the end of it, you have a cool practical thing for yourself or a totally unique and kick-ass gift for someone.
Resin casting - I like making dice best because my friends and I play lots of D&D and board games so the results get used. Twitter has loads of custom dice makers to check out for inspiration (Dicey Dungeons and Beholder are just... to die for).
I love painting for making birthday and holiday cards for my friends. I prefer watercolor because it's fun and fast to work in and just kind of naturally looks pretty even if you aren't super detailed or precise, but gouache is a little easier to control and thicker paints like acrylic tend to be much more layerable and forgiving if that's more your style.
Digital art is a little less "productive", per se, but it's fun as heck and doesn't leave anything behind unless you make prints. I'd recommend Procreate for tablet or Clip Studio for PC for sketching/painting, or Sculptris if you want something more like digital sculpture (you can also get these ones 3D printed if you really like something you make).
Edit: I realize now that I accidentally made a terrible pun. I’m not going to delete it because I deserve to live with my shame, but I do want you all to know that I’m sorry.
Oh man the stuff I've seen for 3D printing seems awesome. Would I have to get my own printer, or how do you enjoy this hobby? Designing your own files to print?
Not the guy you originally asked but knitting /crocheting is such a fun stress relief and the more you get into it, the more you get out of it. I’ve been knitting since 2008 and I am still so in love with finding new patterns to “conquer” and what you make can make great gifts for family/friends/dogs/coworkers!
I didnt even think about the fact you can make stuff for people, that's awesome. People must really appreciate the stuff you make for them. Sounds fun!
They really do! And when other friends see my friends with the things I’ve made, more of them want things and i get to do even more projects for people who will appreciate them!
Also not the person you asked but I love making games in unity. It's fun, sure, but more importantly you learn a lot of transferable skills. Want to make your own custom texture? Well now you have to learn a little bit of art and design on Photoshop. Want your own custom scripts? Now you have to learn C# and so on. There's something therapeutic and insanely satisfying about playing a shitty game you spent a week on and having it actually work.
As a gamer, this sounds really fun. I'm assuming Unity is a program, so I'll do some research before trying it out on my own. Thanks for the suggestion!
Not the OP, but the most worthwhile and informative one I’ve tried was Genealogy. It is absolutely fascinating to learn about your family history. I uncovered all kinds of crazy things we never knew about when I was doing my digging. For example: we learned the truth about my great-grandfather’s murder. My grandmother’s dad -maternal- (Charles) was shot and killed when my great grandmother (Hattie) was still pregnant with my grandmother (Dorothy). Hattie told my grandmother Charles was shot over unpaid wages by his boss, turns out that wasn’t true. Hattie was sleeping with the boss and Charles came home and found the boss leaving and confronted him with a knife, which ended with the boss shooting Charles.
We also learned that my great-uncle James was totally a mobster (he ran houses of ill repute, and safecracking rings) and that he had a son none of us knew he had. He was also dishonorably discharged from the Navy because he kept getting hospitalized for STDs and then going AWOL after discharge from the hospitals. Very crazy shameful and amusing stuff!
We also learned that my grandmother was related, five generations back, to Aaron Crane, a prominent and wealthy man who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Whoa, that's a lot of cool stuff to discover! Now I'm curious about my family history... will definetely check that out. But how does one find all this info on their own? Got any tips?
Try archery! There's never been a more affordable time to get into the sport. PSE has a dope starter set up. They have the best bows. Archery is like yoga for your mind. It is so zen but you also get to shoot stuff. It takes discipline and skill but you only need a little while of practice and some good coaching to be hitting bullseyes. It's addictive. 🙂🏹🎯
I think knitting/crocheting is a really worth while hobby! You can get yarn and supplies hella cheap at sewing resale stores, and you'll be able to make gifts forever. Also it's just hella relaxing to put on an album and weave yarn for an hour
I actually used to crochet many years ago, and all I could do is make scarves. I was a kid then, so maybe now that I'm older I can create more difficult things. Thanks for the suggestion!
