OK, Thanksgiving (in the United States) is now behind us, which means the holiday shopping season is in full swing. The are runs to the mall, items to buy online and lots and lots of wrapping coming up in the weeks ahead.
With the holidays approaching, many woodworkers’ thoughts turn to building gifts for friends, loved ones and others. Which means, of course, it’s time to get out there and start building!
This week, let us know if you are planning on building holiday gifts.
Woodworking requires a certain degree of know-how.
Whether it’s deciding on what kind of wood to use for a project, the best method for joining two boards together or building up a perfect finish, the more you know about the process, the easier it is to complete it successfully.
Today, tell us where you get the majority of your woodworking know how. Do you go online or to the library? Do you ask a knowledgeable friend or relative, or do you figure it out through trial and error?
Think about one thing you do on every project. Sand? Maybe. Cut? Perhaps.
Measure? FOR SURE! Whether you are using a micrometer, a tape measure or existing cabinet parts for relative dimensioning, you are bound to do some kind of measuring.
Now, here comes the tricky part… there are many scales or units of measurement you can use. The metric system. Conventional measurements such as feet and inches. Heck, some folks even do without any sort of scale and use relative dimensioning.
This week, let us know your preferred system of measuring. Sure, you may use many, but specify the one you are most comfortable with and you turn to the most.
Let’s build on last week’s post…
So, now you have an edged and jointed board for a project that measures 7 inches wide by 4 feet long. You need to cut the board in half for a project component.
What method would you use to do the deed? (Of course, I would forget to mention this is a crosscut….)
OK, here’s a woodworking question about technique…
You have a board. This board is nearly one inch thick, and is eight inches wide. It’s also about three feet long. You have to rip off a one-inch strip of the board for a project part. What is your preferred way to make this cut?
Most woodworking shops evolve over time. You buy that starter tool that you can afford, but realize you outgrow. Or, technology improves and you want to upgrade your tool. Maybe you even change your woodworking style, and you need a particular tool less and need new equipment to achieve your new goals.
That’s cool. Given enough time, everyone does it. But, the bigger question comes in – what do you do with the old tools – the ones you replace? Do you give them away to deserving causes or woodworkers? List them for sale? Just chuck ’em?
This week, let us know! Oh, and I realize that maybe you do everything on this list, but I’d like for you to select the one that you prefer to do.
Some are funny. Others focus on traditional methods of work from the 18th century. Still others focus on turning, veneering or marquetry.
Yes, woodworking blogs cover a tremendous number of topics, styles and techniques.
This week’s question was sparked by Chris Wong at Time Warp Toolworks – just how many blogs do you follow on a regular basis? Not the blogs you look at once every blue moon – blogs you follow at least once a week. (I wonder if Tom’s Workbench is part of your list? I can only hope!