To kick off discussion I would like to talk about woodworking as a whole. I believe everybody should try woodworking, as it teaches you much more than you would think. The lessons I have learned from working in my wood shop have truly been enlightening, and I would like to make a case for why you should give it a try.
It Forces you to be Patient
I will not sugar coat this, woodworking is NOT easy. There is a large learning curve to some things, at first things like sharpening and sanding feel tedious, and the propinquity to dangerous tools means you can easily get hurt. But the beautiful part of this is that it forces you to slow down and thing about what you are doing. The number one way to get hurt in the shop is to rush. Even when you don’t get hurt, a rushed project comes out poor nearly every time. Sanding, sharpening and resharpening tools, finishing, these are all exercises in patience. If you can quell your desire to move to another project and give your current one the time you need to make it great, you will end up with something worth being proud of.
It is Fulfilling
People go through their day to day life in a haze. Really think about this question, what was the last thing you did today that meant something to you? Not just “I went to work, and that means something because bills”, something you did today that fulfilled something in you. I imagine it’s difficult, and that’s okay. We all do this. But every once in a while, it is nice to be able to step back and see the fruit of your labor. Putting that last coat of finish on a project and stepping back to admire your work is an incredible feeling, even if your project did not come out perfect. Working on a difficult project makes you feel awesome when you finally figure out how to tackle it, and that is where the fun of woodworking lies. And on that note…
Most Importantly, It’s F@#$%&* Fun!
Of all the reasons listed, this number one. Why make something your hobby if it isn’t fun right? Woodworking is a good challenge mentally and physically, you learn how to make beautiful things for dirt cheap, and you constantly impress yourself with your abilities. Experiment a little, work with new materials like resin, and don’t be afraid to try things you might think you can’t do yet. If you do this, you will never be bored as long as you are in the shop.
Project for Today
Today I want to share with you a (somewhat) recent project I completed. I made this cutting board as a mothers day gift. The main wood of the board is red oak, the dark strips are mineral stained poplar, and the wood in between those strips is a spalted maple I milled a while back. I usually use this makers mark for blacksmithing projects, however I don’t have a makers mark for woodworking projects quite yet so it will do in the meantime. Here is the board:
I hope you like it, I was rather proud of it all things considered. I also did not use a single power tool producing this board, so for all of you who think you can’t make a cutting board without a jointer and planer I urge you to try it out. It’s a pretty good challenge.
Alright, that’s it for now. Let me know your guy’s thoughts on what I should post about in the future if you have any ideas. I have a few posts in the works, but I want to see what you want. Thanks!
-Quinn
Song Suggestion
Snuff by Slipknot
As with last time, give this song a chance before passing judgement. It is beautiful.
