Why I hate Woodowork - By James M

[Chems]

I was happy before, I had a hobby. It involved a computer, the nice indoors, creativity and satisfaction. But then I needed a new desk, no where could I find the right one and to have one made cost £400+, so into the world of woodwork I delve.

I discover a family who have made a company called "Axminster Power Tools" and then my funds start to suffer. A table saw, 2 planers, 1 morticer, 2 sanding machines and various other bits later I have the least amount of money I've ever had in my life but a fair bit of cast iron and toolery. Here I stand about 7 projects into my woodwork life and never have I been more frustrated than the last few weeks.

Working out of a 1.75 car garage not designed for the purpose with 4x8 boards spread all over and everything double and triple stacked I'm at my wits end. Only this week have I delved into HVLP spraying only to maar my latest MDF creation into a dripping semi covered mass of what can only be described as a disaster. 2 Cans of paint lie almost empty at the cost of £30 and the person this is destined for is waiting patiently for their bookcase.

The cause of my problems? Well my main problem is not working in a space designed for woodwork, finding anything is a pain, dust is a huge problem and simply working on a flat surface is like the quest for the holy grail.

So having put all this into perspective why o why do I spend so much of my free time browsing machinery and planning the next project, dreaming of making something that I would class as perfect. And why after such a frustrating day and such little progress am I chopping at the bit to get out tomorrow and make that runny paint mess right?

Woodwork I love it - but its an odd one.

 

[NeilO]

Chems (James)
I could simply reiterate your comments and relate to your quest of the "holy grail"..
I have as "my space" an 8 x 12 shed, and the only flat surface of any dimension is my TS, so its a case of cutting all the components for the project clear the TS of all debris and workpieces, and lay 2 3x2 sheets of 1/2" ply as my assembly table, and if I have managed to C*** up any measurement , what fun ensures....
but I find during my day job, Im thinking about the next project and cant wait to get home and in "the Shop"

in all, I dont know what drives us nutters to work inn cramped conditions, put up with the dust, the frustration or anything else you could add.to willingly spend hours on cold dark nights in our little havens. :shock:

 

[Harbo]

Ah but when it all goes right - what a feeling!!

Rod

 

[wizer]

hehe that's one of my excuses. working in such a cramped environment slows you down and makes everything awkward. Clutter builds up exceptionally fast.

But I don't hate it, it's a nice break from staring into this thing for the other 90% of my life.

 

[Chems]

I hope everyone read through to the end where I said I loved it.

After I've finished this project it will definitely be time to sort out some better workspace.

 

[p111dom]

Totally sympathise with you Chems I think we've all been there. The problem is that even small projects require a base line amount of tooling which costs a lot. A P/T on its own or a table saw on its own isn't much good. However there comes a time (usually after wasting a fortune trying to buy cheep machines) that you've aquired everything you need to build almost anything and thats when the projects start to flow out ona regular basis and it all seems more worthwhile. All I buy these days is the occasional router bit at about £30. As for the space issue again I've been there too with a small single garage. That was one of the primary reasons (I'm ashamed to say) that when we moved house we went for one with a double garage.

 

[Mr Ed]

That was one of the primary reasons (I'm ashamed to say) that when we moved house we went for one with a double garage.

No shame in that, its one of the key reasons we bought the house we did.

Cheers, Ed

 

[Yorkie]

i work with timber all day, and now i've got the machines to carry on in the evening and weekends to continue working with timber.

I made the decision a couple of years ago to pack in the 70+hours, 6 days a week job as manager of restaurants, bars and nightclubs (the last place was all three in one!)

Now i come home covered in sawdust and its great. I dont earn a huge amount, certainly not compared with what i used to, but i have had more weekends off in the past 13 months than i had in 6 years...and that is no lie!

The thing is, at the end of the day, the best thing in the world is the satisfaction i get from seeing the end product of all that hard graft....which in my experience, is not actually hard graft in the physical sense, just alot of time and patence getting it just right.

I too love it

 

[Lord Nibbo]

We must all be one of those things called

SHEDHEADS :lol:

 

[Benchwayze]

After I've finished this project it will definitely be time to sort out some better workspace.

Chems:


I've been saying that for nigh on fifty years ! But I love it too!

 

[Mr Ed]

It can be a hugely frustrating hobby at times, but can also provide some moments of great satisfaction. I think we all enjoy a bit of problem solving and so fighting through adversity is probably what we enjoy in some perverse way. In fact, when I'm making multiples of something by the time I've worked out the processes and issues I'm bored of the repetition.

In the early days the key is designing projects that fit the skills you have, plus a bit extra. That way you get results and push yourself to get some learning out of it. I remember one of my first projects where I laminated MDF with gaps left in between to make shelf housings in the sides of a TV cabinet because I didn't have a router to make grooves - theres always a way round it.

