LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Slowing Down

4K views 22 replies 21 participants last post by  boyd8 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)




I found myself rushing today and just wanted to hear how you all manage to slow down. I hate ruining something or making it take three times as long because I think I can just plow through or wing it, or do just one more…

I read two great tags here on LJ's:

If you don't have time to test a stain, you have time to do the project over

&

Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work
 
See less See more
2
#6 ·
I just ,pull up the memories from the past, of the things I screwed up,and the time it took to fix the screw up, from rushing, then take a break, screw my head back on right, and go back to it.
And remember ,getting in a hurry ,can get you hurt.
 
#9 ·
LOL. I seldom rush at anything anymore (retirement will do that to you) but I still make mistakes. I look at it this way, if it wasn't for my mistakes, I wouldn't have nearly as much to occupy my time. ;^)))
 
#11 ·
I've got a big deadline coming up and I have to get a lot done today and tomorrow. I really hate it when I get into these situations. This is when I rush too much and work too long. This is also the type of situation that increases the risk of an accident.
 
#12 ·
It's always best to plan before you start, make parts list and a few drawings, and think out the whole project and the order of all your steps. All of this invariably saves time. One of these days I am going to follow my own advice. ;-)
 
#14 ·
This is the prototype I'll do better on the project, or this is just temporary till I decide what I want to do.
So now you know the secret of my success I make a lot of temporary prototype projects. LOL
Now if I can slow down my A.D.D. I can work on a project.
 
#16 ·
I think what has slowed me down the most in my work, is being 59 instead of 19!
But that is not all simply about age. I was raised in a production shop by a dad who was like a bull in a china closet. He had 2 speeds-fast & get out of my way!!!!!!! He actually was a pretty good woodworker and very productive--when he didn't make mistakes.

Then an excellent craftsman moved in next door to out shop. In my early 20's, I quickly saw the difference in quality, and knew which way I wanted to go. Since I have worked in production all my career, I had to learn to balance the two. I am able to shift gears when I am working on personal projects at home. I still don't waste a lot of time, even as a hobbyist, but I do whatever it takes to acheive the quality I want.
 
#17 ·
One of the few good things about ageing is that I have slowed down a bit….being an A type personality…I needed a bit of reduction…..it has also helped my woodworking as I am able to pay more attention to details and for getting things as right as possible the first time - I am not so impatient or rushed….so slowing down is not always a bad thing.
 
#18 ·
I think back to a co-worker-a Project Manager-and a sign she had glued to her PC monitor.

The sign read:

"If you don't have the time to do it right the first time, then how WILL you find the time to do it all over again ?"

Words to live by, in my mind ;-)
 
#19 ·
For me, whether its woodworking or renovations, its when I am tired or worn from a long day is when mistakes and the "good enough" start to creep in. I seldom feel the urge to rush or hurry up. But I see my accuracy and planning suffer if I have been at it too long. I need to identify when I reach that point better, maybe that is the point where going too fast is a problem, trying to push thru at end of day rather than starting fresh the next day.
 
#22 ·
Recently, after I have finished a project I get two more. It may sound corny, but I listen to classical music in the shop while I an sketching up and planning the new projects. I also keep a few of my old mistakes (a board cut too short, a bad joint, ruined molding, a piece of wood with stain and finish over a glue spot) around. I can take a deep breath, look at the old boo-boos and consider what I am doing.

None of this works 100%, 100% of the time, but I can just imagine what it would be like if I wasn't doing these things. I am forward looking at the creativity and craftsmanship, but remember that which I could have prevented. Short cuts and rushing are dangerous around sharp tools and destroy the results (and your heart).

Corny again…breath deep, look around, smell the roses, then get to work!

Take care.
 
#23 ·
As a chef I knew when to slow down. A lot of the craft is production where speed is important and now that I am retired it is the same except my experience, working with wood, is quite new in perspective. I have a lot of soft jazz and easy music, classical is too easy for me, that I listen to and try to get into the proper mindset. Also when I plan a project I follow another principal from my former career, do as much as possible and then relax. I always told my cooks that if they finished their work ahead of schedule they could relax for the rest of the day. This never happened but it taught them to pace themselves so there was no rush at the end before service started. If I feel myself getting "zoned" I set aside the current project and look at something fresh.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top