Thread: Am I wasting my Time with woodwork?

G'day Thumbsucker,

How's this for an offer? I'm in Kilsyth, if you want you can have some space in my shed to make your bench, you can also have the use of the machinery/tools in the shed to make your bench.

And then when you've made it I'll grab a trailer, if you need the use of one and we'll lug your bench back to your joint.

Just because I have horns, look fat and swing an axe doesn't make me ascary bloke.

Originally Posted by Waldo

G'day Thumbsucker,

How's this for an offer? I'm in Kilsyth, if you want you can have some space in my shed to make your bench, you can also have the use of the machinery/tools in the shed to make your bench.

And then when you've made it I'll grab a trailer, if you need the use of one and we'll lug your bench back to your joint.

Just because I have horns, look fat and swing an axe doesn't make me ascary bloke.

Forum BBQ at waldos, we can build thumbsucker a bench....

As Gra ducks and runs for cover.....

G'day,

(I'll come back to you soon Gra )

Thumbsucker, when I was making my bench I didn't want to spend a fortune on timber, so to save money, because at the time I only had a few tools and hadn't yet brought the rest down from Brisbane) I jumped into building site skips to grab 100x100 posts and other bits of hardwood - probably saved myself $200 or so.

The traddies didn't mind, one day I jumped into a skip in a suit after a meeting in town, bugger what they thought of me I thought, I got free timber so

Follow up to Waldo's post, when the banks etc do a refit they just toss out the old counters into a skip.
They are big heavy solid and free, just take a drive around after work one evening and see what is happening, or, contact a shopfitter, they may even offer something as it saves them carting it away, or, a trip to a tip, the scrounging employees will sell some of the better 'rubbish' that is dropped off.

Hi Thumbsucker,

yes, the Frustration is enough to make you tear your hair out, kick the timber and throw your tools out the door.

I, too, have been extremely frustrated with my efforts, my lack of tools, lack of a working space and lack of good timber. There have been many times where everything has plateaued and gotten stuck. That's when taking a break, a step back and re-evaluating why I can't get off the plateaue has helped.

Your frustration seems to be in 2 parts.
1 - wasting good, hard-earned money on dodgy timber
2 - a bigger workspace, tools and a workbench


1 - we have all done this at some stage. Unfortunately, it's a suckitup and learn from situation. Just maybe you might be able to reuse the timber in something else

2 a - a bigger workspace - not much to help with there, but you have options as others have said - so, it comes down to figuring out how to make the most of the workspace you do have

2 b - tools - what do you want to do/build, what tools will make the most difference/be the most useful. Write the list, save up for them and get the best one you can. Hunt around and keep your eyes open. It's surprising what you might spot simply walking past a shop or garage sale etc.

2 c - workbench. It doesn't have to be big, just sturdy, stable and flat. Things got so bad for me at one stage that my 'workbench' was about 40 cm by 50 cm.

The old workbench I used to have was made up of plywood scraps, glue screws and an old internal door. Total cost in the end was $20. If you have a look at my GTG thread there's a picture of it in towards the end of the thread.

Change what you can, and try not to stress about the rest.

Good luck

Cheers
Wendy

Originally Posted by Waldo

G'day Thumbsucker,

How's this for an offer? I'm in Kilsyth, if you want you can have some space in my shed to make your bench, you can also have the use of the machinery/tools in the shed to make your bench.

Onyu Waldo And im in Mordy and you can also come and make a bench here and use my machines. I make heaps of benches for trades and schools etc, so i can help you out with the design and construction

You're not alone, mate; we've all been through the woodworker's "dark night of the soul". But there is hope. Dingo's and others' posts here are gold. I started like you with a WorkMate, hammer, chisel. Then got a plane, etc. etc.

Agree that a bench will take your work to the next level.

Another crucial enabler is sharpening. Spend some time researching sharpening, and get yourself some sharpening gear. I recommend waterstones. Those spokeshaves and chisels will come to life again when they're really sharp.

But there's no silver bullet. Patience grasshopper...

It sounds to me that you are feeling overwhelmed. It's just all too much and too hard.

Been there and done that. Felt like cr##p for several months and just couldnt get off my ass to do anything.

To overcome it I narrowed my focus. Forget the big picture. Pick a small easy to complete project, even part of a larger one, allow yourself plenty of time and just do the one thing.

Make another sword, even if for no other reason than the pleasure of making it.

As for a bench, 2 folding saw horses and old door which can be stacked against the wall after use.

If it wobbles in use then wedge it in a corner or temporary bolts to the wall.

Remember timber is what you use and it has to be very small before it becomes firewood.

Hey, I've got a shed full of tools and machines and wood and I still often wonder if I'd be better taking up fishing or something more rewarding. It can be absolutely heartbreaking to spend hours and hours on something to have it go pear shaped. Last night I was trying desperately to mill some 3/4" by 3" lengths out of an 8"x2" board. Do you think I could get the bandsaw to cut straight? I was gloating a few days ago about how straight it was cutting, so what did I do? I stuffed around with the tracking. Now it's all over the place. And I chose to do it at that crucial time. I should just give up.

Just once I'd like to have some nice, straight grained cabinet timber to work with, instead of this horrible, splintery, twisted, snake-grained stuff I'm using now, or the horrible, splintery, void-filled stuff I used on the last project. But I can't afford to buy the nice stuff, so I take what I can get. Conversion rate to firewood is pretty high, but at least I'm keeping the wife and kids warm while I swear and curse down in the shed.

But every now and then, more often of late, things go well and to plan and I think to myself, this is the greatest pastime there is.

Join a club near to where you are, the members there will probably be able to tell you similar stories. They'll also be able to give you tips on where you are going wrong if in deed you are actually doing something wrong.

My own bench is made pretty much to harry's method. Used left over pine from a stud wall for the legs/frame and some left over door jambs for the top.

Made it was planing it to try and get it reasonably flat and it was bouncing all over the place. Learned my Stanley #4 wasn't that much chop. Or my sharpening at the time, and there was no bracing in the bench so I knocked it to bits and put some bracing in. Was able to get somewhere with it

re timber not fit for anything. You are making a workbench, not Queen Lizzies dining table. Do what most here have done and just knock it up out of what you have to do what you want. Personally I'd assume a workbench will get the life beaten out of it eventually and you will want to either fix it or get another one. It doesn't have to be pretty.

Studley

Midge you forgot to mention a 2m long dining table and 4 benches.

There is not much left.

Don't give up mate. This is my workbench I had when I started 4 years ago. Just keep trying and it will come good.

as the "real" Emilio Swartz said to me one day

"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly"
if you like doing it...do it!