Unexpected benefits…..
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Hi All
I’ve been a bit scarce around these parts recently as my ‘woodworking’ has had to take a back seat to other priorities. Earlier in the summer SWMBO and I decided to fill in a very large and un-saveable pond in our garden and to replace it with a large decking area and pergola. I’ve never done any building projects before, so the idea of digging holes for Pergola posts and for joist support posts, plus using concrete etc. was a bit daunting. The measuring/levelling scared me stiff to be honest.
Anyway, 80% of the way into the project, Pergola up, 5 metres by 4 metres of decking laid level and square (enough ;-)), we’re almost there, and it’s looking really good. I had a bit of realisation though the other night whilst I was chopping out a notch in a heavy duty decking board. I had measured the board accurately, made knife walls to start the saw cut, chopped out the waste , then flattened the sides and bottom using a razor sharp bevel edged chisel! How the hell did I know how to do all this? Mr Paul Sellers and his videos, that’s how. Without realising, I’ve picked up so many new skills, from sharpening, to measuring to reading the grain etc.etc. that I’ve been able to put to immediate and very practical use.
It might not be fine woodworking, but it’s woodworking all the same and I can honestly say that this time last year I wouldn’t have known how to even start most of these tasks. So a huge thanks Paul.
Cheers
JonYorkshireman currently living in Hampshire
Nice post Jon, great job. 😉
I agree wholeheartedly Jon, although every “handy-man” job that I ever start (not involving wood) seems to run into complications or spawns other unexpected projects. 😉
My friend just told me a funny story of his involvement in a “beautification” day at his child’s preschool. All the handy parents were there to help, but most (if not all) were paralyzed without the use of power assisted tools. My friend was the only one there who knew how (or was willing) to use the handsaw he brought with him, cutting 4×4’s, while the other parents would rather stand around idle for 15 minutes until a chop saw became available.
-Scott Los Angeles
Thanks guys. I have to admit that I did try to cut the first notch in a board (to go around an upright pergola post) with an electric jigsaw. I soon realised that it was noisier, less accurate and potentially more likely to do irreparable damage to the board if I slipped up, so I got out my panel saw and chisels and did it ‘properly’.
Yorkshireman currently living in Hampshire
I also agree Jon, I find that I can not cut a piece of wood to length now without first producing a knife wall, it becomes a way of working. Other than my cordless drill power tools are very seldom called in to use
Wigan, Lancs. England :
Yep. It’s amazing the way the techniques and skills pile on. I’m still building my bench and I’m losing track of the things I’m learning every day. It’s like I can’t touch a piece of wood with a tool without seeing something I just didn’t “get” before.
John Purser
Hubert, NC
I think I’ve learnt more from this site in a single month that I have in the previous five years or so with other sites. Everywhere else seems to have a bias towards power tool use; I had been convinced that the only way to work was by using a table saw and power router oh, and one of those planer/thicknessers (planer/jointer for our US friends) is simply a ‘must’. Then of course you have to worry about noise, dust and waste disposal. I’ve had more fun and been way more productive since I’ve adopted Paul’s methods of work.
Keep Calm and have a Cup of Tea
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