Ponderings #15: The Slippery Slope

I spend a lot of time contemplating projects (“I create all my own designs and it looks like it”). I sketch a lot and ponder not just the sketch but the actual process. What order should I make the cuts. How am I going to hold the item while I make the cuts. Is there any way to clamp this? Will I need to create any jigs? etc. I usually have several of these mental projects going on at one time. Finally one of them will come together. I’ll know how I going to do it so I just jump right in and get busy. I usually only have one “in the shop project” going at a time. Having a clear plan helps me keep the momentium so I actually finish. I just follow the steps I’ve worked out in my head.

If it is a pretty straight forward process I’ll go with my final wood choice. If there are some tricky areas or things I can’t quite visualize, I’ll do a prototype in pine or mdf to work out the processes and see what design elements I like best before I chew up a bunch of expensive wood.

I’m doing a very simple Valentine’s box now ( I know, I’m late ) and I’ll include my design thoughts when I post it.

-- Leon -- Houston, TX - " I create all my own designs and it looks like it "

Tomcat,

I know exactly what you mean. I have a shop full of tools, but have very little to show for it. I got my tax refund today so this weekend I am off to buy a few more tools, but more importantly, my first stop will be the lumber yard, where I will purchase the necessary lumber to actually build a few of the things on my list.

At the moment all of my projects are going to be from plans, I’ve been a Woodsmith subscriber for years, but I do have a few ideas floating around in my head.

sounds like it is time for us both to make a little sawdust!!!

Have fun.

-- Chris N, Westford, MA - "If you won't eat something from your fridge that turned green...why would you eat something that started out that way?"

Chris,

You should try the 2×12 bench challenge in my last blog. You could win the opportunity to buy yourself a cookie :D

Then, you’ll be making something with all those tools too, and having some fun at the same time!

Leon,

I’m looking forward to seeing that Valentine’s box when you get done! ;)

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

Tomcat,

I think that you are coming down with a case of spring fever. After being cooped up inside all winter we all begin to feel a need to get out and do something. What else can compare, for a LumberJock of course, to making some sawdust and building something. It doesn’t have to be anything big it just has to be something.

As far as your ideas go write them down. Then you can decide which ones to pursue and which ones need to be put off.

Just do it.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Scott,

That’s probably part of it, though a lot of it is just being a newbie. I had tons of projects fly through my head before I had enough tools to do anything…and now I’ve got most of the tools I figure I need, but now I’m antsy to actually build stuff!

It’s kind of sad really :)

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

TC . . . why dont you give this a try. Pick two projects and work on both of them.

I know what you are thinking “Zuki . . . you are nuts”, but here is my reasoning.

With 2 projects when you get tired of working on one (or just get stuck) . . . move over to project 2 and work on that until you get stuck . . . more back to project one . . . and so on.

That will give you the “flexibility” that you need, but at the same time allow you to move on with your craft.

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

That’s actually a pretty good idea Zuki! I do have the stuff for my bench, and some stuff for a small box as well. I’ll have to do that :)

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

I’m with ya. My ideas generally fall into two categories: workshop and actual projects. Here’s what’s churning through my brain right now:

• saw bench
• Japanese sawing trestles
• a new dovetail template to replace my useless one

• dovetail box for wife (within a week or so of finishing I hope)
• dovetail cube (toy for kids)
• new sign for our church

Right now I’m focusing most of my time on the box, and most of my random thinking time on the other projects. I also plan to go into the shop from time to time, make a couple cuts (like the legs of the saw bench), and get out. That’ll help me be productive without my family feeling like they’ve lost me again. :^)

-- Eric at http://adventuresinwoodworking.com

I hear ya Eric. Luckily, my son can come out to my “shop” with me for much of my work and my wife can stick her head out whenever she wants to as well. With that going on, my family doesn’t feel so much like they’ve lost me.

Of course, I’m sure there’s some times when Jennifer wishes she could lose me :D

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!