Steve's workshop - Painting the outside walls

[Steve Maskery]

Mike, at the risk of turning a nice bit of frivolity into a serious discussion, you are closer to the mark than you might realise.

The last proper piece of furniture I made for my last house was a chevalier mirror. There were other things I would have like to have made, such as a modern grandfather clock, but there was no space left for anything else.

I'd been building the home for 18 years, it was my contribution to the domestic economy, whilst my BXW went out to work and earned the money. I really was worried what I was going to do when there was no more furniture to make.

In the event the decision was made for me...

But I'm in the same position here. It is all I've wanted for as long as I can remember. It's getting closer, and then what? I've actually got to start using it. OK, I do need some furniture. Like everything. Bed Wardrobe. Table and chairs Sideboard of some kind. I have no storage in this house other than the kitchen cabinets.

But all that is not going to take for ever, and then what? Wanted, raison d'être.

 

[lurker]

The obvious thing to me is to turn the front part of the log cabin into a showroom very soon and get some of the furniture you have already made on display, as an example of your capabilities and wait for the commissions to roll in.

 

[monkeybiter]

I've come to the conclusion, over the course of many crises of confidence and motivation, that how your 'results' are valued, either by you or others, is quite unimportant. The time we've got left is much less than the time it's taken to get here, so sodd it and just aim for enjoyment.
Whether you enjoy making tools, jigs, furniture or firewood, all that really matters when that unseen bus nudges you off this mortal coil; have you enjoyed yourself as much as you reasonably can, or have you just wasted your time worrying when it will arrive. Just enjoy that smell of sawdust. Maybe keep some freshly cut in your bedroom, it might even promote nicer dreams.

 

[brianhabby]

I've come to the conclusion, over the course of many crises of confidence and motivation, that how your 'results' are valued, either by you or others, is quite unimportant. The time we've got left is much less than the time it's taken to get here, so sodd it and just aim for enjoyment.
Whether you enjoy making tools, jigs, furniture or firewood, all that really matters when that unseen bus nudges you off this mortal coil; have you enjoyed yourself as much as you reasonably can, or have you just wasted your time worrying when it will arrive. Just enjoy that smell of sawdust. Maybe keep some freshly cut in your bedroom, it might even promote nicer dreams.

Amen to that Mike.

regards

Brian

 

[PAC1]

...

But I'm in the same position here. It is all I've wanted for as long as I can remember. It's getting closer, and then what? I've actually got to start using it. OK, I do need some furniture. Like everything. Bed Wardrobe. Table and chairs Sideboard of some kind. I have no storage in this house other than the kitchen cabinets.

But all that is not going to take for ever, and then what? Wanted, raison d'être.

Steve, the lack of things to make does not stop the rest of us from spending time in our caves! I am yet to get to the end of my list and even if I did I have a longer wish list of things I want to make just because I can.
I thought your cave was also to be a studio for the production of the New Workshop Essentials series and looks big enough for the Workshop Essentials training courses, though you may need some new jumpers :lol: 8)

 

[Graham Orm]

But all that is not going to take for ever, and then what? Wanted, raison d'être.

Online woodworking school similar to Rob Cosman?

 

[Steve Maskery]

I'm very flattered by you all! I fear my skills are not in that league.

It's true I do have a couple more DVDs in my head, but I am rapidly running out of what I know, and I genuinely believe that the reason that my DVDs are so well-regarded is because I know exactly what I'm talking about. If I start broadening into areas where I don't I'm sure my reputation will suffer! We'll see.
S

 

[AES]

My goodness Monkeybiter (Mike) I really thought I am the only one (or one of the very few)!

I so often start something off with a very clear picture in my mind of something I'm going to make, and (in my mind - and even on the dimensioned sketches) the picture looks absolutely pristine. But a L-O-N-G time later the reality so often looks more than "somewhat different"

But you're quite right, as long as I've (mostly!) enjoyed the journey then regardless of what anyone else may say or think, I think I've maybe won something. And I do also think that I may be slowly but surely improving just a bit. And I'm anyway so S-L-O-W that I'll never run out of stuff on my roundtoit list.

But in any case it saves me hanging around on street corners chasing loose women (fat chance at my age)!

:?

Cheers
AES

 

[CHJ]

I'm very flattered by you all! I fear my skills are not in that league.

It's true I do have a couple more DVDs in my head, but I am rapidly running out of what I know, and I genuinely believe that the reason that my DVDs are so well-regarded is because I know exactly what I'm talking about. If I start broadening into areas where I don't I'm sure my reputation will suffer! We'll see.
S

Well when you reach the limit of your knowledge/machine shop technique skills that you think are of a high enough standard to provide an example to others, use your filming and narrating skills to present other specialists in other aspects of woodwork who have the knowledge but not the facilities to produce the videos.

