Reply To: Soooo Slooowww
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[quote quote=143653]I’m finding the same, though the biggest slow part for me is all the unexpected tasks.
My experience is limited to a short woodworking course, where we were provided with squared stock and sharp tools, so all the focus was on measuring/sawing/joinery, which went at a reasonable speed.
As soon as I tried a project at home, I ended up finding out about all the other stuff that also needed to be taken care off.
E.g. my process so far for one of Paul’s simpler projects has included:
* Research place to source wood
* Buy/transport wood
* Notice that wood is slightly cupped
* Research how to true cupped wood (watching videos etc.)
* Start planing wood
* Notice that plane isn’t very sharp
* Research on how to sharpen plane property
* Sharpen plane
* Notice that small piece of wood keeps slipping during planing
* Research how to hold down small pieces of wood
* Buy additional clamp and scrap wood
* Finally prepare stock ready for joinery…
and so on ? I’m guessing it will get easier/faster with more experience!
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Dave C- it does get quicker! Just the other day I noticed how my sensitivity to grain direction had grown, and with it ability to plane wood accurately and without making costly mistakes.
Another key thing I’ve learnt is to keep building, but rather than making ten joints in a project with four duff ones, take time to practise, but in a meaningful way to the project. I.e. Don’t just make a bunch of mortise and tenons for the sake of it, make a project with mortise and tenons but use the practise joints to ensure you build skill that you then IMMEDIATELY put to use. The project turns out well and you end up cutting more joints and therefore learning more. Hopefully the mistakes stay in the test pieces! I’m doing this at the moment. I have an off cut from a piece of timber for the bed leg- I’m practising joints and layout on the off cut first, which has also answered some questions regarding mortise depths and sizing.
Good luck, I’ve been doing this less than a year, and progress has been slow with restoring planes, learning to sharpen, making a sharpening plate holder, learning to camber irons etc… the list goes on and on, but in time you get to a point where the fundamentals are in place and progress quickens.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by James Lawford. Reason: Quoted twice!