So over the Memorial Day weekend (which I hope you all had a great one!) I decided to build my first ever workbench. Actually, this is the first thing I’ve ever built; period. I thought it’d be a great way to acclimate myself with my new power tools before I started in on the bevy of other honey do’s that have started to pile up ever since I told my wife I wanted to learn wood working and carpentry skills. After working on it for 2 days and about 5 bazillion trips to Home Depot there are a few lessons I learned from this project:
1. Read the instructions…twice.
2. Measure…twice.
3. Re-read the instructions.
4. Measure…again.
5. Cut.
6. Do not trust that the 4×4’s you buy are actually 4×4’s. Mine were 3.5×3.5. (Is that normal?) My 2×6’s were actually 1.5×6. That really threw off my measurements, but now I know.
7. I think the most expensive part of the project was the gas money required for the multiple trips to Home Depot. Be sure to account for that!
8. The right tools make the project enjoyable and much easier. Using the wrong tools will most likely result in another trip to yep, you guessed it: Home Depot.
9. Safety equipment is a MUST. Ear/Eye protection is not negotiable. If you’re new to wood working don’t even think about skimping here; get protection.
10. Even with a relatively simple project like this it produces A LOT of saw dust. It smells awesome but the wife wasn’t real pleased that I took up more than my alloted one car garage space, and had saw dust from floor to ceiling and through all 3 garage spots. Note: Dust collection may be a good idea.
In then end my table did come out pretty good and the satisfaction of having done it myself was worth the frustrations. So my maiden voyage with power tools and wood ended with a completed project and me retaining all my fingers so I’m going to consider it a resounding success! This was a most enjoyable project and I’m really looking forward to the next one.
-- A King, realizing his incompetence, can either delegate or abdicate his duties. A Father can do neither. -Marlene Dietrich
7 comments so far
EdC
home | projects | blog
415 posts in 291 days
posted 101 days ago
Ray,
Welcome to LJ’s
As a new woody you will have to learn the rules!
Rule 1. the size they sell it as is never what you get a 2×4 is always 1 1/2”x 3 1/2 you pay for the sawdust left at the mill. Wait till you try to buy Hardwood 4/4 means 4 quarters which should an inch right. Wrong it will most likely be 15/16”
Rule 2. Don’t shop at Home depot!!!!!!!!!! Find a real lumber yard and build up a relationship with them.
Theres a bunch more rules you will pick up as you go along. But always be SAFE and have fun!
-- Ed Collinge- Edmonds, WA.
rtb
home | projects | blog
101 posts in 164 days
posted 101 days ago
A few things that you might find helpful.
1. use your public library, books, magazines etc. don”t subscribe to any magazines until you review them, some are not the best for beginners and may be very discouraging BUT if a short time you will learn a lot so don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.
2. If in doubt ask, LJ’s have all the answers (to woodworking questions) and we will go through this with you ‘cause we’ve all had to go through it ourselves.
-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "
bbqking
home | projects | blog
190 posts in 174 days
posted 101 days ago
If you are looking for a dust collection system, check out my recent review here on LJ’s. bbqKing.
-- bbqKing, Lawrenceville
pyromedic602
home | projects | blog
101 posts in 199 days
posted 100 days ago
Remember a phrase I read on hear some where, not sure who said to give the credit. I am merily repeating or para phrasing, You didn’t make a mistake, you merely made a redesign. be safe and have fun. The learning process is part of the for especially. Every time I try something new I get excited at the challenge wheter it is right or wrong I always learn in the shop.
-- Pyromedic602, free wood is always good wood
Napaman
home | projects | blog
1634 posts in 528 days
posted 100 days ago
well said (or re-said) PYRO…so true…have fun…I started up a year and a half ago and it has been a slow (sometimes painful $$$$) process but I have loved every minute of it…
LJ;s is a great place…I have popped a question up in the morning and by lunch time I have more answers then i can understand…
enjoy the learning!!! cant wait to see the work bench…I am waiting on that project until i have more room…
-- Matt, Napa, CA...177 days to sanity...
Mark Shymanski
home | projects | blog
428 posts in 163 days
posted 100 days ago
Pictures! I’d like to see how your bench looks. Sound like you had a pretty successful weekend…
Welcome to LJ’s
-- ....next big purchase is wood for the next project, Mark
TopamaxSurvivor
home | projects | blog
17 posts in 126 days
posted 90 days ago
Mistakes? I once told an apologetic apprentice he was just going through the processes. When you see someone who is a master, you can bet he has made a lot of mistakes. That’s when you learn and remember the most. The worse they are, the better the lesson ;-) Joel 2:25
-- Topamax Survivor