A Woodworker's Greatest Strength

Bob, where is it?

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"

Joe…Thanks for the heads up…much appreciated! It’s above the fold now.

-- Bob Simmons, Las Vegas, NV, http://TheApprenticeandTheJourneyman.com

OK… I was looking for an article titled something else… as if you had changed the title. LOL

Thank you…

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"

A very good article, Bob.

Yes, I think practice makes perfect… and we all need practice.

I tend to Over Plan, Over Study, every project I work on to be sure there will be NO Gottachas.

I also do not practice for Practice Sake… I will practice by actually doing something that will hopefully be useful when I’m done; in other words, for the most part, I’m not practicing on scrap wood that will remain scrap wood. I practice using woods that I can afford, like Poplar, plywood, etc. that will hopefully be something when done… If I goof, I work to fix… or modify the plan to make it work. (LOL)

When I practiced hand cut dovetails, I made ten little boxes… close to 3×5… really turned out to be small drawers for screws, etc. Every drawer I made got better & better as I went through it… I felt like stopping when I got to ten… I still have them… and they have screws, etc. in them… The earlier ones have a little putty in them… but you can still see the crappy joint that was made… and they are being used. It was fun!

I still enjoy taking a break from power tools and cut DT’s by hand… it’s a fun, relaxing, challenge for me.

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"

Joe…great points.

It’s interesting how practice is approached. Some will practice just for the sake of practice and some like you have a specific use in mind. Your ten drawers to house screws is a great example and certainly the drawers will last a long time even if some of the joints were a little off. It is a good example of practicing where the outcome was not critically important. However, the more joints you make the better you get.

Working with hand tools or power tools require a feel that can only be developed by time spent working with the tools. It’s experience.

-- Bob Simmons, Las Vegas, NV, http://TheApprenticeandTheJourneyman.com

great article on wood wisdom. a great friend/brother that has helped me very much always told me
“it’s just wood”. if you make a mistake, grab another piece. “don’t get all stressed out” said me. :)
enjoy your time in the shop. if things start goin a bit iffee, then, take a break.
“Practice makes experiments Perfect”

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net

Roger…

That’s great advice. Enjoying the craft is what it’s all about. The more we enjoy it, the better we get.

-- Bob Simmons, Las Vegas, NV, http://TheApprenticeandTheJourneyman.com