Prototyping makes perfect

Whether you're a hobbyist trying to get a better sense of a project's "feel" or a professional craftsman pitching to a client, prototyping can help you test a design's structural integrity, functionality, and comfort. Building a prototype also helps you become familiar with a new or complex technique with no risk of mistake on expensive stock. You may not need all these techniques for every project, so select and use only the most appropriate method for each job.