Mzdadoc Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Being the beginner I am I just finished my two adirondack chairs for my sister. Seeing as it's all screwed together I found myself then spending a great deal of time looking to improve screw location and symmetry, if you will, so the eye doesn't notice a screw out of place. With them finished my mind wanders to make screw placement jigs so the screws are always in the same place and perfectly aligned. To my question........ Is this normal or do I just have too much time on my hands and my mechanic OCD tendencies are coming out? I don't see anything wrong with it and am wondering if any of you measure/mark lines for perfect screw placement when they show as in my chairs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 It's very normal. If screws show, they should be as aesthetically pleasing as possible. You can measure them and then drill, set up a jig for placement, or place the screw holes in your patterns so they're in the same place on each one. The fact that you notice this and are thinking of ways to improve what you did are positive steps for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted August 11, 2014 Report Share Posted August 11, 2014 Careful layout of screw locations shows great craftsmanship ! My grandfather taught me to "clock " my screws so they are all either showing an "X" or a cross. This matters most when there are multiple screws showing. If you used templates you can drill a tiny hole and mark with an ice pick. And yes it's also your OCD showing a bit. But if it's worth doing it's worth doing right ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 If you can see them, it's absolutely a proper thing to arrange and align the locations in both visual and structurally sound manners. If you're in some hidden location, it might be a little OCD to worry about more than "neatly installed", but that's up to you... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mzdadoc Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 I'm glad because as my wife looked at my chairs she paused and then said "This is going to bother you isn't it?" She knows me I dwell and I can't let it go until I fix it. I never even thought of clocking. Being a gear head I've seen more then a few restorations but honestly the ones that stood out the most were the ones where all the screws were clocked. It was a 57 Corvette and it wasn't that perfect in 57. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Screws? What are these 'screws' of which you speak? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 What Barry said. And: What you are now is anal. You're not truly OCD until you're obsessing over ways of avoiding using screws. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 If you point it out to your clients that the screws are not in line they will think about it for a couple of minutes and then instantly forget. They are just not that bothered. However if you pointed it out to a fellow woodworker and also mentioned that the clocking is also not quite right then you will be berated forever more. Best keeping quiet . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mzdadoc Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Terry that's what my wife and very good friend told me. I started pointing out what I felt were flaws and they both told me "Never would have noticed so stop pointing it out!" 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 I even do it for nails in siding. I just cut the top board to length, drill holes, and use it to mark the others as they go up. Plan ahead, and it's not really that much trouble on anything. I don't point little details like that out, but one lady looked at siding I had put up, not needing caulking, with the nails all perfectly aligned, and spaced the same from the bottom of the board. Her husband was a carpenter. She said, "I didn't know ANYONE was capable of doing that!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikem Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 You're not truly OCD until you're obsessing over ways of avoiding using screws. Well, crud! Call me OCD then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 You're not truly OCD until you're obsessing over ways of avoiding using screws. I resemble this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 What Barry said. And: What you are now is anal. You're not truly OCD until you're obsessing over ways of avoiding using screws. Or clocking your screws Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mds2 Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Being detail oriented and having OCD are two very different things. When you are compelled to repeat an action that you yourself are aware of but can't stop doing, then you may have OCD. As a mental illness OCD is almost unique in this aspect. Wanting something to look good isn't OCD. I clock my screws too, but im not compelled to. Locking the door on the other hand, ugh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Coop Posted August 12, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 I skipped the OCD phase and went straight to anal. On my chairs, I counter sunk the screws and filled them w/ plugs of the same wood. After sanding the plugs, I noticed that the grain wasn't running right on some of them and I drilled them out and cut new plugs 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 I counter sunk the screws and filled them w/ plugs of the same wood. Yes, but did you clock the screws before hiding them with the plugs? You may need to remove the plugs, clock the screws, and replace the plugs. Otherwise, it'll drive you crazy knowing that the screw slots are every which way under those plugs. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Yes, but did you clock the screws before hiding them with the plugs? You may need to remove the plugs, clock the screws, and replace the plugs. Otherwise, it'll drive you crazy knowing that the screw slots are every which way under those plugs. I shant loose another nights sleep nor another days work on these chairs. The bird crap has concealed all of the plugs on the chairs & my analbility has moved on to another project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 OCD is much more than clocking the install. It is clocking the storage. Clocking in the hand. Clocking the install. Removing the screw because clocking the screw took one rotation too few. Buying more screws to clock in storage... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher74 Posted August 12, 2014 Report Share Posted August 12, 2014 Way to go guys. I had never heard of or thought of clocking. Now I have something else to fret over. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddclippinger Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 I skipped the OCD phase and went straight to anal. On my chairs, I counter sunk the screws and filled them w/ plugs of the same wood. After sanding the plugs, I noticed that the grain wasn't running right on some of them and I drilled them out and cut new plugs Yep, been there & done that a few times! I clock the screws when doing electrical trim out on a remodel, usually don't need to on wood projects since they are not seen. I do a nice layout the locations, it does reflect well on the perceived quality and craftsmanship. When my wife sees me fretting over some detail in my work, she claims that she can hear the "anal sucking sound" from the house! I have learned to lighten up, my motto has become "learn to discern." This means understand what really matters and what doesn't. But then, that is all a personal opinion and you will just have to decide where to draw the line for yourselves;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Crawford Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 "When my wife sees me fretting over some detail in my work, she claims that she can hear the "anal sucking sound" from the house! " Now that made me snort my breakfast coffee all over the table. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddclippinger Posted August 13, 2014 Report Share Posted August 13, 2014 Tom - I was going to talk about that in a video. You should see her demonstration of the anal sucking sound. Sometimes she doesn't say anything, she just makes a real taught face and sucks in like she is trying to get air through an itty bitty straw. Then I realize I am just getting too picky about a detail. She helps keep me balanced. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick A McQuay Posted August 14, 2014 Report Share Posted August 14, 2014 Wanting something to look good isn't OCD. But it could be OCPD I have to be careful because I can become very obsessed with perfection to the point where I screw up the project or just never finish it at all because I can't move beyond some imperfection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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