Tom Cancelleri Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I noticed today that my candle holder that was ready for finish wasn't sitting flat on the legs after glue up. I tried flattening it with a half sheet sander, block plane, and sand paper glued to some mdf. Nothing was working I tried with my disc sander and everything went to hell. Started losing my patience, stressed out to finish stuff within certain timelines. Decided that I could flatten it with the router table, smoothed and flattened 3 legs, I get to the fourth leg and it blew apart. Now I'm pissed off, stressed out and losing my mind. I try to soften the glue joint with heat from my heat gun. I give it a whack with my maker and another and BOOM the sycamore piece split. Now I'm completely effed. I knock the other legs off not giving a damn since all is lost, I throw the piece across the shop to the garbage, and now I'm too angry and stressed to be able to think clearly to do what I need to do. I hate Christmas! Grinch mode go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerrySats Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Sounds like the day I had finishing cabinets . When I have days like that I just walk away it usually gets better if I step back and take a break . Tomorrows another day and that cabinet will be waiting for me but I'll be ready for it . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewyo Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I throw the piece across the shop to the garbage It's good to know I'm not the only one who does this. I'm always embarrassed afterwards, but smashing the thing just feels right. Grinch mode go! Remember the Grinch mellowed over time and really had a good time slicing up the roast beast. Remember the good cheer. If all else fails, gift the smashed and busted pieces and tell the story over a libation of choice. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Jerry is right.. Patience is key to woodworking. When things aren't going right, take a break and walk away. Come back when you're in the right frame of mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I've got 3 pens that I need to get done tonight. Definitely not in the frame of mind right now. Maybe it's nap time and I'll turn at 3am 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 You'd probably be better off.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 And safer! Never power up a machine in a disturbed frame of mind. Relax and let your mind know the wood. Plane, or plane not; there is no ply. Use the Festool, Luke..... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Sorry man, that sucks. We've all had those moments. Have a couple beers, sleep it off. Tomorrow starts anew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Lack of patience is the best way to arrive at this point every time. Sometimes you have to walk away from it and go back the next day with a fresh perspective on things. Don't go jamming your thingy in every machine you have in the shop! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 The crappy thing about it is after I cooled off I figured out exactly what I could've done to and it would've taken me a few minutes to cut some wood and clamp them across the legs and use my router on a sled and take light passes with a small downcut spiral bit. Lesson learned, haste is no good. On a good note, I got the 3 pens I needed to make done. First one was a miserable failure, I had been doing BLO then shellac at low speeds on the lathe, however I decided I was gonna go for speed and do a CA finish. Tonight was the last time I will ever use CA to finish a pen. It's all done and looks fantastic, I pull it off the lathe and clean up the glue that build up at the end... I put it in the pen press and press on the pieces, get CA separation from the wood which looks miserable. That pen goes in the surplus messed up pen pile. I've turned over 100 pens and I'm up to 7 I wouldn't give those away pens, but they are great for throwing around the shop. I started drilling these 2 pieces of wood, they are exotics of some kind, just randoms that were in the exotic 50 cent blank bin. When I started drilling it it was like trying to drill glass. Hard as could be and was chipping out in sharp little bits. I've drilled and turned everything from Alder to Ziricote, never saw anything like it, was tough to machine, had to use my easy wood tools rougher which had it's issue trying to cut it, went at it from the endgrain and slid sideways as it was the only way to get smooth clean cuts, the wood also stuck to everything as it flew about. Its grain looks similar to cocobolo or some sort of rosewood. 1 of them is walnut, I wound up finishing them with 2 coats of brown HUT pen wax followed by 2 coats of white HUT pen wax. Sometimes simple is best. I'm going to remake the candle holder on Friday. I've got some extra materials and the template I made still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Find the couch, and a good hard drink of choice, and relax. The world won't end if you don't get everything done that you demand of yourself. There is always another day, take it from a guy that's lived 26,280 days, not to mention the equal amount of nights! Relax, you'll get it all done! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Melton Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 +1 for a glass of whiskey or one of the lesser spirits. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HunterL Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 And safer! Never power up a machine in a disturbed frame of mind. Relax and let your mind know the wood. Plane, or plane not; there is no ply. Use the Festool, Luke..... Had me laughing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I think the real solution here is to just finally buy a 10" disc sander and 6x48 stationary belt sander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Well now you're at least required to post a photo of the near finished project you threw across the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Bailey Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I'm mourning the loss of that lovely piece you made Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Well now you're at least required to post a photo of the near finished project you threw across the room. I'll snap a picture later when I get home. I couldn't look at it. I'm mourning the loss of that lovely piece you made I'm going to remake it tomorrow, I've got the materials and patterns still. Going to make a couple of tweaks to it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted December 20, 2014 Report Share Posted December 20, 2014 Don't go jamming your thingy in every machine you have in the shop! that right there has to be the statement of the year!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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