Build 42 for the Project Zomboid Stable branch is here! This major patch turned various features and mechanics on their heads, including the Carpentry skill. So, dismantle what you know about Carpentry in Project Zomboid, as we break down its mechanics, showing veterans and newcomers alike how to master the hammer and saw in unforgiving Knox County.

Project Zomboid Carpentry Skill Guide (Build 42): An Overview

Carpentry remains one of the backbone skills of long-term survival in Project Zomboid. It governs everything from building safehouse defenses to beautifying the base with décor. As your skill increases, your constructions become more durable and better looking. Additionally, you’ll become more adept at building items and structures, which means crafting them takes less time than when you first spawned into Knox County.

Occupations and Traits Affecting Carpentry

It’s possible to learn every skill in Project Zomboid. However, some survivors may want to get a head start, as having additional points in this skill at the beginning can increase survivability. For starters, the Carpenter occupation is the gold standard, granting +1 Carpentry, along with +1 Carving, Maintenance, and Masonry, from the get-go. Alternatively, some players may want to choose the Engineer, DIY Expert, or Construction Worker occupations, as these provide +1 Carpentry at the start. As for the traits, adding a point to Handy adds +1 Carpentry. However, this trait costs 8 points, so you’ll most likely have little to no points left for other characteristics. Throughout your time in Knox County, you’ll come across items that can help increase your Carpentry skill level. Apart from frequently using your carpentry abilities, reading skill books, watching VHS tapes, and staying tuned to the Life and Living TV show are alternative ways of earning Carpentry XP. However, not all skill books, VHS tapes, and Life and Living shows reward Carpentry XP. So, watch out for the following to ensure you're spending your time and effort in increasing this skill’s level efficiently:

Carpentry Skill Books

• Carpentry Lv. 1 – 2: Carpentry I: "A Guide to Nailing"
• Carpentry Lv. 3 – 4: Carpentry II: "Carpentry, Woodcraft Style"
• Carpentry Lv. 5 – 6: Carpentry III: "Handcrafted Shelving and Storage"
• Carpentry Lv. 7 – 8: Carpentry IV: "Making Your Own Cabin From Scratch"
• Carpentry Lv. 9 – 10: Carpentry V: "Site Joinery and Architectural Carpentry"

Carpentry VHS Tapes

• Exposure Survival Episode 4: Fire
• Exposure Survival Episode 5: Camping
• Exposure Survival Episode 8: Water Collection
• Woodcraft Episode 1: Bookcases
• Woodcraft Episode 2: Flooring and Signs
• Woodcraft Episode 3: Frames and Walls
• Woodcraft Episode 4: Shelves and Fencing
• Woodcraft Episode 5: Doors
• Woodcraft Episode 6: Beds and Tables
• Woodcraft Episode 7: Stairs

Life and Living TV for Carpentry

• Woodcraft Day 1, 12:00 PM
• Woodcraft Day 2, 12:00 PM
• Woodcraft Day 3, 12:00 PM
• Woodcraft Day 4, 12:00 PM
• Woodcraft Day 5, 12:00 PM
• Woodcraft Day 6, 12:00 PM
• Woodcraft Day 7, 12:00 PM
• Woodcraft Day 8, 12:00 PM

How to Level Up Carpentry Fast

In Build 41 and earlier builds, survivors can quickly increase their Carpentry skills by crafting a box, disassembling it, and repeating the process. However, in Build 42, disassembling now gives zero Carpentry XP, unless this feature is manually enabled in the Sandbox settings. With the removal of this routine, survivors can look for other ways to improve their Carpentry skills. Below are some tips, tricks, and techniques that can aid in rewarding you with additional Carpentry XP fast:

• Barricade everything. Once you find a base or establishment to call home, barricade every possible opening that zombies can exploit to enter your humble abode. Also, each plank you nail gives experience while making your base safer.
• Saw logs into planks. Chop down trees and saw logs into planks to grant Carpentry XP. Additionally, the surplus of planks allows you to complete various crafting projects sooner rather than later.
• Craft Oil Presses. Although disassembling no longer grants Carpentry XP, it can be better to craft low-cost items for efficient skill point farming. The Oil Press, in particular, only requires 1x Plank and 1x Nails, making it incredibly cheap to craft repeatedly.