 

[Noggsy]

Looking good Steve. If it is a serious point you're making, then I wouldn't waste a second on it. Someone with the repetoire that you have can simply start making things for fun, or to sell, or to make a friend's child smile. How nice to have the skills, time and facilities to be able to do that. A couple more DVDs will take some time to make, edit and market. Then you'll have ten more ideas which crop up while that's going on. CHJ's idea is a good one and there's also running small classes from your new palace (shed). You've also got to write the article/series/book about this build.

I've heard you say a few times about jigs you've made which you could now improve on, so you could revisit earlier DVDs and update them. Chris Schwarz is now re-writing his first workbench book and I think that's a healthy attitude...always trying to get better and share your knowledge.

I'm exhausted just typing all that...should keep you going for a year or so

 

[StevieB]

Steve - seriously think there is the scope for you to make DVDs of actually making objects rather than demonstrating equipment. Think Norm for the UK market - you have shown people how to set up a workshop, now show them what you can do with it!

Steve

 

[Graham Orm]

Rob Cosman simply films himself making stuff. I think he does 3 shows a week. You don't have to do that many, just make a batch of say, 6 shows making a side table, then post it as a series. A Brit based Woodwork channel on YT would be most welcome. Yes lots do the same, but it's the presentation that makes the difference. Lots of guys think you tune in to see them sat talking to the camera, the clever ones do the talking whilst showing the woodworking. Obviously if you mess up, you re-take the shot. It would be an excellent platform for selling your videos and if you get enough views I believe YT pays as well.

I don't know how familiar you are with Sketchup, but you could offer the plans to go with your creations too. The smaller and simpler the projects are the more takers you will get. If you go for big complex things most will find it daunting.

Jay Bates 102,500 subscribers https://www.youtube.com/user/Jayscustom ... s/featured
John Heisz 161,90 subscribers https://www.youtube.com/user/jpheisz/about
Steve Ramsay 402,000 subscribers https://www.youtube.com/user/stevinmarin/about

Have a look at the standard of the stuff they do Steve, particularly Steve Ramsay who has the biggest following by far. How would you like to market your videos to 400,000 woodworking fans.............completely free of charge? you'll pay for that workshop in no time and have a ball doing it.


EDIT: This guy has one of the best presentation methods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDu5-dJX2Cg I've exchanged messages with him. He says everything is filmed in real time, which means that it all has to be done quickly with minimum fuss. That leads to a fast interesting format. You could do the same but record and edit it, and present it as though filmed in real time.

 

[Adam9453]

How about taking on a paying student, other woodworking schools charge substantial amounts of money for a years full time course. You could perhaps offer shorter courses, cheaper courses, longer courses, well whatever you can think of, I'm sure the adage of "if you build it, they will come" would apply

 

[Steve Maskery]

Well, yes, I also think that Projects may be the way to go, but I really do think that many people underestimate the amount of work that goes into the video production (or at least, ones like mine that have many shots - if you are just filming a lecture it is much easier and quicker) and overestimate the monetary value of it when you've done it.

I've been selling my stuff for 8 years and IN TOTAL I've not made enough to come anywhere close to paying for this workshop. This is vanity publishing, that is all. Yes, I have 4000 YT subscribers, but that doesn't mean I have 4000 customers willing to hand over their money! I wish it did. Everybody wants something for nothing. Well, I do, anyway.

The Australian guy was interesting. Well presented. Do I have to get a dog? Did you notice the frame at the end? Made with the assistance of the Community Broadcasting Foundation Limited. I'll have to investigate if there is an equivalent organisation over here. It would be much easier if I were funded.

But I will be making new videos, I just don't know what kind yet. Lots of food for thought. Thanks guys.

 

[Penny]

Steve. It's been a year+ since your last Youtube video. I find Youtube a brilliant resource for learning techniques. Get some more made. Even get people to message you and do an 'Ask Steve' type thing. I can see it being a winner.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I've done the rest of the front trim today. Well, apart from the corners, which I can't do until we board the sides, but all the door and window trim is now done.

Some of the framing is not quite as vertical as I intended it to be, so some shimming is required. This is the RH side of the big door. This is the most shimming I've had to do, the other side was much closer to plumb.

But it does mean that I can rip the trim properly parallel and it will fit, no tapering boards to annoy the eye. So with the trim nailed up

and painted

it ends up looking like this

so everything has now had one coat.

I am not the world's best painter. I don't like doing it and I tend to get careless and sloppy. I've got paint on bits I didn't mean to. Like the mahogany door frame. I don't know whether to try to scrape it off or paint the rest of the frame.

 

[Brentingby]

Very nice looking shed, Steve. Was the mahogany already finished? Maybe you can get the paint off without too much trouble. The decking in front looks like it needs a few more planks so you don't fall through.

 

[Steve Maskery]

You're not kidding. We put it down there because it was getting so muddy along the front, but actually it is lethal. Given my fear of falling again, I really should do something about it. I'm looking forward to when it is all landscaped properly.

The mahogany doesn't have any finish on it yet.

 

[Graham Orm]

Hanging baskets? Maybe a swinging seat? Looking good Steve.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Certainly the former, I'd not thought of the latter but the trusses would take one, no problem.

Or a hammock.