Al Capwn Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Open discussion: What technique, teaching or tool improved one of your least favorite aspects of woodworking? This falls into the "Why didn't I do/purchase this sooner!" category. Be it time saved or quality improved. Hindsight being 20/20, if you could go back in time, what woodworking advice would you give yourself? * Highlight of inputs listed below * Tools & Gear Dust Collection Hand tool utilization (Emphasis on block plane) Jointer/Planer Festool Domino Drum Sander Quality abrasives (special mention to Abranet and Klingspor) Technique, Advice & Other Don't try and rush projects Prioritize workspace (shop and workbench) Pay more attention to mentors while they are around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post andrew-in-austin Posted December 2, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Good dust collection. It makes the hobby far more enjoyable than any of the tools I own. I wish I went for a high quality high hp cyclone before I bought any planer, jointer, or table saw. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Don't skimp on a tablesaw... my first was a Skil 3310 from Lowes and the thing was scary to use. Also, my first router purchase was a fixed-base router. My life changed when I finally got a plunge router and I wish I'd have got one to begin with. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post shaneymack Posted December 2, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 1-Auto-on vac for sanders and hand held power tools at bench. 2- Hand tools for many, many different applications. Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post drzaius Posted December 2, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Discovering the block plane, & other planes. And good dust collection. Block plane is probably the biggest moment though 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Capwn Posted December 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 8 minutes ago, shaneymack said: 1-Auto-on vac for sanders and hand held power tools at bench. 2- Hand tools for many, many different applications. Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Is the first one a Green-Koolaid exclusive, or is that part of that Rockler adapter kit thing? The second...such as acquiring a collection of hand tools for different tasks, or learning how to use hand tools for many different things? Such as the versatility of a chisel? 7 minutes ago, drzaius said: Discovering the block plane, & other planes. And good dust collection. Block plane is probably the biggest moment though I haven't made the block plane epiphany yet, care to elaborate what made the block plane a revelation for you? Any comparison/advantage compared to say, a smoothing plane? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elroy Skimms Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 I bought a Festool Domino 2 days ago and I fire it up tomorrow. I'm using this post to reserve a spot for my comments tomorrow night -E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Barron Posted December 2, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Learning how to sharpen. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Gotta go with the domino and the drum sander.. Both were huge time savers! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post drzaius Posted December 2, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 16 minutes ago, Al Capwn said: Is the first one a Green-Koolaid exclusive, or is that part of that Rockler adapter kit thing? The second...such as acquiring a collection of hand tools for different tasks, or learning how to use hand tools for many different things? Such as the versatility of a chisel? I haven't made the block plane epiphany yet, care to elaborate what made the block plane a revelation for you? Any comparison/advantage compared to say, a smoothing plane? BBP (before block plane), my solution to removing a little material was to sand, or to chamfer an edge use a router. The block plane does that & many other tasks better, faster, with no setup, & much less mess & noise than the power tool route I used to use. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 1 minute ago, Lester Burnham said: Note to self: Acquire block plane. I love mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RichardA Posted December 2, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 I did woodwork in high school... got a job in a woodshop after high school.... The pay sucked, but the learning was great. Then I got an offer to drive, for way more money, and for the rest of my life, I'd drive, then take a break and find a woodshop, then drive again. Retirement brought me back to what I've always loved. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesner Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 18 minutes ago, RichardA said: I did woodwork in high school... got a job in a woodshop after high school.... The pay sucked, but the learning was great. Then I got an offer to drive, for way more money, and for the rest of my life, I'd drive, then take a break and find a woodshop, then drive again. Retirement brought me back to what I've always loved. do you wish you would have not went after the money and just stuck to woodworking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Llama Posted December 2, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Flatsawn plywood doesn't look good on anything. Ever. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisphr Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Shop air conditioning / heating. Crosscut sled. Wixey digital angle finder. Quality ROS with great dust collection. Domino, but in some ways this might be slowing my learning by reducing mortise and tenon practice... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 4 minutes ago, chrisphr said: Domino, but in some ways this might be slowing my learning by reducing mortise and tenon practice... Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Immortan D Posted December 2, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Shellac. Only finishing product I actually enjoy applying. And I like the results. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 28 minutes ago, treesner said: do you wish you would have not went after the money and just stuck to woodworking? I'm not sure.... I think I'd still be just as broke, but I wouldn't have had nearly as much fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Cyclone and tons of lighting are at the top. After that I don't know if I can single out anything in particular that I would have done differently. I guess I'm batting 1000 in my own eyes. My only real regret is buying a bulk package of a crap ton of chisels, gouges, chucks, grinder with wolverine jig, and nova lathe for like $1800. I would have been much better off upgrading to a 20" planer earlier. I very rarely turn, so that's a knock on my past self. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 For me it was probably when I upgraded from an 8" jointer to a 12" and when I added the cyclone. And of course I have to add my HVAC unit that gives me a comfortable workshop all year round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 HVLP changed my whole game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Just Bob Posted December 2, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Time. Realizing that woodworking is not a race, If it doesn't get done by your deadline you should have started sooner or change the deadline. Learned this one the hard way, I lost a Christmas, about 3 months of my sick/vacation pay, and a portion of my thumb in the process. And my little girl did not get her jewelry case. Slow down, don't work tired and everything else is gravy. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaneOleWoodWorker Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Build my bench earlier and sacfrice other early projects. It is the home base of my shop and makes life so much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 My jointer. I did not buy one until a year or two into the hobby. It is a game changer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Having my own shop. I'm 26 and we bought our house in the summer of 2014. Before that I worked in my dad's garage or my wife's dad's garage. Or, briefly, on the front porch of our apartment for the first two years we were married. Seriously. This was my "shop" three years ago: And I'm away from the shop at the moment, but here is my Sketchup model of it, which is accurate to the point that it's ridiculous: So yeah. Best advice? Get a shop. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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