Have you ever had one of those days? I thought that I would continue drilling holes on my Thorsen Table to add my decorative buttons over the through dowels. So last night I went into the shop and put another coat of polyurathane on my table top. Then, I began setting up a fostner bit to begin drilling. Well, the beginning of the ”OOPS” actually began when I put the bit up a couple of days ago. Since the box that my fostner bits are in isn’t marked for easy viewing, I decided to mark it with the bit size above each bit. I thought I was heading off the problem I had by doing this! I even thought that I marked the one I had just used for the buttons. Well, as you already have figured out, I mismarked the bit! Not knowing this at the time, I chucked a 5/8” bit into my chuck, instead of the 1/2” bit that I needed. This is what happens when you don’t use your head and double check that you have the proper sized bit before drilling. What was really ”STUPID” of me was that I had two holes drilled that I could and should have taken the bit and verified that it was the same one with.
Now, think quickly…how am I going to fix this and it not show? I could cut a dowel and glue it in the 5/8” hole, then come back with the 1/2” bit and redrill to the correct size. I didn’t have a dowel making jig and setting up the lathe for a 1/2” X 5/8” plug didn’t make sense, so I did the next best thing. I took one of the extra 1/2” buttons and glued it into the hole. Shazam! It turns out the the head of the button is 5/8”, so this should work. Once the glue dries, I will drill and shave it down, then redrill it an correct a mistake that shouldn’t have been made in the first place.
Hopefully, I can help someone else not make this same mistake on a project by confessing my error, embarrasing as it is.
Good woodworking to everyone!
-- Jesus is Lord!
9 comments so far
Dick, & Barb Cain
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8681 posts in 2470 days
#1 posted 2216 days ago
I think you did the right thing by confessing, but don’t put yourself down.
It always feels better to talk about it.
We all make mistakes.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
oscorner
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4565 posts in 2482 days
#2 posted 2216 days ago
Thanks, I feel better already.
-- Jesus is Lord!
Karson
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#3 posted 2216 days ago
Disqualified, Right Dennis. LOL
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
niki
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426 posts in 2251 days
#4 posted 2216 days ago
I really don’t understand how you can make such a mistake…
An experienced woodworker like you???
I never, never make mistakes….....
Hey, why the hell my nose is getting so long….I must go to see a doctor….
Thanks for sharing
niki
oscorner
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#5 posted 2216 days ago
That’s really funny, niki. LOL.
-- Jesus is Lord!
Hawgnutz
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526 posts in 2247 days
#6 posted 2216 days ago
Woodworking, like leatherworking, is a process of learning through overcoming our mistakes. When I sold a leather belt, wallet, or whatever I would invariably get asked why it was so expensive.
I would tell them, “If you want cheaper leatherwork, just go to Mexico. I make custom-made leather pieces and you are paying foro my past mistakes: so I won’t make them on your piece.” Most of the time it shut them up.
it is too cool that you ‘fessed up. We ALL make stupid mistakes, sometimes. So, get over it, but learn from it!
Happy Cuts (Or Drills) to You!
Hawg
-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards
fred
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256 posts in 2269 days
#7 posted 2215 days ago
Fortunately, I am learning from my mistakes. I don’t make the same mistake twice, at least not yet. Everyone of my projects has some type of mistake. I have learned to fix them or make a new part for the project.
Part of the woodworking challenge for me is learning how to fix the mistake. Now, instead of being vocal and having the mistake become a major event, I just say Oh, how am I going to fix it?
-- Fred Childs, Pasadena, CA - - - Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
Joe Lyddon
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6395 posts in 2223 days
#8 posted 2213 days ago
... another angle…
Use some 5/8” buttons?! :) :D
-- 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"
oscorner
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4565 posts in 2482 days
#9 posted 2209 days ago
Joe I’ll put that one in my back pocket so I’ll have it if I ever need it.
Hawgnutz and Fred, I agree. Thanks!
-- Jesus is Lord!
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