Do you ever have one of those projects?

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I saw an end table online. I commented to my wife, she wanted to see it and then she asked me to make one similar. So, I agreed to do it.

I made the rough drawing, had some red oak (plywood and solid) left over from a previous project and began the build. Unfortunately, I missed a "minor" execution detail and left a 1/4" routed dado exposed. The end table is made from red oak. Hardwoods are terribly expensive locally, IMO. I couldn't just toss the thing. So this project set on my outfeed table for 2 years before I became motivated to figure out a potential fix to cover my earlier mistake. I was able to mill and rip some small trim that covered the exposed ends (both sides on the end table) of the dado. Now, my wife decided she wanted me to stain that red oak. I tried to convince her into accepting the natural red oak but was unsuccessful in my attempt. So I sanded, applied a pre-stain conditioner and then applied the stain. I lightly sanded and began the poly application procedure. I am still not happy with the finishing (stain or poly) results but the wife loves it. I quit.

I, nearly always, apply a small brass plate to the project stating for whom it was made, date it was finished and my initials. I ordered a brass plate from a local engraving shop and picked it up today. I applied some blue tape in a discrete place on the end table, found the center of the end table and marked it on the tape. Applied 2 vertial pieces of tape slightly wider apart than the length of the plate, measured down from the top and marked the 1 1/4" line on both pieces of the vertical tape. I removed the paper from the double-side tape on the plate, aligned it with the two marks, stuck it to the end table, drilled the holes and screwed it to the back of the end table. Then I removed the tape.

Then and only then did I look closer and it was mounted slightly skewed.

I tried to remove it but getting that thin brass off with destroying it is impossible. It's not expensive at all but I thought I'll just leave it to show our family after my demise that even with the best intentions, things don't always go well!

Ugh!

Photos tomorrow after I bring it in from the shop.

[Robert Hayward]

A person I worked with years ago used to say " Everything I make starts out museum quality on paper".

[Ron Citerone]

At the shop I belong to we have a saying. We spend Wednesday fixing Tuesday's mistakes. ;)

[Darrell Bade]

In the middle of one of those now. Can't get the inset drawers and doors right on an entertainment center that I prefinished and had together. Earlier this week the options were remake some pieces, take apart and try to fix or burn it. Couldn't get apart, now down to make some new pieces to try and fix or burn it. Oak is expensive but could roast some hot dogs if I burn it. See what tomorrow brings

[Dave Zellers]

Problems happen and are usually solvable. All of us know that.

It's the skewed brass plate that would drive me crazy. I think I would have to rip it off and have a new larger one made that would cover the scars of the first one. If I didn't, every time I saw it, I would wish I had.

BTW- I can TOTALLY relate to the 2 year "on the shelf" thing. I've got one that might be over 30 years. I won't give up!!! :p Good luck.

[Stan Calow]

For every project I do, there is a limit on the cumulative number of errors that I can make before I toss it.

[Ron Citerone]

As much as problems cause angst initially, finding clever fixes brings great satisfaction!:)

[Josh Molaver]

Every one of mine is seemingly like that...

[Dave Roock]

Relax ! You said your Wife loved it. Goal achieved ! : > )

[Myles Moran]

I find the easiest way to forget about the mistakes in my projects is to work on the next one. Once that's filled with issues only I notice, I don't have enough brain capacity to remember the issues with the previous project(s).

Going from being critical of a project in the shop to generate a better end product (such as noticing swirl marks and sanding them out, or noticing an issue with a glue up that means you cut it out and re glue) to appreciating the end result without not picking the issues isn't always the easiest transition. If I wasn't critical of my work, I'd never get better at it.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Problems happen and are usually solvable. All of us know that.

It's the skewed brass plate that would drive me crazy. I think I would have to rip it off and have a new larger one made that would cover the scars of the first one. If I didn't, every time I saw it, I would wish I had.

BTW- I can TOTALLY relate to the 2 year "on the shelf" thing. I've got one that might be over 30 years. I won't give up!!! :p Good luck.

Dave, I put that brass plate on the back where I won't see it except for the couple times a year I get back there to vacuum.:D

[Bruce Wrenn]

Remember: Employees here are expected to seek the best solution to the job at hand, and expidite it's progress. However when you are up to your butt in snapping alligators, it's hard to remember you came to drain the swamp! Same applies to woodworking.

[Dave Zellers]

Dave, I put that brass plate on the back where I won't see it except for the couple times a year I get back there to vacuum.:D

Well then, That's very different.

Never mind. ;)

[Marc Rochkind]

Made a small tray for the coffee table, to put drinks on, as a project to do with my daughter. Came out OK, except for a hard-to-see line across it where my sanding went awry. When my partner asked me about it, I said, "That was a mistake." Done.

[Ernie Miller]

Two years is nothing. I got an email last month from someone who purchased my book on harpsichord building. He started building his harpsichord (not the one described in my book) in 1987 - he just finished it. He sent a photo and it looks nice.
I asked if he was planning to build another one and he said no because he won't live that long.

[Christian Hawkshaw]

I don't have projects that have lasted that long, but I do find myself fixing my mistakes quite often....Ran the last pass thru the router the wrong way....luckily, this will be on the back. So the repair begins...

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[Jim Becker]

I still have a set of chairs to complete that I started in 2003. I may try to actually get to them this year. Maybe. :) :D

[Patty Hann]

I stage my WIPs.... that way I've always got something to work on

WIP-10y (started 10 years ago)
WIP-9y
WIP-8y
WIP-7y
etc.
to WIP- current

Annoys my non-hobby-ist friends to complain..."Finish it or get rid of it!"
Best answer for such situations that stops the discussion in its tracks: "Friend, you tend to your knitting and I'll tend to mine."

[Rick Potter]

Waay back when my first grandkid (who now has two kids) was born, I decided to build a kids rocking horse. I knew my wife would want one for out house also, plus more for our two other kids, and nieces and nephews (total ended up at18), so I decided to use a design from WOOD mag with a few mods.

I proceeded to make a prototype from not so good wood, it even had a knot on a rocker runner. Came out ok, so made a couple improvements and proceeded to make the others. 33 years later, guess which one is in our living room. Why, you may ask? The wife's answer...."It was the first one".

That is when I learned to make prototypes out of part board, but I live with some of my mistakes for a long time.

PS: The runner with the big knot in it has never broken even after teenagers rode on it for years. Go figure.

[Rod Sheridan]

We all make mistakes, the challenge is recovering from those mistakes.

Sometimes I can’t recover from them however in those cases I have found this device invaluable.

Regards, Rod

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[Ken Fitzgerald]

we all make mistakes, the challenge is recovering from those mistakes.

Sometimes i can’t recover from them however in those cases i have found this device invaluable.

Regards, rod

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I'll keep that in mind! Thank you Rod! :D

[Ronald Blue]

Ken, it's good to know you are also human. I don't know if I make anything that's mistake free and if I do then it's something else. Finish isn't to my liking etc. Even after marking things so I know which is the top or this side out or whatever. I then fail to pay attention. Like my making a list of things to grab at the big box store, lumber yard, etc. and then not checking my list and getting all I went for. :eek: Or I have several things that I think of throughout the day I should do when I go in the shop, then only remember one or two knowing full well I had other things in mind. Such is life, or my life at least. Let's see those photos so we can appreciate your project.