Progression, innovation, pride

hackberry jake · June 09, 2012, 01:45:59 AM

Do you guys feel a sort of pride when you look at one of your first woodworking attempts and compare it to something you have made recently? I see things I made when I first got interested. I didn't have a jointer when I made a lot of my first projects, so all the glue joints were sloppy and sometimes my panels/tops didn't have glue and were just boards side by side. I didn't know as much about moisture and wood movement so I had a few fails over that. I began putting "fancy router edges" on my work, and learned a lot about finishes. There is still a lot to learn, but for being self taught, I think I'm coming along nicely. I messaged calebL earlier and he is going to a hand dovetail cutting class. That don't sound like a half bad idea. I've always wondered how people make them look so perfect by hand. Anyways, I'm gunna get off my soapbox now. Do you guys feel pride when you compare past to present works?

Lud · June 09, 2012, 06:35:01 AM

There is a satisfaction to doing things well and having learned from your mistakes. I started making woodworking mistakes about 55 years ago so the fact that I am creative enough to still find new mistakes to make is a source of pride to me. Not just being careless and forgetful but making actual new mistakes can be a source of satisfaction. If you're lucky enough to work with stuff long enough, you'll experience the joy of making a mistake, recognizing it as a mistake you've made before but that you'd forgotten the lesson that you'd learned once before . And then you're on the way to turning the bad mistake into a bad habit and you'll learn the secret woodworking technique of making extra parts to be able to efficiently get past your future mistakes more quickly.

Pursue perfection persistently but accept the flaws in the flow. Humility is a better island to live on than Pride.

T Welsh · June 09, 2012, 07:28:19 AM

Jake, Absolutely. And what lud said is the truth. I always try to one up myself on every project and try to reach perfection. But playing with hardwoods always seems to humble me and bring me back to reality. Tim

metalspinner · June 09, 2012, 09:59:37 AM

I used to get upset when I made a mistake. The problem was I turned out to always be upset. :

The best part of a mistake is the creative opportunity it provides you with. Often the mistake will take you on a new direction you would never have thought to take originally and your project benefits from it.

Magicman · June 09, 2012, 10:37:57 AM

The first person that has to be pleased with any project is yourself.

Tree Feller · June 09, 2012, 07:17:56 PM

Quote from: hackberry jake on June 09, 2012, 01:45:59 AM
Do you guys feel a sort of pride when you look at one of your first woodworking attempts and compare it to something you have made recently?

Actually, I feel mostly embarrassed. I gave a couple a Pepper Mill I had turned a few years ago after I first got my lathe. I thought it looked really nice then. Now, when I walk in and see it on their kitchen table all I can think is "I wish they would throw that ugly thing away."

I'm in the middle of building a Cherry blanket chest and I made some mistakes that I have made before. The difference now is that I either know how to hide/correct the mistakes or when to mill another piece(s).

If I am blessed to continue woodworking for another 10 years, I'll probably look back on what I make today with embarrassment.

I don't think anyone is ever completely satisfied with their work. Even though excellence is definitely achievable, the goal, for me at least, is perfection.

I won't ever get there but I'm gonna have fun trying.

terrifictimbersllc · June 10, 2012, 10:55:56 AM

I hardly ever remember anything that went into the stove.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · June 10, 2012, 11:23:28 AM

Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on June 10, 2012, 10:55:56 AM
I hardly ever remember anything that went into the stove.

This one made me laugh! :D :D :D :D :D :D

WDH · June 10, 2012, 10:03:32 PM

You will always make mistakes, but you will make less of them.

Larry · June 11, 2012, 12:41:15 PM

Thanks for youtube. I'm making kitchen cabinets at present. A friend suggested a cabinet making video on youtube. While I'm no stranger to making cabinets, I'm far from a pro. After watching it this morning I thought now why didn't I think of that? for a few operations. I also had to question a couple of his methods.

I suppose the point of this little story is we can always learn from others.

Overlength · June 11, 2012, 01:35:31 PM

Mistakes are nothing a new cool tool won't solve.

Magicman · June 11, 2012, 08:18:48 PM

Make peace with your past mistakes so they won't screw up your present and future.

WDH · June 11, 2012, 08:27:09 PM

I made a bonehead mistake about an hour ago and I am still pithed about it

.

metalspinner · June 11, 2012, 10:53:46 PM

WDH,
Forgot to tighten the little screws on your dovetail jig?

Forgot you lopped off the first foot of your tape measure because the tab was breaking off and your beautiful 16" wide cherry board is now a foot too short?

Forgot to clean your favorite finishing brush the last time you urethaned something?

Didn't attach the dust collector bag correctly then turned it on?

WDH · June 12, 2012, 07:23:48 AM

Nope. Made a very nice cherry panel 20" wide by 36" long with an intricate scroll pattern on the bottom edge. Had it just like I wanted it. Stood it up on the work bench, thought it was balanced on edge, let go for ONE SECOND to grab a ruler, and it fell off the workbench, hit the floor, and split down the middle :'(.

At that moment, I could have bit nails into better with my teeth than with a pair of wire cutters

.

Todd · June 12, 2012, 12:26:45 PM

I'm kind of the opposite...I often look at the things I've done in the past and wonder "how in the world did I do that?" Then you get back into a project and remember it was just working through the challenges.

WDH · June 12, 2012, 09:39:25 PM

Yeah, I am the same way. I look at something that I made a good while back and think, "Did I make that ???".

Lud · June 13, 2012, 07:23:36 AM

Todd's got it right calling them challenges. I've always thought of it as "solving the puzzles". Sometimes it's your past experiences that tell you how to solve the puzzle and sometimes it's something you just read on the Forum.

The , "Ohhhh, I wished I'd known that before" moment I have reading the threads almost every day! 8)

WDH · June 13, 2012, 07:30:16 AM

One thing that I had to learn is that there is a proper order in doing things. For example, it is easier to do the rough sanding before a piece is glued up most times. When making doors, always make the cope cuts first so that the cuts on the styles removes any tear-out from the cope. Make the top last, not first, and leave it in the clamps until you are ready to attach it to the carcass, that way it will not lay around for weeks and cup on you.