Beginners Section!!??

[Froggy]

Hi to all,

As a new comer not only to the forum but also woodworking I've learned a lot from 'listening in' on you guys talking shop. Sometimes there's a fair bit of waffling and muscle flexing,but I've picked up loads of tips and supplier and general woodworking info. The only problem is having to sift through loads of different topics and categories to find helpful info, and I was thinking maybe it would be a good idea to set up some sort of beginners section. For example helpful tips or info without the jargon (or with the jargon, but explained) and little step by step projects. I know that involves work for somebody,but many may benefit and it may attract more people to the UKW. Just an idea - what do you think?
By the way...I've being trying to work out SWIMBO?? Obviously the other half, but can't work out the acronym. Perhaps Some Woman In My Bloody 'Ouse (I can get away with not using a H in House being from Yorkshire) or Same woman I Married But Older. I have noticed that some people use the acronym without the I.......ooohhh just worked it out (I think) She who must be obeyed?

 

[Digit]

Us waffle? :lol:

Roy.

 

[woof]

SWMBO

She Who Must Be Obeyed.

Made famous in the Rumpole of the Bailey series but used widely.

 

[Froggy]

Us waffle? :lol:

Roy.

Did I say Waffle? When I meant intellectual and stimulating conversation - sorry.

 

[Digit]

That's your first lesson successfully accomplished. :lol:

Roy.

 

[Froggy]

Thank you Master.

 

[Digit]

:lol: :lol:

Roy.

 

[studders]

Rather than another new section I think the search function should be erm... tweaked? to be useful rather than useless. Unless I'm doing something wrong when I've tried to use it?. :?

 

[halken]

I agree with studders the search is very hit and miss

 

[wizer]

Guys. Let's be thankful this site is here at all!

It's not broke, so let's not try to fix it

 

[woof]

Agreed Wizer...

And the search is helpful if you use and.

For example, search with Planer.

Then do the same again with Planer and Jet.

Simples

 

[Woodmagnet]

I have never tried using the search function here
or on any other forum
Am i missing out on anything :?: :-k

 

[Boz62]

I'm afraid I always use Google to search the forum. Just put the following into Google:

Jet planer site:ukworkshop.co.uk

for example. You can then also go to "show options" or Advanced to search for recent posts as well, by time.

Boz [insomniac :evil:]

 

[studders]

Agreed Wizer...

And the search is helpful if you use and.

For example, search with Planer.

Then do the same again with Planer and Jet.

Simples

Just tried it. Got...

Sanders
Makita Table Saw
Jet Table Saw

and many, many others unrelated to my query. So, not quite so simples.



Studders(Another insomniac)

 

[StevieB]

The search function looks for words in a thread, not just the title of the thread. So you need to scan everything if you want to see why the search function highlighted it. Threads do drift on and off topic and there can be useful info buried in them if you look hard enough. That said, it is only worth doing if there are no threads titled with your search query, since these are more likely to address the question you searched for.

Steve.

 

[Graeme]

I think Boz has hit on somthing. :idea:

That works very well!

 

[studders]

I think Boz has hit on somthing. :idea:

That works very well!

It certainly does. Thanks Boz. Just goes to confirm that improvements could be made to the forum search function. Whether that is for UKW or phpBB to do I've no idea. Will use the google method in future searches I think.

 

[woodbloke]

SWMBO

She Who Must Be Obeyed.

Made famous in the Rumpole of the Bailey series but used widely.

I- immediately :shock: ...and first used (but not the acronym) by Sir Henry Rider-Haggard in 'She', and a cracking read it is too :wink: - Rob

 

[Froggy]

I appreciate that there are ways and means of searching for things you KNOW you want to look for, but if your search is something none specific (in my case looking for info and tips that as a beginner I can understand) it's a bit more difficult. What I tend to do is scan through as many topics as I have time for looking for bits that might be of interest. But all too often the conversation changes direction and I find I've spent 1/2 hour reading something I either didn't understand or was of no use. I don't want anyone to think I'm being critical here because I'm not. I think the web site fantastic. I also understand that the web site is not set up for beginners but skilled (either professional or hobbiest) woodworkers. I was rather hoping that there were a lot of people in my position who were reading but not commenting and thinking along the same lines as myself. And that if I spoke up perhaps there would be lots of people who would start saying 'yes give us our own little section with projects tips and info'. Unfortunately I semm to be alone and all the Usual Suspects have taken over the topic to discuss the search engine qualities.

 

[wizer]

Froggy, the owner of this site is pretty busy with other stuff and is happy for this site to just bob along as is. I do agree that the rest of the non-forum parts of the site could be updated to help beginning woodworkers. But I really don't think it's going to happen any time soon. We're all very tolerant of newbies and no one really gets upset at repeated basic questions. So, in short, let's just carry on as is.