When there's an immediate need to fill your skills develop more effectively to produce the results you need. I originally started making things because I couldn't afford the furniture I wanted and it seemed a solution. It was and has stayed with me as I now prefer to make my own furniture for the satisfaction of doing it and also to get the quality I want. Personally I find it difficult to go into the workshop and just do something when I haven't planned something to fill a specific requirement.

Space is a big issue and theres no easy solution to that, other than getting a bigger workshop. I worked for years in a single garage, prior to moving to my present shop 5 years ago, and you can turn out good pieces in limited space;

In small space, you just have to think about how you do things. Admittedly, the double bed was pushing the boundaries but I managed it in the end.

Cheers, Ed

 

[Chems]

My garage is a 2 car garage, but has had the rooms on the otherside extended into the garage space by around 4 feet, it was before larger than a 2 car garage so its not specifically a small space. The problem is I haven't fully converted it yet for woodworking in. When I do I feel I will be much happier in my space.

Thanks for all the replies, nice to know its not just me.

 

[Tierney]

Brilliant description of how I feel. It is a constant battle to keep non-woodworking stuff out of my single garage, constantly thinking of new machinery and the next project - I think I only have one actually in progress at the moment; which, is good for me.

I was strong this weekend and avoided going to a sale at the local tool shop. Well perhaps I'm weak because I can't trust myself not to buy something!

 

[ByronBlack]

James - you summed up my exact feelings, although in my frustration I have started to wonder, do I really love woodworking? And yet I still think about going out into the workshop and getting in sorted.

I've decided to sell of most of my stuff, I think what I'll do this time around is put zero pressure on myself to make anything, spend the rest of the year getting my workshop finished in terms of boarding and proper storage - that for me is key. I've never had a proper storage solution and it's driven me crazy!

Also, I find whenever I spend a lot on machines or other tools, I get buyers remorse and instantly feel I should cut back and simplify my tool setup, the further I go, and the more machines I buy and eventually sell, I feel I'm getting closer to my ideal - one or two machines for the stock prep, and the rest with good quality hand-tools, it's easily to become obsessed with purchasing the right machine for the job, and despite my love of hand-tools is something I've been falling foul of too.

I think unless you have plenty of space, time and money, it can be a frustrating hobby at time as all those three things can help nurture skill and talent in a much more peaceful way than 'making do' and the unholy search for the perfect workspace and toolset.

 

[Benchwayze]

Byron,

I wonder do you have a number of other hobbies you really are passionate about? I have at least four other interests, all of which are equally important to me. I get jaded with them all at times but would never sell my gear!

I think this mercurial side of my nature is something to do with the way I am wired-up and there's nowt I can do about it. Except NEVER to sell my gear, unless there's a logical reason to do so; like being short of change, as used to be the case.

:lol:

 

[ByronBlack]

John, I do have other hobbies, but nothing that I sink a lot of money into, and none that are as frustrating as woodworking, but none that keep me thinking about them as much as woodworking

 

[woodbloke]

Byron,

Except NEVER to sell my gear, unless there's a logical reason to do so
:lol:

John has something here I reckon. Too many times in the past I've had kit that I thought I'd never use again, only to find a few years down the line when a particular project comes along...you ain't got that bit of kit 'cos you sold it :evil: in my case to PFT in town. Particular case in point was my recent need of a compass plane which Martin has now sorted for me. So my opinion, fwiw is not to sell kit on a whim. If it's bought and paid for, why sell it? The only time I'd sell something is if I want to upgrade to a bigger or better piece of machinery (which I'll want to do in a couple of years) or if there's a cast iron certainty that it won't ever get used again...which may well be the case for my Record Calvert Stevens smoother - Rob

 

[wizer]

Yes I must admit I have felt like selling up before, but I know that I have bought good tools which I will use to their fullest, one day. I went through the workshop yesterday trying to find things to sell, mainly to de-clutter but also to gain some funds. I couldn't find anything I wanted to sell :roll: :wink: The only time I'd sell a tool is if I had a logical reason to let it go and a good plan B.

 

[hamburglar]

I was inspired by an article of someone who woodworks on a narrow boat. You have to be exceptionally tidy and methodical.

Still enjoy the hobby despite the lack of space and burning desire for more gear!

 

[OPJ]

I think Byron's on to something when he talks of getting his priorities and actually sorting out the workshop before filling it with lots of shiny new tools! I'm sure that a lot more could be achieved within a small working space, if only we were to give more time and consideration to the layout and storage before 'moving in'.

I'm planning on doing some work to the inside of my single car garage/workshop this year but, I also know I'm gonna really struggle to sort out my storage problems and insulation with all the stuff' I've accumulated during the last four-years... It would've been so much easier to do all this before hand!! :roll: :wink: