Your 5 golden rules

[Mr Ed]

When working in the shop and in the thick of a project I find I regularly have to remind myself of things that I have learned over and over again. The other day I decided to write the most important ones down, with the intention of making a sign in front of my bench to act as a perpetual reminder. A bit literal I know, but in the heat of the moment I'm sure we all make hasty decisions.

So, here are my 5 golden rules;

1. Slow down
2. Stop and sharpen
3. Work tidy
4. Stop if you're tired
5. Think 'is this safe?'

What are your 5?

Cheers, Ed

 

[joiner_sim]

1. Measure twice, cut once.
2. If that chisel need an extra hard whack, sharpen it.
3. Don't rush to get it done.
4. If it makes an unusual noise, stop and find out why.
5. Remember, if it was easy there'd be no reward!

 

[MikeG.]

My number one rule:

Don't waste wood!

I didn't realise it was my number one rule until I wrote myself a note the other day in the workshop as a reminder to get an extra 10 or 15mm of length into all of the knees I was making, and I wrote just that: "Don't waste wood".

As well as going for "best fit" for all components out of a given quantity of wood, it also implies making things once only, and therefore getting it right first time. That feeds neatly into your "slow down" and "sharpen" rules, Ed.

Mike

 

[Grinding One]

Hang The Do Not Disturb out side of work shop
Do not hang tongue out of mouth while sawing
Never grip small nails between fingers while hammering
Never,NEVER ,throw good tools across the room
If it fits the first time,your done....you can not improve it...

 

[mailee]

I have one golden rule in my workshop. ENGAGE BRAIN BEFORE HANDS! works every time.

 

[Waka]

I guess I have a combination of all the above, but my most important one is don't rush a project, doesn't always work but I try to keep to it.

 

[The Shark]

G1,
I love the one about tongue and sawing - been there, got the t-shirt etc

Malc

 

[woodbloke]

Added to Ed's I'd have to put in something about thinking my way through the project as I've always maintained that making something complex is as much an intellectual exercise as a practical one - Rob

 

[Lord Nibbo]

thinking my way through the project as I've always maintained that making something complex is as much an intellectual exercise as a practical one - Rob

You touched on my number one rule "Think ahead" which means plan ahead it saves so much time wasting. Little things like thicknessing, I think out what needs to be thicknessed to any one size in a project and thickness everything needed to that size in the project in one go.

Other rules Boredom & Frustration I'm doing it as a hobby so I'm lucky that there is no deadline to finish a project. So the first sign of being bored I do something else or just stop, in my mind getting bored leads to two things accidents & mistakes. If I'm frustrated I'll drop tools have a cup of tea and think about doing something another way it may be a day or two thinking it over but I know the outcome will be a much better project.

 

[Doug B]

The one rule i was taught as a young lad, by one of the senior craftsmen was :- never put your fingers where you wouldn`t put your d*ck.
We all laughed like drains when he said it, but it always crosses my mind when i`m approaching a task that could lead to injury if not carried out correctly.
So i guess the old boy (no pun intended) wasn`t as daft as we young lads thought, i for one still have all my digits intact, touch wood.

Doug.

 

[woodbloke]

thinking my way through the project as I've always maintained that making something complex is as much an intellectual exercise as a practical one - Rob

You touched on my number one rule "Think ahead" which means plan ahead it saves so much time wasting. Little things like thicknessing, I think out what needs to be thicknessed to any one size in a project and thickness everything needed to that size in the project in one go.

Other rules Boredom & Frustration I'm doing it as a hobby so I'm lucky that there is no deadline to finish a project. So the first sign of being bored I do something else or just stop, in my mind getting bored leads to two things accidents & mistakes. If I'm frustrated I'll drop tools have a cup of tea and think about doing something another way it may be a day or two thinking it over but I know the outcome will be a much better project.

Thinking and planning ahead are vital but sometimes I just have to stop, sit down with a brew (and something to dunk :lol: ) and just try and fathom out exactly how and more importantly... in what sequence, a piece of work, or an assembly is going to be made. Very often doing one task on a job out of sync can make the rest of it a lot harder :evil: than it might have otherwise been had I got it in the right order to begin with... and I don't believe that LN ever gets bored, not with all those nice shiny tools to play with :lol: :lol: - Rob

 

[neilyweely]

My new number one is

- get paid! -

Have had a few bad payers this last 6 months, so now am considering asking to see bank statements before commencing work.

And it's 2,3,4, and 5.

But in the spirit of the thread, I guess they would be;

1 Put it back
2 Keep it sharp
3 Turn it off
4 Measure twice, cut once
5 Lock it

ATM I have to work at home, so I would include 'keep swmbo happy'

Cheers

Neil

 

[frugal]

1 - Plan what you are going to do in the workshop (I have limited time per week, so I need to make the most of it).

2 - Bleed on the floor, not the wood.

3 - If it is hard work then the tools need sharpening.

4 - If the dry fit is not perfect then fix it, don't leave it and hope that glue and clamps will make it better (it wont).

5 - If you are tired or frustrated then walk away. It is better to take a day extra making it, then try to bodge it in anger and ruin everything.

 

[Racers]

Hi,

I never make rules, its a rule of mine :wink:


Pete

 

[woodbloke]

Here's another one. After a long day in the 'shop, never, ever cut dovetails just before knocking-off time - Rob

 

[jlawrence]

1) if you do it for nowt it's for yourself.
2) plan everything.
3) actually buy enough wood to complete a project.
4) put tools away.
5) clean up at least now and then.

Number 4 is there because of the number of duplicates I've had to buy over the years due to not being able to find something.

 

[AndyT]

I'd add one I can still hear my school woodwork teacher saying: "Both hands behind the blade" - it's too easy, especially as a beginner, to fall into the trap of holding wood with one hand intending to cut it with the tool in the other.

 

[joesoap]

I agree with the rules re health and safety and I don't subscribe to the 'rules were made to be broken' brigade . However self made rules are like making new year resolutions , how many stick to them we'll never know . In these days of H & S going O T T even with enforcement of the rules , accidents will happen .
Stick to buying decent brands of tools that have stood the test of time and not the grossly overpriced collectibles , the pros and genuine 'masters' don't albeit there's no rule saying they should'nt .
Cheers !

 

[OPJ]

Most of mine appear to have been covered already. Only one I can think to add is that you should always isolate the machine or power tool before changing the blade or cutter. :wink:

 

[matt]

Always expect the unexpected.
Stop when you've had enough for the day.

(Good for driving too).

Courtesy of my late father.