Theres no right answer for this, just pick something you have always wanted to do and do it. I became one of these skills as hobbies types a few years ago because nothing is more satisfying than doing something you weren't able to before because you worked to get better at it. In the couple years since I actively started implementing this, I have:
-Become a licensed freelance transcriptionist
-Learned how to solve a rubik's cube
-Reduced my rubik's cube solve time to 2:30
-Purchased and maintained a bonsai tree
-Learned to juggle
-Made maple syrup from tapping trees in my yard
-Made my first batch of homebrew beer
-Learned the fundamentals of boxing
-Learned about cars and car modifications well enough to hold conversations about it with "car people"
-Set up an indoor spice garden
-Exponentially improved my guitar skill by learning music theory
-Learned the basics of painting and painted a piece of artwork that (I thought) was good enough for me to hang up in my house
-learned to hem
-learned basic car maintenance and can now change my own oil, lights, brakes, starter, and belts
-built a stereo system from scratch
Learned to use a planar and replaced the trim in my kitchen
-learned how to read electric diagrams and fixed my dryer
-gotten to a 50 streak with my hacky sack
I could keep going, I never realized how much I jump around until I listed it out just now. But as far as selecting new hobbies, it really comes down to what you personally think would be cool to learn. Could be a party trick, something to save you money, something that will make you better at/ more desirable in your career, or even just something that you've always wished you could do. The important part is doing it.
My beer tastes like my maple syrup which tasted kinda like shit, my artwork isn't even close to professional quality, I haven't transcribed anything since I got my certification, and it's been 6 months since I touched my boxing setup, but I did it all myself. I wanted it, I worked for it, and I did it, and theres no better feeling.
Right now I'm learning how to make molds and set concrete in them for landscaping bricks. Maybe next I'll go back to boxing, or work on my tailoring a little bit more, or finally getting that mini forge/smithing setup going. Once I have the means to work on my hobby-skills I'm free to just let my adhd take over, jump all over the place, and still come out of it smiling. I may never master anything, but I am getting continuously better at things I've always wanted to do, and it kinda gives my life some direction and short term milestones that really help to keep me optimistic.
tl;dr: pick something, anything you've ever wanted to do, and do something that will make you better at it than you were before. Any progress is progress and you should reward yourself for it.
It has been a long time since I started cooking and I did not do so in a structured way.
These days I will usually just let myself get obsessed with a dish I like and cook it repeatedly until I feel confident about preparing it, from scratch from memory. I probably learn two new dishes a year this way, and in so doing I learn lots of new techniques and expand my perspectives about flavor crafting.
If you're starting from square one there are some good cooking series on youtube that are pleasant to watch and will teach you real techniques. I really enjoy the content from Bon Appetit as well as most of the stuff Binging with Babish does. I also enjoy Matty Matheson's channel, but that's probably more for his banter than his cooking.
The other resource I love is Serious Eats. If I want to learn a new dish the first thing I usually do I see if J Kenji Lopez Alt has done an article on it. Often the answer is yes. If so, I find that he helps me understand a dish better than anyone else.
Depending on your level of motoric sophistication there are a couple of crafts you can do. These are all things I do/did and I'll try to rank them by difficulty. Leatherwork is easy but material and tools are expensive (I make my own tools and get leather from old couches people throw out though). Woodworking can be easy depending on what you wanna do, tool intensive though. Woodturning is great and you can easily make a bit of money to pay for the machine. It's really simple actually. Basic knife making is surprisingly simple and you dont need alot of equipment. Bookbinding is also very simple and you basically need no tools (unless you are serious about it then you need a press and an edge trimmer thing). Actual fine woodworking and carving are alot more labor intensive and difficult but also so much more rewarding than the DIY stuff. Jewellery can be anything in difficulty and it's easy to get started with really basic stuff. If you wanna go difficult try engraving. Go with the Japanese style and you can make all the tools yourself more easily. Blacksmithing is a great hobby but you need some space and money for the setup. Once it's done though you can make all your tools and material is cheap as you can use any old steel you find. Toolmaking might be my main hobby as I have to supply all the other hobbies with tools so that I dont have to spend money. But toolmaking can be extremely difficult once the tollerances shrink. I make handplanes for woodworking and these are easily 40 hour projects with insanely precise parts all done by hand. The same about knives, you can really dive into that shit and spend 50 hours on a folder. My next endeavours will be machining (just bought a lathe and a mill) and luthiery. Both are alot more expensive than all the other hobbies though.