Carpentry Crafting Recipes

Many crafting recipes in Project Zomboid require a certain level of the Carpentry skill to unlock and use. Below are the craftable items and their recipes that need Carpentry to make:

Baseball Bat – Can-Reinforced or Large Handle – Can-Reinforced

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Baseball Bat, Crafted Baseball Bat, or Large Handle), 1x (3x Rag, 3x Denim Strips, or 3x Leather Strips), 3x Tin Can, and 3x Screws
• Required Tools: 1x Screwdriver
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 2
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +20 Carpentry XP

Medium Handle – Can-Reinforced

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Rag, Denim Strips, or Leather Strips), 1x Medium Handle, 1x Tin Can, and 1x Screws
• Required Tools: 1x Screwdriver
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Carpentry XP

Short Bat – Can-Reinforced, Tree Branch – Can-Reinforced, or Wooden Rod – Can-Reinforced

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Short Bat, Tree Branch, or Wooden Rod), 1x (2x Rag, 2x Denim Strips, or 2x Leather Strips), 2x Tin Can, and 2x Screws
• Required Tools: 1x Screwdriver
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 2
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +20 Carpentry XP

Cudgel with Brake Disc, Large Handle with Brake Disc, or Plank with Brake Disc

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Large Branch, Large Handle, or Plank), 1x Nuts and Bolts, 1x Brake, and 2x Leather Strips
• Required Tools: 1x Wrench and 1x Hand Drill
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 5
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +50 Carpentry XP

Wooden Brock Mold

• Crafting Ingredients: 4x Plank and 1x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw) and 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: N/A
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +5 Carpentry XP

Baseball Bat with Garden Fork Head or Cudgel with Garden Fork Head

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Baseball Bat, Crafted Baseball Bat, or Large Branch), 1x Garden Fork Head, 1x Nuts and Bolts, and 2x Leather Strips
• Required Tools: 1x Wrench, 1x Saw, 1x Stone or Carpentry Chisel, 1x Hand Drill, and 1x Mallet
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 6
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +60 Carpentry XP

Large Bellows

• Crafting Ingredients: 2x Plank 2x Nails, 2x Medium Handle, and 1x Medium Leather (Crude)
• Required Tools: 1x Hammer and 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw)
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +15 Carpentry XP

Oil Press

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Plank and 1x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x Hammer and 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw)
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 2
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +20 Carpentry XP

Cudgel with Railspikes

• Crafting Ingredients: 5x Railroad Spike, 1x Leather Strips, and 1x Large Branch
• Required Tools: 1x (Club Hammer or Sledgehammer) and 1x Hand Drill
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 6
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +60 Carpentry XP

Baseball Bat with Rake Spikes, Large Handle with Rake Spikes, or Short Bat with Rake Spikes

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Baseball Bat, Crafted Baseball Bat, Large Handle, or Short Bat), 1x Rake Head, 2x Leather Strips, and 1x Nuts and Bolts
• Required Tools: 1x Wrench, 1x Carpentry Chisel, 1x Hand Drill, and 1x Mallet
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 4
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +40 Carpentry XP

Plank with Saw

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Wood Saw, 1x Plank, 1x Screws, and 1x Nuts and Bolts
• Required Tools: 1x Screwdriver, 1x Wrench, and 1x Hand Drill
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 3
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +30 Carpentry XP

Cudgel with Sawblade

• Crafting Ingredients: 5x Nails, 1x Circular Sawblade, 1x Leather Strips, 1x Large Branch, and 1x Nuts and Bolts
• Required Tools: 1x Hammer, 1x Saw, 1x Wrench, and 1x Hand Drill
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 6
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +60 Carpentry XP

Large Handle with Sawblade

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Circular Sawblade, 1x Leather Strips, 1x Nuts and Bolts, and 1x Large Handle
• Required Tools: 1x Hammer, 1x Saw, 1x Wrench, and 1x Hand Drill
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 5
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +50 Carpentry XP

Plank with Sawblade

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Plank, 1x Nuts and Bolts, 1x Screws, 1x Circular Sawblade, and 2x Leather Strips
• Required Tools: 1x Wrench, 1x Hand Drill, and 1x Screwdriver
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 3
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +30 Carpentry XP

Antique Table Leg with Sawblade

• Crafting Ingredients: 5x Nails, 1x Circular Sawblade, 1x Barbed Wire, 1x Nuts and Bolts, and 1x Antique Table Leg
• Required Tools: 1x Hammer, 1x Saw, 1x Wrench, and 1x Hand Drill
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 5
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +50 Carpentry XP

Baseball Bat with Sawblade, Field Hockey Stick with Sawblade, or Short Bat with Sawblade

