What's the biggest mistake you have made in your woodworking

[Jacob]

The first set of sash windows I ever fitted were 100mm too small across the width. But luckily I was just there helping the chap who made them and it wasn't my fault!
Thought I'd mention it though - it could have been the classic tape measure mistake, or just not drawing up a proper rod.
We managed to fit them OK but the front linings showed 2" more than they should have. The client didn't notice. If it had been 100mm in the height it would have been a disaster.
Actually the biggest mistake I've made, several times in early days, is underpricing to get the job. Never actually ran out of work and annoying to have to postpone profitable jobs in favour of under-priced ones.
Moral of this tale: always over price, it shortens the waiting list and you can afford to do a better job at a more leisurely pace.

 

[giantbeat]

I had a clever idea about starting my own business and being a professional drum maker, I love it but it’s a bloody nightmare

 

[bp122]

Buying the small axi table saw as my first "big" machine, 1 month into my journey as a hobby woodworker!

 

[Essex Barn Workshop]

Probably starting

Droogs I think you should add ‘Flying the Ukrainian flag upside down as my signature’ to the list!

 

[clogs]

Moving from one school with a brilliant wood teacher to a cr@p school and no woodworking at all....grrrrr....
after a few mistakes with a rule now use a story stick where ever poss.....

 

[GregW]

I made fantastic casement window, 970x970, only to find out on time of fitting that it suppose to be 870 x 970….

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I don't make mistakes.

I create learning opportunities!

Much of what I've learned has come from other peoples' created learning opportunities.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Droogs I think you should add ‘Flying the Ukrainian flag upside down as my signature’ to the list!

Well, it is in distress.

 

[Droogs]

Droogs I think you should add ‘Flying the Ukrainian flag upside down as my signature’ to the list!

Now corrected. Amazing what you don't notice while munching lots of opium smarties

 

[Lefley]

Asking the missus if she wanted a summerhouse in the unused corner of the garden. Thinking a 3mx3m ‘shed’ type structure.
Yes, says she, and started describing something akin to a pavilion. Ended up as this. 7mx4m plus decking for a BBQ! I’ve learned not to offer in future.

View attachment 131899

I see your mistake right now. You called it a summerhouse not a summer shed!.,!

 

[AESamuel]

Not the end of the world but I once cut the tails out of the end of a board instead of the waste between the tails did three dovetails like that before realising.

 

[Terry Fogarty]

Once spayed a coffee table and a complete brain fade put a blanket over it to keep the dust off.

 

[Jameshow]

Not the end of the world but I once cut the tails out of the end of a board instead of the waste between the tails did three dovetails like that before realising.

Three!

Once is enough I tend to give up for the evening if such happens!

 

[AESamuel]

Three!

Once is enough I tend to give up for the evening if such happens!

At least I realised before cutting the pins

 

[DBC]

I made fantastic casement window, 970x970, only to find out on time of fitting that it suppose to be 870 x 970….

Surely every joiner has done something like this at least once.

I have.

For me the danger is measuring up and talking to the customer at the same time.

 

[Craig22]

Forgetting the mantra "measure twice, cut once". Once or twice.

 

[Keithgrif]

Not being interested in woodwork in my teens when I could have learned so much from my dad; not coming to see the light until my late 40s

 

[Blackswanwood]

Cutting the bottom rather than the top off a box.

 

[Doug71]

Making a staircase for a customer before the finished floor was in.

It was a barn conversion and the floors had been dug out, needed hardcore, concrete, insulation etc, they said a line on the wall indicated where the floor level would finish. Came to fit staircase a few weeks later and it was about 3" too high, they were adamant that the floor finished where they said it would, I wasn't so sure

 

[Jameshow]

Not being interested in woodwork in my teens when I could have learned so much from my dad; not coming to see the light until my late 40s

Studying engineering rather than furniture design at high Wycombe....!