Woodshop or house furniture....... which do you prefer to build?

My preference is house furnishings.

I build shop furniture so that I build “the other stuff” more efficiently.

-- Joe

I don’t know that I really have a preference. I tend to get wrapped up in whatever project I’m working on at the time

-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!

My shop is a tool and my furniture is it’s product that fulfills my artist needs.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

It’s somewhat of a toss-up for me, because each satisfies a different part of my brain.

Building things for the shop appeals to my practical side. Making something that will be useful, and make me better organized and more efficient in my future projects is extremely rewarding.

On the other hand, building a piece for inside the house appeals more to my creative side, and the desire to make something that can be admired as a thing of beauty.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I like building both (although I’ve built much more of the shop variety). When you account for the fact that I get a nice satisfaction from both and house furniture gives that to others as well it’s a no-brainer: house furniture wins.

-- Steve -- University Heights, Ohio

I prefer building pieces for my home although I did enjoy building my workbench.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

A bit of both really but I tend to enjoy making things for the home.I also loved building my shop and expanding it and working on it changing things over the years.When I decided to build a woodshop I was so excited that I couldn’t think anything but the plans I was working on so making things for the shop also jigs etc is very much a part of the whole thing. Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Furnishings without a doubt. Favorites to build are tables and cabinets. I also enjoy building shoji and small boxes as well.

-- http://timberwerksstudio.blogspot.com/

House furnishings.
Most of the stuff in my shop is recycled, reused, or in need of repair.

-- Mark, www.mrhudon.com

The thing I like about shop stuff, or garden stuff, is that generally the finishing is easier. That’s the part of the project hate.

-- Dan Lyke, Petaluma California, http://www.flutterby.net/User:DanLyke

I’m new to this… so I practice on my shop things to get a feel for tools and methods. Then, as I get comfortable, I attempt a nice project item but end up converting expensive wood to sawdust and firewood. Joking somewhat… but for me it is better to make my mistakes on the shop stuff.

-- Al H. - small shop, small projects...

Sounds like right now it’s kind of a toss-up between the two !

Ok guys, bring it on. I know there are more out there than 11- 12 who like to do one or the other , or both.

I gotta have more than this to get a good read on it, let’s hear from you !!!!

-- Remember--- one good turn-- gets most of the blanket!!!!

House Furishings is my main building goal, but other items such as Double Trees for horse drawn wagons and Ox Carts are just as much fun to me. I guess as long as I am in my shop making sawdust, what I build is just the by-product of my enjoyment.

-- Guy Kroll

I would have to say both, actually all three- shop, house and yard. And no particular order. Right now it’s my grand kids furniture though.

-- Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy-May all your dovetails fit tight and right the first time

ive made quite a bit of furnishings and it fills a ceratin need and i like it to a point…but i think i like making toys…right now im making a small train set…and embelsing it some with my inner kid desires…..i think if i could apply for the santa job…i would….....more joy in a childs smile then someone who wants a coffee table.

-- The Grizzone

I do like them all, but the project I’m most looking forward to is building new cabinets for my shop. That project will let me try my hand at something new, drawing on a few new skills and tools and it is very much needed to help with storage and organization. I do this craft to make functional projects for friends and family, but I do get slightly more excited about something for the shop. I guess I just like having cool tools and a nice shop to work in.

For me, the shop projects. New jigs, storage ideas, tables etc all stretch the imagination and challenge the engineering side of my brain.

-- JimGuy, StAlbert

Hi all,

I’ve been lurking here off and on for the past couple of years and finally decided to join your club. I never cared much for the jocks in high school but you all seem OK to me.

Forced to choose between the two options presented, I’d have to go with furniture. I’ve found that I tend to cobble together whatever will work in my shop as quickly as possible so I can get to the business of actually making something.

That said, lately I’ve become enamored of working on old WW machinery, so for the time being it’s my favorite WW related activity. Unfortunately, that has put a temporary stop to my furniture building as I sold my nearly-new 22124 so I could buy a 60+ year old cabinet saw that is currently in pieces. It’s a slow process for me as I’m lucky when I get 15 minutes to work on something, but it also gives me lots of time to think things through. If I get to the point where I feel the need to finish something quickly rather than do it right is when it’s time to walk away for a bit.

I am looking forward to getting back to building furniture – but first, I think I need to find an old Unisaw, a Parks Planer that’s a little rusty, maybe a 12” Northfield jointer, an old CI base Walker-Turner bandsaw…

I pefer house furniture, but I need to build some shop projects!

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

I would prefer house furniture. I guess thats why I tend to buy most of my shop equipment. I feel if I have time to be working on something, I would rather build something for the house.

