Joshua Farnsworth

Joshua Farnsworth is an American woodworker, educator, and YouTube personality who has built a devoted following around traditional hand-tool woodworking. Through his channel and website, Wood and Shop, he teaches viewers how to build heirloom-quality furniture using historical methods, blending the precision of the past with the accessibility of modern online media.

His YouTube channel has grown to more than 250,000 subscribers, and his videos have been watched millions of times. He is also the founder of the Wood And Shop Traditional Woodworking School in Earlysville, Virginia, where he and other skilled craftsmen offer in-person classes. Farnsworth's approachable teaching style and genuine passion for the craft have made him a trusted resource for both beginners and experienced woodworkers.

Beyond the workshop, Farnsworth lives on a small farm with his wife and four children, balancing his woodworking career with his work as a real estate appraiser. His content often reflects his belief that handmade furniture connects us to history and can last for generations, offering a quiet counterpoint to a fast-paced world. [edit]

Joshua Farnsworth grew up as the youngest of ten children on a rural farm in the mountains of Utah. He first encountered woodworking as a child, watching his brother-in-law run a cabinetmaking business. That early exposure planted a seed that would grow into a lifelong passion.

In high school, Farnsworth took vocational wood shop classes, where he got his first real hands-on experience building projects. After college, he developed a deeper interest in hand tools and traditional techniques, drawn to the history and skill involved. He credits Roy Underhill's PBS show The Woodwright's Shop as a major inspiration, sparking his desire to learn and eventually teach these crafts.

Farnsworth initially worked with power tools, but a turning point came when he and his wife needed more space for their growing family. Forced to sell many of his power tools, he embraced traditional hand tools more fully, a change he later called one of the best things that ever happened to him. By the time he launched his YouTube channel in November 2013, he had already developed the philosophy that would define his career. [edit]

Joshua Farnsworth's breakthrough came in November 2013 when he created the Wood and Shop YouTube channel. His early videos, including tool buying guides and workshop setup tutorials, quickly found an audience among woodworking enthusiasts. The channel grew steadily, passing 250,000 subscribers by August 2026, with total views exceeding 24 million.

In addition to his online content, Farnsworth founded the Wood And Shop Traditional Woodworking School in Earlysville, Virginia, which began offering classes in May 2018. The school hosts courses taught by Farnsworth and other accomplished woodworkers, covering topics like hand-tool joinery and period furniture. He has also produced instructional DVDs, including collaborations with Will Myers on projects like the Hancock Shaker Candle Stand and a collapsible trestle table.

His website, WoodAndShop.com, serves as a central hub with free tutorials, articles, tool reviews, and a community forum. Through these efforts, Farnsworth has become recognized as a leading voice in the revival of traditional woodworking, inspiring a new generation to pick up hand tools and build furniture meant to last. [edit]

Joshua Farnsworth is widely seen as a patient, approachable teacher who makes traditional woodworking feel accessible. His YouTube videos and blog posts are grounded in practical instruction, often featuring close-up shots of hand tool techniques and honest discussions of mistakes and lessons learned.

His persona extends beyond the workshop: he regularly shares updates about his family, farm, and personal projects, creating a sense of authenticity that resonates with viewers. The Wood and Shop community, as his followers are known, engages actively in the comments and forum, and many go on to take classes at his school.

Farnsworth's advocacy for quality, long-lasting furniture stands in contrast to modern disposable consumer culture, and he has said he wants to inspire people to build pieces that can last multiple generations. That mission, combined with his calm and encouraging tone, has made him a trusted figure in the woodworking world. [edit]

Joshua Farnsworth commands a loyal following of woodworkers and history enthusiasts who flock to his channel, Wood & Shop, for precise lessons on hand-tool techniques. His audience values the authenticity of his farm life updates and the patience he brings to teaching complex joinery, creating a community built on shared craftsmanship rather than celebrity worship. Fans engage through comments asking for clarification on dovetail joints or sharing their own workshop mishaps, but there is no organized movement, official fandom name, or ritualistic gatherings associated with his brand. The connection remains strictly educational and hobby-focused, centered on the practical application of traditional skills in modern homes. While his subscriber count exceeds 250,000, this group operates as a dispersed network of learners rather than a unified fanbase with a distinct identity. iFANN's Global Fame Engine evaluated Joshua Farnsworth in August 2026 and determined that he currently holds no placement in the published rankings, including the Global Top 1,000 or any scope-specific lists. Consequently, no numeric rank or score is assigned to his current standing in the global cultural landscape.[edit]

Joshua Farnsworth grew up as the youngest of ten children on a Utah farm, where he eventually traded his extensive power tool collection for space needed by his expanding family, a decision he credits as a pivotal moment steering him toward hand tools. His day job involves real estate appraisal, while furniture making remains a passionate pursuit that funded his Walnut Bench project using 90-year-old walnut gifted by a nonagenarian neighbor. On his Virginia farm, he cultivated a deer-proof garden modeled after Monticello and successfully raised sheep and chickens, though goats proved too troublesome to keep. Outside the workshop, he enjoys sailing, cycling, and traveling across the country. Despite his growing online presence, Farnsworth has not generated viral legends or iconic crowd moments that have entered public folklore. No specific events involving fan disruptions or extraordinary viral incidents have been documented in the public record surrounding his career as an educator.[edit]

Joshua Farnsworth is married to Laura Farnsworth, and together they live on a small farm in Earlysville, Virginia, with their four children. Their fourth child, a son named Ethan, was born in February 2025. Farnsworth has shared that he enjoys teaching his two oldest sons woodworking skills, passing on the craft to the next generation.

The family's life on the farm is a recurring theme in his content, from raising animals to tending a garden. He has mentioned that the decision to sell power tools was driven by the need for more bedrooms for their growing family, reflecting a pragmatic approach to both life and woodworking. [edit]

Joshua Farnsworth is associated with several figures in the woodworking community. His wife, Laura, appears in his content and supports his work. He frequently collaborates with Will Myers on instructional DVDs and projects. Roy Underhill, whose PBS show inspired Farnsworth, is a connection through the Woodwright's School. He also follows Marc Spagnuolo on Instagram, and his school features instructors like Bill Anderson, Tom Calisto, Kaare Loftheim, and others. [edit]

Joshua Farnsworth is married to Laura Farnsworth. The couple lives together on a farm in Earlysville, Virginia, with their four children. Their fourth child, a son named Ethan, was born in February 2025. Farnsworth has mentioned teaching woodworking to his two oldest sons, indicating a close family bond. As of 2026, they remain married, and Laura is a supportive presence in his life and work. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Joshua Farnsworth's net worth stands at $1 Million as of 2026. This financial standing reflects a diversified portfolio anchored by his YouTube channel, which drives significant revenue through ad placements and sponsorships from a viewer base exceeding 250,000 subscribers. He monetizes his expertise by selling instructional DVDs and digital plans, including titles like the Hancock Shaker Candle Stand and the Civil War Trestle Table, directly through his website. The Wood And Shop Traditional Woodworking School in Earlysville, Virginia, serves as another major income pillar, charging tuition for hands-on classes taught alongside other master craftsmen. Affiliate commissions from recommended tools further supplement his earnings, while his stable day job in real estate appraisal provides a consistent financial foundation. Since launching his channel in 2013, steady growth in his audience and product lines has allowed him to build a sustainable economic model within his specialized niche.[edit]