Thread: Introduction

Thanks for the encouragement Dingo.

I don't know what you've been drinking, but can I have some?

Look for an Adult trainee night course, they don't start til after school goes back.[/quote]

Martin,

Welcome to the forum - I've only been here a short time but you've found the best site I seen in a long time.

Just on the TAFE courses ....Cliff is correct. I did a six week, one night per week, 6pm to 9pm, beginners wood turning course and had never held a turning chisel in my life. It was fantastic!! There was no expectation of prior knowledge and the teacher (53 yrs old and had been turning since he was 16) was wonderful. At the same TAFE there was also courses on basic cabinet making at the same time. They are well worth the effort.

I'm sure that NSW would have something similar but if they are anything like Qld you have to be very quick to book in as they are popular.

I still work off the same (very) basic bench that I built as my first project, three years ago. The plans were free from Bunnings and I had to buy some cheap tools with the cheap wood. The sense of acomplishment for having done it is still there, and trust me the result was tragic but I've moved on. I'm now building a corner TV cabinet from blue gum that will outlive me by a long shot.

Respect your tools and the techniques and you will keep all of your "bits". Some of the joy of the product is in the journey and some is in the result. Look forward to hearing from you.

Thornburn

Yeah thanks everyone. Hey, I can't wait until I can post pictures of something I'm proud of (even if its basic to you guys).

I'm getting ahead of myself already - we have no bedhead and the misses saw a nice simple one on ebay for a current price of $150 or something, and I looked at it and thought 'geez, if I knew how to do those basic joints, I could make that out of narrow lengths of pine and stain it for about a quarter of the price or less......'

Even not having the know-how, the number of things I see around for ridiculous amount of money, that could easily be made for a fraction of the price from wood I know I can pop down to bunnings and buy off the shelf is amazing.

Problem is, when I learn a few basics, I won't be back here - but only cause you'll never get me out of the garage again!!!

Problem is, when I learn a few basics, I won't be back here - but only cause you'll never get me out of the garage again!!!

Yeah yeah thats the ticket I knew there was some reason I wasnt here

No seriously... Im never here... Im ALWAYS in the shed doin STUFF!!... but then one has the occasional stuffups muckups hickups burpups and general plain ol cockups... so one shoots in here and ASKS the dumb stupid idiotic questions one should and probably does know the answer to but just cant get the damned thing to come out of the mire of the mushy stuff up top to actually think of it... bein tragic thats gotta happen!!

But no you wont come in here at all once you start gawd what a hoot!!

Okay so your gonna need help selectin tools... then your gonna need help selectin wood cause believe it or not most (99.9&#37 of what Bunnings sells and you think is wonderous cause its cheep is just that cheep CRAP... but tthen you will come runnin in here askin for advice on the timber... and then its all about finishes... and then its should I learn to use a lathe and what good is one anyways an which one should I get then its all about routers and which ones the best (even though everyones been firmly and thouroughly told in no uncertain terms that the TRITON is the best router on the market... but dont get us started on the rest of the Triton range ) then its a router table buy or make cause by then you wont be such a tragic... well okay you'll still be a tragic just not such a dumbassed one is all

And then mate THEN!! The big day will come... you WILL post a pic all chuffed an proud of yerself you will be something simple a coffee table an toolbox a whatever that was easy as... but you my friend will be over the bloody moon... have you had any kidlets yet? If you have you know that proud moment when the little bit arrives? THERE thats what your gonna be like!!... and then we will collectively and individually slap you on the back give yer a cyber ceegar and toast yer work

You'll be right sonshine

Ps.. I was gonna say my usual "buggar the courses just get stuck in" but hey! your a right tragic so you better do one real quick!! If just to stop the blood letting BEFORE it starts... and theyve got medical stuff in TAFES so you'll be right!!

What a saga, great novel there Wild Dingo

But yeah no sweat Martin, I am still learning the basics, I come up with ideas I just don't have the skill / tools for, but hopefully over time that will happen less and less.

My first project that went real well was the old cutting boards for the various families in the local clan. Went down well at christmas, better than I thought.

Now I am fighting the lathe cos SWMBO wanted to learn, so she booked us both into some classes

It be a grand adventure, and one well worth the time, effort, blood sweat and tears

Cheers from WA

First off - fix up the workbench (or even better, build a new one).

Building a new one is good, as you can play with timber without having to worry too much if you stuff a join or something. Doesnt have to be fancy, just sturdy. You can make it out of good old pine wall studs and a sheet of structafloor or mdf for the top. (the fancy hewn-out-of-living-timber-lovingly-joined-with-inlaid-ebony-butterfly-keys-and-mother-of-pearl-inlay version can wait).

Building this will both give you somewhere to work (your lap, the back porch and the dining room table all have shortcomings) as well as an idea of what tools you need to buy/replace/learn how to use.

Plus, you can wack the top with a hammer real hard when you have one of those "D'oh!" moments and cut something the wrong size!

