An online woodworking resource can be great place of support, guidance, and learning for any woodworker. Still, it can also be a total waste of time and money if you end up joining the wrong group or website.
In my experience, I’ve found the Woodworkers Guild of America (WWGOA) to be a prominent name in the realm of online woodworking resources. But the burning question remains: Is it genuinely worth the commitment? This review aims to provide a balanced assessment of WWGOA, drawing from my expertise and experiences in the woodworking field.
What I Like
- Offers up to 72% discount coupon for membership
- Access to 100 hours of instructional videos
- Content is always updated
- Offers mini classes for real-time learning
- Offers discounts on videos and plans downloads
- Offers an 'Ask an Expert Program'
- Has actual experts and professionals that can provide reliable tips
What I Don't Like
- Shipment of products are only limited to the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, India, Western Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, and a few others.
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How to become a member
If you wish to join this woodworkers’ guild, there’s a membership fee attached to your account. Like most subscriptions, you can go by an annual membership or the monthly option. Both memberships start from the day you register (so we suggest registering early on in the day) and end either a full year or in 30 days, respectively.
To make things easier, your membership will automatically renew with the card you used for registration and can be canceled at any time. You can enjoy uninterrupted access to all the videos and information in this treasure trove as payment will be taken 5-10 days prior to the end of your contract (depending on monthly or yearly memberships).
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Premium Membership
There are two membership options for potential members – Premium and Gold. We’ll talk about the latter in a bit.
The premium membership offers an all-access pass to premium videos, which show you how to complete projects step-by-step. In our experience, the material is detailed yet easy to understand, so beginners wouldn’t have a hard time following the lessons.
If you’d like to download the videos to your personal collection, WWGOA gives premium members a 50% discount on all video downloads. We find that downloading is an efficient way to consume the content, as you won’t have to scroll through to find the correct video instructions anymore.
As an annual member, I’ve found that the premium membership offers an appealing perk: you get two free video downloads and two plan downloads. This convenience can be a real asset for individuals who value easy access to quality resources.
Overall, the Premium membership is a great deal. With it, you won’t run out of ideas for future projects because you have access to all the woodworking plans the guild has to offer.
What I Like
- Access to all premium videos
- Access to all woodworking plans and projects on the site
- 2 free video downloads for annual members
- 2 free plan downloads for annual members
- 50% discount on all other video downloads
- Receive a weekly newsletter
What I Don't Like
- No classes included
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Gold Membership
On a higher level than premium is the Gold Membership, which offers all the benefits of premium with a lot of additional perks. They offer more discounts on video downloads plus an added 20% discount for plan downloads. You can store both of them on your personal collection so everything’s easier to find.
The membership goes further by offering 3 classes and 4 mini-classes. You also get a 20% discount for all the classes you sign up for after that. Instead of the 2 free video downloads you get from premium, gold gives you 8 videos and 7 plans for free.
One of the best parts about the gold membership is the Ask the Expert program. This woodworkers guild puts you in touch with experienced woodworking professionals and veterans, even successful woodworkers, for advice and expertise at any time when making your wood projects for new learners. Their service is very responsive and the professionals do give a lot of value to the membership.
Interesting Read: Gregory Chabolla Story
What I Like
- Receive weekly newsletters
- 60% discount on video downloads
- 20% discount on plan downloads
- 20% discount on all classes
- 20% discount on all other products
- 8 free video downloads
- 7 free plan downloads
- 3 classes available
- 4 mini-classes available
- Ask the Expert program access
What I Don't Like
- No monthly option for the package
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WOODWORKERS GUILD OF AMERICA MEMBERSHIP PERKS
There are many advantages depending on the membership plan you decide to get, but overall, you’ll get perks that will make your woodworking life much easier. By joining, you can understand better books like the best 2 Story Gambrel Shed Plan that tend to be difficult for beginners.
If you purchase products from their site, they can be shipped internationally to several countries around the world. Other than the USA and Canada, you can receive products in the following countries as well: Australia, Brazil, India, Western Europe, South Africa and New Zealand, to name a few.
If you live outside these countries, don’t worry. You can still receive and purchase digital content from the website.
Beyond the enticing benefit of discounted product purchases, I’ve discovered that the premium membership offers something truly valuable: unlimited access to a wealth of woodworking resources. This encompasses an extensive array of videos, projects, articles, and more. In my Woodworkers Guild of America (WWGOA) review, I found out that detailed step-by-step videos and a library of professional woodworking plans are also available, often updated to give members the latest resources.
You can also download all your favorite videos to keep for absolutely FREE! Members-only discounts can also be applied to purchases and classes for gold members. Aside from classes, there are even professionals that will readily answer any questions you have and help you solve obstacles along your journey.
The mini classes are offered in real-time. Instructions and questions are given and solved immediately, clearly demonstrating the benefits of live lessons. You can learn at your own pace and even share some of the beginner content with your children. Just get them their own wood building kit for kids, take a class together, and bond while learning woodworking.
If videos are not so much your thing as text on a page, there are also plenty of articles for you that are guaranteed to help you hone your skills and become a better woodworker. We find that the text-based lessons are equally informative, although we prefer video just because we can actually see the demonstrations.
Whether you opt for a gold or premium membership, the website offers many ready-made videos presenting new techniques and ideas. These resources have been carefully curated by genuine experts, ensuring you receive substantial value for your investment. You can trust that the guides and learning materials will enrich your woodworking journey and provide valuable insights.
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FINAL REVIEW – IS WOODWORKER’S GUILD OF AMERICA WORTH IT?
After discussing the perks, membership details, and pros & cons of being a member, we arrive at the biggest question in this Woodworkers Guild of America Review: Is it worth it?
The answer is a resounding YES. Aside from instructions, plans and ideas that are backed up with professional advice and guidance, what this oganization offers is not something you can easily get from free online carpentry books or articles on the Internet. It can help both advanced and beginner woodworkers as well, with guides that are even fit to be used for kids woodworking projects or even making money through woodworking creations.
WWGOA and its group of experts constantly update available resources on the website to keep their pace with the latest information in the industry. This is applicable to both membership levels, but it’s worth noting that premium level and gold level members have access to different content.
Whichever you pick, you’ll get one of the best things about being a member: the person-to-person relationship. You can get all your questions answered by a qualified professional and feel a sense of togetherness and sportsmanship as fellow woodworkers help one another in mastering their craft. They can even help you choose the best woodworking software for your next project once built rapport with them.
Conclusion
If you’re someone who’s looking for a website where your woodworking interests can be supported and honed, being a member would be beneficial for you.
Many woodworkers might find themselves stuck on a certain project with nowhere to turn to for advice. If you’re a member, this won’t happen to you because you’ll have the support of experts and a massive collection of resources to spark inspiration.
If all these get you excited, then a membership with WWGOA is definitely worth it!
You can also read what we think of other established websites, such as Woodcraft, next!
Robert Johnson is a passionate furniture maker & carpenter, sought after for his knowledge on the craft.
You’ve probably seen his down-to-earth wisdom in USA Today, Bobvila, Family Handyman, and The Spruce, where he has shared commentary and guidance on various woodworking topics.
Robert is the brain behind Sawinery, where he aims to share tips, tricks, and a passion for all things carpentry.