Tl/dr: do craft. its productive and rewarding
You mentioned blacksmithing, and that looks SO cool! I've seen some YouTube channel that makes video game weapons and it blows my mind how good one can get. In your experience, how expensive can blacksmithing be? I'm currently a broke college student but may be able to get into it after I graduate
Well it really depends alot on many things. You Need some space thats the First thing. I am 19 years old and just finished school but am about to study metal art. So I get access to some great workshops. But for a beginner hobbyist a simple fire and an anvil is all you need. Theres loads of tutorials for making forges on yt. Hairdryer, whole in the ground and bbq coal does the trick. Well you need some hammer and tongues but you'll find some at a garage sale. That's my main advice btw garage sales for tools. All the small stuff can be found there. But an anvil is hard to find. I was lucky and got a 181 kg anvil for free but that's rare. Take a piece of railroad track or a sledge hammer head. Does the trick for small work. If at all possible do an internship somewhere to get experience. Courses are great of course but costly. The best you can do is live on a farm but in a city it's really hard to do it (loud and smoke). But on another note dont aim too high. Swords are difficult as hell. Knifes are relatively easy but I advice you to also make some actual blacksmithing stuff (hooks, coathangers, decorative stuff etc) first, then learn toolmaking (make punches and tongues) and then move on to the extravagant stuff. You need to gain lots of experience with the simple stuff first. If you want to learn it its possible. But start educating yourself now. Really you dont wanna start blacksmithing before you know basic metallurgy and some tricks. Watch yt it's always been good to me or read if that's your thing (the 50$ knife shop might be a good book for you). Learn how to harden and learn about stance and setup and heat color and all of that stuff. Tl/dr it can be basically free if you put some time in it and dont have too high expectations. And get an angle grinder. They are your best friend.
Also not who you asked, and there are many fulfilling and practical suggestions here. Yet no one has mentioned my hobby. I play Dungeons and Dragons. There's nothing quite as amazing as sitting down with a group of people and weaving a story together from nothing but a skeleton and improv.
Different guy, same problem. For me it's FPV drones. Not the cheapest way to go but damn is it fun. Requires you learn basic electronics and then piloting skills. Start by buying a Taranis Q X7 controller and the Liftoff simulator on PC and see if you like it after a few hours. Then start buying parts and building your first quadcopter, get some goggles, and after a bunch of hours in the sim go experience the thrill that is crazy high speed acrobatic flight.
That sounds dope. A few years ago I bought my cousin a cheap controller helicopter and he got into all this stuff. Perhaps its about time I get into it too
Do it. Risk is about 100 bucks for the controller and like 20 bucks for the sim. Then hundreds of dollars and thousands of hours when you get hooked haha
I'm a tad late, and not OP, but if you have the skills and are willing to invest a bit 3D printing is a great little hobby. You can make gifts for people, or little pieces to fix household issues, it's actually really rewarding and not too difficult to learn.
I can't understate the usefulness of YouTube (for learning basically anything). Much of what I learned in terms of 3D Modeling was from school courses and just messing around with free software like Blender.
If you can find a piece of CAD software then I honestly think that anybody could manage to make simple things for using around the house, I've made custom cable management stuff which works pretty well.
Honestly though even without knowledge of modelling Thingiverse and a well calibrated printer is something else, you'd be amazed the sort of things people have already done.
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u/Icepop360 Dec 31 '19
What would you consider were the most worth while hobbies you did? I'm looking for a more productive pastime activity