A piece of specific advice, if I may....
Don't just buy a bit of wood when you are about to make something, look critically through the stack, sight down the length to check for straightness, check for big knots (esp. in pine), and check edges for damage. Making silk purses out of sow's ears may be possible, but it wastes a lot of time, effort, and (expensive) wood.
Keep it simple, and try to do it well at each step. A mistake early in a project tends to work like a pretty, soft, cute little pigeon getting sucked into a jet turbine; the problem just goes from bad to worse.
Good luck

Hi Martin

A very big welcome to the best forum around, IMHO!

I too started out about your age, with just a drill, handsaw, and some glue and very little knowledge, skills or experience. However, once I built a few things and a friend posted the pictures here, I was sold!! It's thanks to this forum that I've kept up my woodworking, learnt heaps and lo and behold, about 2-3 years later, have also become one of the moderators that Cliff was talking about

I too, do not have any formal training, but have found this site and the vast knowledge here to be invaluable. I also read as much as possible and am always trying out more techniques and methods.

My suggestion for you, is to pick up your tools and have a go. Sure, you'll make mistakes, haven't we all!! , but you will learn and have a thoroughly wonderful time doing so.

Looking forward to hearing about your first project.

Cheers
Wendy

Originally Posted by rufflyrustic

I too started out about your age, with just a drill, handsaw, and some glue and very little knowledge, skills or experience. However, once I built a few things and a friend posted the pictures here, I was sold!! It's thanks to this forum that I've kept up my woodworking, learnt heaps and lo and behold, about 2-3 years later, have also become one of the moderators that Cliff was talking about

Come on Wendy!!! I mean this tragics 31 for gawds sake!! Compared to you our wee little red leatherette wearin beauty hes flamin older than mud!

Yer a bloody mod Wendy?? When did that happen!!! Sod it all an here I havent even been offered a mods slot!! everyones makin it big but me!

And no Neil ol matey before you go askin me I dont wanna be a mod!! Man I couldnt orjamize meself in a wet paper bag!

Originally Posted by rufflyrustic

My suggestion for you, is to pick up your tools and have a go. Sure, you'll make mistakes, haven't we all!! , but you will learn and have a thoroughly wonderful time doing so.

Yeah see one beautiful paragraph... LISTEN to the woodwhisperer mate LISSEN TO HER!!! She knows!!

See how well she did that? I mean I was gonna do it but figured if I did we'd end up in a right rantin match about the pros an cons of courses again... but Wendy? she just sashays in as bold as brass an says "pick up yer tools an have a go" easy as no sweat flamin sheilas!!

Originally Posted by abitfishy

but also not having a very handy father, I've never been taught when growing up.

Join the club, I have told this before but my dear old Dad had to put in a new cat door, after our rotund Corgi decided to chase a cat one night resulting in said Corgi having to be cut out of the door.
Bought a new slightly bigger cat door and went to Dads tool box, oh what a selection to choose from, an old buggered flat head screwdriver, a hammer and a shifter.
Remove old door by prising off with screwdriver, mark out new opening with template provided, smash out timber with screwdriver and fit new door flange in, hammer in philips head screws with hammer.
He was well pleased with his standard of workmanship.
I have since taught him some basics and bought him tools for Xmas so he can now drill, sand, rout and use a variety of screwdrivers.
Gets his OBE this year (over bloody eighty) and he has progressed in leaps and bounds over the past 20 years although I remember when I was a kid he used to use this black fabric tape to fix everything, got rolls and rolls of it from a disposals place, I remember my bike being held together with it for a couple of years until I outgrew it.
Incidentally, the Corgi died some 16 years later, never recovered from the sight of the workmanship.

Hi Abitfishy,
I suspect your comments were tongue in cheek.
However, knowing that there might be some entering here who are what they claim, let me make these points.
Very few people cannot work on a project.
The advice provided by other members is certainly a good start Just joining the forum was a good start.
However I would add this; A good start is to throw that word "can't: out the window. I often told my own children, it is a "losers" word; especially used before trying, It is an excuse for not trying.
Another good start is to learn to sharpen your tools. Nothing is more discouraging as blunt tools.
Next familiarise yourself with the tools until you feel comfortable with them. Small projects will help you develop the skills. If unsure how to start, ask or look for a publication that will explain to you.
Next when you want to start on a project, look over the plans or sketches, see how everything goes together. The old saying measure twice, cut once is just as true with planning. Unless you do this you are likely to find yourself cutting off a part that should have been left on
Well enough lecturing from an old grandfather, well great grandfather.
If you have taken the advice other members have provided then you are off to a good start
Success usually only requires you make the first step and don't just talk about doing it
Good luck and I am sure you will be fine and we can anticipate some nice projects

Hi Martin,

Welcome aboard. This is a great place to learn with great people. I've gotten heaps of awesome advice so go ahead and ask away.

Why don't you post a few pictures of the workbench and see what people here recommend you can do to stabilise it?

Cheers,
Af.