206 cards
Welcome to this beginner-friendly deck that introduces the core vocabulary and concepts behind working with wood. The cards walk you through the basics of what woodworking actually is, how it relates to carpentry and joinery, and the key differences between hardwoods and softwoods. You'll also get familiar with foundational ideas like grain direction and the meaning of common terms such as "with the grain," "against the grain," "end grain," and "face grain." Together, these concepts form the shared language that every woodworker, from hobbyist to professional, relies on.
This deck is a great starting point if you're completely new to woodworking or just beginning to explore it as a hobby or craft. It's also a helpful refresher if you've picked up a few techniques through trial and error but want to firm up the underlying terminology. Because many of these terms come up again and again in tutorials, tool manuals, and project plans, having a clear grasp of them will make everything else you learn later much easier to absorb.
To get the most out of these cards, try reviewing them in short sessions spread out over several days rather than cramming them all at once, since spaced repetition helps new vocabulary stick. Whenever you can, pair a card with a real piece of wood, look at its end, face, and side, and try to spot the grain patterns described in the questions. Connecting the words to something you can see and touch will make the concepts far more memorable the next time you pick up a saw or a sanding block.