Finally, the birds are blooming and the flowers are chirping. And for many of you, it’s your first chance to get in some solid shop time without freezing. My suggestion is to approach it like Spring Training and ease yourself back into it. Either that or just dominate your shop and take on that big furniture project you’ve been planning all winter. Or, do neither!
Lol, as I’ve said numerous times, there is no right way to do woodworking. I'm still making it up as I go along. But I’ve spoken with many, many woodworkers who somehow feel like they’re not doing it right. These concerns seem to fall into a few different camps:
The One-track Mind. This is the woodworker who has the focus and attention to spend five months building an heirloom armoire. Starting a second project before finishing this one is unthinkable. But he feels guilty that he can’t get to any of the small projects he’s been wanting to make. “Honey, when do ya think you’ll get to that garden bench I’ve been asking for?”
The Multi-tasker. This woodworker has at least thirteen projects in the shop, in various stages of completion. She feels overwhelmed that she can’t focus on getting one thing done at a time and wishes she had more of a one-track mind. It seems like nothing ever gets finished.
The Shop Monster. This woodworker’s projects consist almost exclusively of projects for the shop. Workbenches, tool stands, accessories, jigs, storage units. Besides tools and hardware, there is nothing in this shop that’s not handmade out of wood. He’s concerned that everything he builds is intended to help him build “actual things”, but he never seems to get around to making those “actual things”.
What’s the common thread? They’re all spending the same amount of time in their shops.
None of us are one of these archetypes completely, but I’m going to guess you tend to see yourself as one type a little more than the others. There may be times when you think you’d be more productive if you could just focus on one project at a time, or times when you wish you were flexible enough to tackle a couple projects at once, or that you had the confidence to step out of your shop-project comfort zone and build more things that everyone could enjoy.
Relax, my woodworking friend, you’re doing fine. There should be one concern above all others when it comes to woodworking: Are you enjoying the process and the time you spend in the shop? If the answer is yes, you’re doing it right.
Did you get into this hobby because you wanted deadlines? Did you buy a table saw so you could meet other people’s expectations? Did you start woodworking because you needed that heirloom armoire? Did you set up a shop because you wanted more stress in your life?
This spring, and hopefully beyond, make it a point to embrace whatever you’re doing in the shop (no matter what it is or how much you’re accomplishing) and know that this is what woodworking is all about.
Have a great month,
Steve
P.S. Spring is a great time to organize and clean up the shop. If you’ve been thinking of some upgrades, or if you just want to start with a blank slate, sign up for my Weekend Workshop course. It’s a small investment that will help you turn any space into a dream shop.
Essential Shop Jigs
How to make a crosscut sled (and why you need one)
One of the most common cuts to make on a table saw is a crosscut. Unfortunately, the only tool for making crosscuts that comes with a table saw is a miter gauge. You can usually get by with these and make cross cuts that are good enough for most projects, but a crosscut sled will assure perfect, 90-degree cuts every time without having to adjust anything. It’s easy to make and is one of the most useful accessories you can have for your table saw.
Watch the latest video in my Essential Shop Jigs series to learn more about why a crosscut sled is so useful and learn how to build your own at http://myshopjigs.com.
Free plans are available in U.S. or metric measurements!
Community Highlights
The Next Generation of Woodworkers
I love hearing from the youngest members of The Weekend Woodworker community! Their work is truly impressive and excites me for what their woodworking future has in store.
Eva in Ohio built a BMW all by herself, a Mobile Miter Saw Stand without any plans, and has her own YouTube channel. Way to go!
Christian in Pennsylvania has his own online woodworking store selling beautiful projects, including live edge serving trays and device stands. Keep up the good work!
Fantastic Flip-top Stand I’m always blown away by members’ ingenuity! This hybrid flip-top miter stand by Weekend Workshop member Josh is an amazing idea. The fold-up sides act as infeed/outfeed tables for the planer, then when the top is flipped around, the sides become extension tables for the miter saw. Brilliant.
BMW Family
There have been countless Basic Mobile Workbenches built since The Weekend Woodworker launched in 2017, and I never get tired of seeing all the photos! Amanda built an entire family of 5 BMWs for her shop!
The BMW is one of my favorite projects because it is simple to make, sturdy, and can easily be modified to fit any space you need. (If you haven’t built one yet, you can grab a free set of plans here.)
Small Space Solution
I want to show off this creative, small space solution built by a member of The Weekend Woodworker course. This fold-up kitchen island is practical and looks great in his sister-in-law’s apartment. Great job, Peter!
Thanks for reading,
- Steve
P.S. If you are new this month, you can read last month’s issue of Notes From the Shop here.