-- Wayne - Plymouth MN

House furnishings.My favorites are built-ins with furniture a close second.The only things Ive built for the shop is an assembly/outfeed table and a lumber storage cart.

For my house….Walnut Armoire Entertainment Center, Walnut Secretary, Walnut Sofa Table, Walnut End Tables and Coffee Table, Oak Desk/Wall unit, Oak stool, Oak Barrister Book Cases, Oak Glass Display Wall Unit, Curly Cherry Master Bedroom Headboard (Approx 7ft tall x 10ft. wide.) Curly Cherry Desk/wall unit, Cherry Quilt Rack, Walnut Quilt Rack, Contemporary Mahogany display unit, Contemporary Ambrosia Maple Chest, and 30-40 boxes, turnings, carvings and various small pieces….....Most everything in the shop is either bought, left over or miss-made cabinets from previous jobs. I guess you could say home furnishings…...and I have a honey-do list that I will never get completed! lol

-- John @ Myrtle Beach

Build for the house … and funiture mostly or what ever ppl ask em to I guess

-- christoper Blanchard, Michigan

i WANT to build house furniture but all i seem to build is shop stuff

Ok—- now we’re getting somewhere with this topic. I think as of right now, the house furniture is a little ahead of the shop furniture, with a couple of other items thrown in.

I’m getting a reading on this, so keep it going. When we’re all done, I’ll post the winner, but not yet !!

-- Remember--- one good turn-- gets most of the blanket!!!!

house furniture but shop stuff and jigs are usually required as a means to an end but my preference is house so do when you can no matter what house or shop wood is good.

—- “tomorrow is promissed to no man or woman” amended from previous did not mean to exclude the women LJ’s my apologies, Q wheres the feedback from the ladies?

Kind Regards bill

bbbb

-- Bill,Bonnie Scotland

I’ll have to say shop furniture at this point. Our house really already has most of the furniture it needs, however, I want to acquire a planer and jointer, that would allow me to try my hand at some small pieces of furniture.

Most of my projects so far have been more outdoor carpentry, than fine woodworking in the shop. With fall and winter on the horizon, I plan on getting the shop more set up for some indoor work.

The satisfaction is greater when you make something for someone else and they enjoy it. I like shop fixtures, but they are usually a means to an end. I most often start a project for someone and that necessitates a jig or fixture. both mean shop time and sawdust, which is a good thing.

-- ShawnH "A little knowledge is a tool for disaster." Chinese porverb

You would think this would be a simple question. However it’s really not. If I build furniture whos design is it? A designer? The homeowner? Mine? If it’s my design, my color, my material, my way I get a huge satisfaction that someone like my work. However if I have to try to make it to specifications of someone who has different views then I, then I don’t like it as much.
On the other hand, if I build shop furniture it’s mine. It’s for me specifically and is the way I want it. I get to enjoy it. As woodworkers we always tend to be making things for everyone else. Unless someone is making things for us, which is unusual, then we don’t get to enjoy those things. I say this because if you work in your shop all day, or it’s your place you go when you get home, then you don’t spend much time in the house with those furnishings. If you are making furniture for you, that may be different. Such as a bed you sleep on, a kitchen you cook in, etc. Those are obviously more enjoyable too, as they are for you and your family to enjoy.
So my take is #1 furniture I design and build my way for other people, there satisfaction makes it #1 #2 furniture I design for myself and my family. We can like it, but as a woodworker it will never be good enough. #3 shop furniture if I get to spend time on it. Otherwise it becomes a place to wipe glue, cut things on, and damage. LOL

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

My skill level isn’t enough to build presentable furnishings yet, and my shop is far from proper, so for now it’s the shop.

-- Measure twice, then try to figure out which one was right.

BBBB I enjoy shop stuff more because I’m not worried if it’s not perfect. It just has to work. But really it’s a means to the end as most have said. Don’t get to drag people through the shop “Look at this great outfeed table I just finished.” LOL

-- a little bit of stupid goes a long way

Can I say home and yard furnishings? Probably yard furniture is my favorite. It doesn’t have to be perfect… Especially since my style tends to run very rustic…

The shop projects are simply utilitarian, or skill builders. The final product though is stuff for the home, or yard, or gifts or… well you get the idea…

-- Trying to follow the example of the master.

house furniture,,don’t have to worry about the outside elements as much…

-- Dan Hux,,,,Raleigh, North Carolina

Mixed vegetables for me.
I enjoy working with wood, period. As the customer requests, so I do. I immerse myself to do just that.
And when i’m busy with that project I cannot say I preffered to do the other. Every one has it’s merrits and flaws.
I work with different mediums. Wood, metal, and mozaic. Out of the three…..Wood definatly.

-- "Even small steps makes a distance." (Shawn Phillips, musician)