Mark Singer
12-04-2004, 8:42 AM
We have all made mistakes and attempted to fix them on woodworking projects. Everytime I do, I know doing correctly initially would have saved a lot of time.
It is time consuming to repair mistakes. If we spend a bit more time planning and executing many mistakes can be avoided without additional time expended and the finished product will be better.
I think to a large extent it is attitude . If you are working thinking, "There are fillers,.... if I cut this wrong I can add a piece, ...if the joint doesn't fit well, I can use epoxy and sawdust to fill the gaps" This will certainly lead to making mistakes. If you buy a new car and drive it thinking " If I get a ding...I will get it fixed, no problem" "There are bodyshops" "I will just park anywhere at the market." You will get dings and once you get a few , the pride of ownership is gone, then you really won't care and many more will come. You see new cars , the wheels are scrapped from rubbing the curb....little dents all down the side. Parking while talking on the cell phone. In the same parking lot....a bit farther away...you see an older well cared for sports car. It might be 10 years old...but this guy took good care of it. He drove it thinking, "I never want this in the repair shop...It won't ever be the same...I will find an "end space" far away, so it will be secure" He still has the pride of ownership...probably the car never went to a car wash...he hand washed it!
When I am paring a mortise for a hinge, lets say, I like to visulize the bottom flat, in full contact with the metal. I think it helps to visulize it before the chisel touches the wood. If it is a joint, try to make it fit well as if there were no glue! Cut it tight and pare it , or plane it slowly to fit. Picture in your mind the mortise and tenon touching inn full contact, on all surfaces , except the bottom. The mental picture helps.
When you begin final sanding or planning of a cabinets parts, remove all the metal tools from the bench...they are the cause of potential dents and dings.
I like to work fast, and sometimes it gets me in trouble...sometimes I don't follow the thoughts I mentioned above....but knowing the time it takes to repair mistakes ,I should.
It is time consuming to repair mistakes. If we spend a bit more time planning and executing many mistakes can be avoided without additional time expended and the finished product will be better.
I think to a large extent it is attitude . If you are working thinking, "There are fillers,.... if I cut this wrong I can add a piece, ...if the joint doesn't fit well, I can use epoxy and sawdust to fill the gaps" This will certainly lead to making mistakes. If you buy a new car and drive it thinking " If I get a ding...I will get it fixed, no problem" "There are bodyshops" "I will just park anywhere at the market." You will get dings and once you get a few , the pride of ownership is gone, then you really won't care and many more will come. You see new cars , the wheels are scrapped from rubbing the curb....little dents all down the side. Parking while talking on the cell phone. In the same parking lot....a bit farther away...you see an older well cared for sports car. It might be 10 years old...but this guy took good care of it. He drove it thinking, "I never want this in the repair shop...It won't ever be the same...I will find an "end space" far away, so it will be secure" He still has the pride of ownership...probably the car never went to a car wash...he hand washed it!
When I am paring a mortise for a hinge, lets say, I like to visulize the bottom flat, in full contact with the metal. I think it helps to visulize it before the chisel touches the wood. If it is a joint, try to make it fit well as if there were no glue! Cut it tight and pare it , or plane it slowly to fit. Picture in your mind the mortise and tenon touching inn full contact, on all surfaces , except the bottom. The mental picture helps.
When you begin final sanding or planning of a cabinets parts, remove all the metal tools from the bench...they are the cause of potential dents and dings.
I like to work fast, and sometimes it gets me in trouble...sometimes I don't follow the thoughts I mentioned above....but knowing the time it takes to repair mistakes ,I should.