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Baseball Bat, Crafted Baseball Bat, 1x Field Hockey Stick, and 1x Short Bat), 1x Nuts and Bolts, 1x Circular Sawblade, and 2x Leather Strips
• Required Tools: 1x Saw, 1x Carpentry Chisel, 1x Hand Drill, and 1x Mallet
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 5
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +50 Carpentry XP

Wooden Single Mold

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Plank and 1x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x Hammer and 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw)
• Required Skills: N/A
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +5 Carpentry XP

Snare Trap

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Plank and 2x Twine
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw)
• Required Skills: Trapping Lv. 5
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +5 Carpentry XP

Cudgel with Spade Head

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Large Bench, 1x Nuts and Bolts, 2x Iron Band – Small, and 1x Spade Head
• Required Tools: 1x Saw, 1x Carpentry Chisel, 1x Hand Drill, and 1x Mallet
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 6
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +60 Carpentry XP

Wooden Tile Mold

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Plank and 1x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw) and 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 5
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +5 Carpentry XP

Box Trap

• Crafting Ingredients: 4x Plank and 7x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw) and 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 1 and Trapping Lv. 2
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +5 Carpentry XP

Wooden Blacksmith Anvil Mold

• Crafting Ingredients: 4x Plank and 1x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw) and 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 2
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +20 Carpentry XP

Crate Trap

• Crafting Ingredients: 3x Plank and 5x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw) and 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: N/A
• Workstation: N/A
• XP Gained: +25Carpentry XP

Large Bucket

• Crafting Ingredients: 4x Plank, 4x Nails, 1x Wire, 1x Small Handle, and 2x Iron Band - Small
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw) and 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 2
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +20 Carpentry XP

Wooden Crucible Mold

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Plank and 1x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw) and 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 2
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +20 Carpentry XP

Wooden Crude Bench Vise Parts Mold

• Crafting Ingredients: 2x Plank and 1x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw) and 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 2
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +20 Carpentry XP

Wooden Single Mold

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Plank and 1x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw) and 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Carpentry XP

Wooden Tile Mold

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Plank and 1x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw, Hand Saw, or Crude Saw) and 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Carpentry XP

Wooden Toolbox

• Crafting Ingredients: 2x Plank, 1x Nails, and 1x (Wooden Rod or Medium Handle)
• Required Tools: 1x Hammer, 1x Saw, 1x Hand Saw, 1x Crude Saw, and 1x Hand Drill
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Carpentry XP

Baseball Bat with Nails, Cudgel with Nails, Field Hockey Stick with Nails, Large Handle with Nails, Plank with Nails, or Antique Table Leg with Nails

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Baseball Bat, Crafted Baseball Bat, Field Hockey Stick, Large Branch, Large Handle, Plank, or Antique Table Leg) and 5x Nails
• Required Tools: 1x Hammer
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Carpentry XP

Baseball Bat with Railspike

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Baseball Bat or Crafted Baseball Bat), 2x Railroad Spike, and 1x Leather Strips
• Required Tools: 1x (Club Hammer or Sledgehammer) and 1x Hand Drill
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 4
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +40 Carpentry XP

Short Bat

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Baseball Bat, Crafted Baseball Bat, or Baseball Bat with Nails)
• Required Tools: 1x (Club Hammer or Sledgehammer) and 1x Hand Drill
• Required Skills: N/A
• Workstation: N/A
• XP Gained: +5 Carpentry XP

Plank

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Large Branch or 1x Log
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw or Crude Saw)
• Required Skills: N/A
• Workstation: N/A
• XP Gained: +5 Carpentry XP

Wooden Rod or Tree Branch

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Long Stick and 1x Sapling
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw or Crude Saw)
• Required Skills: N/A
• Workstation: N/A
• XP Gained: +5 Carpentry XP

Small Handle

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Wooden Rod
• Required Tools: 1x (Saw or Crude Saw)
• Required Skills: N/A
• Workstation: N/A
• XP Gained: +5 Carpentry XP

Baseball Bat – Sheet Metal Reinforced or Cudgel – Sheet Metal Reinforced

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Baseball Bat, Baseball Bat – Can-Reinforced, 1x Crafted Baseball Bat, 1x Large Branch), 2x (Steel Sheet – Small, Sheet Metal Scrap, or Aluminum Scrap), 2x Nuts and Bolts, and 4x Screws
• Required Tools: 1x Screwdriver, 1x (Sheet Metal Snips, Metal Saw, or Hand Saw), 1x Wrench, and 1x Hand Drill
• Required Skills: Carpentry Lv. 4
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +40 Carpentry XP