Thread: Done in a day

I guess a hell of a lot, though would quality be sacrificed? In my case yes it would.

I cannot vouch for others when I say I'd rather spend a week or even weeks on a project to get it done right and perfect than have it 'done in a day' Hell I spent at least an hour on a drawer that should have taken 30 minutes max, just getting it right. Remember "Rome wasn't built in a Day"

It's absolutely fine you only got the legs and apron done, infact it's probably better. You now have time to think about the top and it's construction rather than rushing it and ending up with a half assed job.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Harlan

Originally Posted by Arron

I admit that when it comes to woodworking I'm a bit on the slow side. Yesterday I decided that today I would spend all day in the shed and see if I could make a console table in a day. I had in mind a pretty basic table. Five hours later all I have finished is the legs and skirts. This leads me to think maybe others would like to share:

what can you/have you done - start to finish - in a day ?

Mate Not sure why you would set that sort of time limit?? I guess we have all made stuff in a day but I dont like to set a time for a project ( unless my "client" sets one for me) because I work to the way I am feeling at the time. Dont believe you can rush wood work coz thats when you make mistakes. I like to let a project unfold and have often changed direction mid way as I have given myself time to think about where the project is at and made subtle changes.

Am working on a blanket box for a very dear friend and whilst the basic design has not changed I have made 3 or 4 subtle changes as it has unfolded. For me it becomes more unique that way

Cheers

It depends where you start, if you have made a similar thing before, how far advanced your plans are, how urgently it needs to be made, and the length of grandma's nose

If you have made a very similar item before, start with all your timber dressed to size, have a detailed plan and you need it soonish (and grandma's nose is short) I would expect rapid progress.

Sometimes it takes me a half a day just to sort out the timber, and usually I have no fixed plan so I am just as likely to start from scratch at any time and intermingle it with 2/3 other projects. Also I hate deadlines.

Of course this would be unsustainable if one were doing this for a living, but seeing as I'm not in that category since the journey is at least a valued to me as the product. If you enjoy the ride then take your time and don't be rushed.

I guess that the only project that gets done in a day would be a turning project. My club used a gavel which was used to belt a bell when order was called and that gavel went missing.
A replacement was designed, material sourced (a redgum fencepost) and the gavel turned, finished with Ubeaut and assembled in the space of an hour and a half.

Anything more complicated will take at least a fortnight.
Cheers
Graeme

Well, I spent all day in my shed today, and all I got done was one mitred frame for a small raised panel door. Hell enjoyable though.

I've not really done mitres before, so it was a real challenge. I also don't have frame clamps so I had to devise my own system. All this combined with my dodgy router table, made the whole thing a challenge. Not to mention I had to denail and rip the timber for the frame.

I tend not to worry about how much I get done, as long as I finish happy and not depressed.

I might have given the wrong impression. I certainly dont mind how long it takes. I only set the time limit because I find it an interesting question. What sort of worthwhile project can you do in a day ?

Yes, turning is the obvious one. When I was just starting turning, I used to have a thing called the 'daily bowl'. Every day, when my wife came home from earning the family income, the bowl I had made that day would be on the dining table, ready for comment.

There is one exception to this though. The one good thing about finishing something in a day is there is no WIP hanging around, cos WIP is the enemy of the holy grail (which we all know is a tidy shed).

Arron

Originally Posted by Arron

The one good thing about finishing something in a day is there is no WIP hanging around, cos WIP is the enemy of the holy grail (which we all know is a tidy shed).Arron

Go and wash your mouth out with caustic soap! A clean shed is a sign of someone without a project. Admittedly you can clean the floors so you don't slip on shavings and clean one bench at a time, so you can actually work on it, but for the entire shed to be clean

You are missing the point. Being in the shed is the importent bit. The projects are supposed to be slow. It is about being in a mello place. If woodworking is your profession then that is different and time is money. Anyhoo that is my excuse when asked if that thing is finished yet.
Regards
John

Once (15 March 2008) I actually did more in one day that I had planned! It's so memorable I even posted a thread about it!

Most days I seem to go backwards, or around in circles.

I suppose it would be possible to make a simple coffee table in 1 day. Simple as Top = 1m x .6m, apron, tapered legs, dominos joints but unfinished.

8.00am - 10.00 am : build the top, machine stock, glue up, clamp and leave it to dry til 4pm.

10.00 - noon : build the base. Make the legs and aprons. Taper the legs then join aprons to legs with Dominos. Glue up, clamp and leave it to dry til 5pm.

Noon to 1.00 pm : lunch

1.00pm to 2.00pm: make 8 wooden buttons

2.00pm to 4.00pm: afternoon tea break

4.00pm to 5.00pm: Table top is dry, clean up table top, cut to length, scrape and sand.

5.00pm to 5.30: attach table top to the base.

Scott,

Yer don't have ter leave it in the clamps that long, mate.