Thread: Im starting out. Top 10 mistakes?

Originally Posted by Woodwould

No!

What about a nice assortment of pastries? You can't go past a good Danish, surely!

Originally Posted by critterjg

What about a nice assortment of pastries? You can't go past a good Danish, surely!

Well OK then... perhaps a half dozen Danish pastries, half a dozen Chelsea buns and a bakers' dozen of good old fashioned custard tarts. And a couple of chocolate croisants, but nothing with sliced almonds on top as it's too hard to spot the fugitive wood shaving.

Don't forget the snot blocks!

• Always keep hands well clear of rotating blades.
• Ensure power supply is suitable for equipment being used.
• Make sure equipment is turned off at machine before plugging in to power source.
• Make sure equipment is disconnected from power source before changing blades, bits, cutters or any rotating components.
• Allow power tools time to run down after switch off.
• Always use safety devises to keep hands away from blades and cutters.
• Never remove safety guards.
• Don’t use a tool or attachment to do a job for which it was not designed.
• Never leave machinery running unattended.
• Maintain tools in good operating condition.
• Never use machinery in dangerous environments.
• Keep your work area clean and tidy.
• Keep onlookers at a safe distance.
• Do not overreach.
• Do not wear loose clothing.
• Do not mix alcohol with woodworking.
• Always work in good light.

and to add to the list

have a sence of humor is a must
dont through any tool in anger, because it will be the next tool you will need
and cake

Originally Posted by Shutterbug

• Always keep hands well clear of rotating blades.

Good advice for all areas of your life!

You need a bench to lean against while you ponder and when you think you've pondered enough then lean and ponder some more.

Originally Posted by Karass

Could the cake be swapped with donuts?

Absolutely. The going rate is 6 donuts to one wedge of cake 2" wide at the outside. You also need to supplement the donuts with a bottle of coke.

top ten has probably been mentioned, just an other ten (in random order):

#1 not understanding the movement of timber properly
#2 thinking glue lines won't show
#3 working with blunt tools, dangerous!
#4 drowning in "valuable" off cuts
#5 unless you plan to use your cabinet scraper, get the best sander you can afford (festool). That is the only powertool you will be using for hours and hours on end.
#6 thinking it is not worth making a jig for something because you are only making one of it.
#7 working on a concrete floor, get a rubber mat or something
#8 have good lighting in your workshop, no point sanding if you can't see what you are doing.
#9 no vacuum on a sander, with a vacuum cleaner sanding, faster and sandpaper last much longer
#10 routering a radius on everything you make, crisp lines look much more professional in my opinion

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Excellent post, especially number 10.

Originally Posted by Shutterbug

• Always keep hands well clear of rotating blades.
• Ensure power supply is suitable for equipment being used.
• Make sure equipment is turned off at machine before plugging in to power source.
• Make sure equipment is disconnected from power source before changing blades, bits, cutters or any rotating components.
• Allow power tools time to run down after switch off.
• Always use safety devises to keep hands away from blades and cutters.
• Never remove safety guards.
• Don’t use a tool or attachment to do a job for which it was not designed.
• Never leave machinery running unattended.
• Maintain tools in good operating condition.
• Never use machinery in dangerous environments.
• Keep your work area clean and tidy.
• Keep onlookers at a safe distance.
• Do not overreach.
• Do not wear loose clothing.
• Do not mix alcohol with woodworking.
• Always work in good light.

Hey! That was seventeen!

Originally Posted by Shutterbug

Do not mix alcohol with woodworking.

How do you disolve your shellac flakes then?

[QUOTE=Woodwould;1357299]Hey! That was seventeen!


Would have been more but for some having already been stated.

Strangely enough, I got cake this afternoon in the shed - in the shape of a hammer!. SWMBO'd was making my birthday cake and the first one didn't rise properly, so I got pieces of it using her recently acquired hammer cutter while she made another. Looked great, tasted great!

more to the list

- be prepared for fire in the workshop. Extinguisher, fire blanket etc. And on that note - all sawdust into a metal bin not a plastic one.

- use all your space, and don't be afraid to change it if a better solution comes to mind!

Originally Posted by Shutterbug

[*]Do not mix alcohol with woodworking.

oops... - I was about to suggest changing "cake" with "beer" in WW's post , just to make things right

So far all top-ten lists are great , so here is the mistake number 11:

11. To think you can learn from other people's experience for a shortcut , there's nothing to avoid the learning curve...sorry