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Woodworking - Creative, Relaxing and Timeless
The title reflects Woodworking as a hobby, not as a vocation.
Vocational woodworking is pretty much the opposite of the
adjectives in the title because of the intense pressure to
produce quickly in order to make it pay the bills. So we'll stick
with the hobby orientation for purposes of this article.
Many people start a project with very little thought. This is
okay if you are working from plans, material lists and cutting
lists in a woodworking magazine, but when you strike out on your
own, this lack of planning often results in a project that
becomes very difficult to manage somewhere in the middle, when
more wood needs to be added, or, more often, the final piece has
to shrink just a little to make do. The project gets less fun as
measurement adjustments keep being made to the original plan to
keep the modified parts fitting with each other. It's kind of
like playing chess with a saw, anticipating three moves ahead
what the measurements are going to have to be because of the one
deviation you made three steps ago.
What I would like to accomplish here is to lay out a sequence
of events that need to take place as you migrate from the canned
projects in the woodworking books and magazines to your own
project planning.
Recreational woodworking starts with an idea of something
functional (a shelf, a table, a bench, a box, a desk) or
something meaningful (a toy, a piece of art, a frame), or a
combination of the two. This idea can be born of inspiration from
looking through woodworking magazines, seeing something in a
model home, or a need that exists in your own home.
Most often the concept is sketched out. Traditionally, this is
done on the back of an envelope or a partially used napkin, so be
sure to have some of those lying around. Once you have the
sketch, you have to decide how big you want this thing to be.
Often, this is determined by available space or intended
function. Staying true to our adage, "measure twice, cut once", a
rough dimensioned drawing is created. If this is to be a
functional piece (desk, cabinet, etc.), be sure to stay
reasonably close to standard measurements for desk heights,
knee-hole allowances, kick spaces, cabinet heights, rail and
stile widths, file drawer dimensions, etc. You'll be glad you
did.
By now, the concept has evolved enough that the desired finish
(paint, stain, varnish, oil) has been narrowed down, and a type
of wood has been selected that is appropriate for the project,
budget and finish. With so many choices of wood and finish
conveniently available today, this can be quite an exercise.
Now that the type of wood and finish have been determined, it
is time to decide what kinds of joints you are going to make
(assuming you are not making a boomerang or hollowed-out canoe or
some other one-piece thing). Considerations are strength, the
look you are trying to achieve, your equipment and capabilities,
and the amount of time you can invest. This can be one of the
more strenuous mental exercises because of the range of choices.
The look of a bung or button, the clean lines of hidden biscuit
or dowel joints, the strength and intricacy of the dovetail, the
simplicity of nails and glue. All have their place, and you have
to decide.
Along with the joints, hardware has to be planned. Based on
the hardware, you have to adjust your dimensioned drawing to
accommodate clearances for drawer rails, those extra half inches
for lap and dado joints, hidden hinge overlaps, insert depths for
frame-and-panel door panels, etc. You also have to consider depth
of relieves and radii of router profiles to make sure your stock
is thick enough to allow your concept to mature as planned.
A final dimensioned drawing is created, allowing for all joint
and hardware considerations, and a cutting list is prepared from
this drawing. Note: This drawing does not have to be to scale, or
look professional in any way. It helps the visualization process
if it is proportional, but the real important aspect of this
drawing is documenting the measurements. Don't be concerned about
the appearance of the drawing - that is not what you will be
displaying.
Now, finally, we can go to our lumber supplier and select the
actual wood we will be working with. This is not where you want
to save time. For the parts of the project that will show,
especially for projects where the natural wood is intended to be
a design feature, extra care should be taken to select the grains
and natural attributes that will best fit your concept. If you
are saving money intending to plane "three-sides-good" lumber,
make sure the width runs far enough on the pieces selected with
enough margin to get the length needed for each piece AFTER
PLANING. Measure the finished surface to the beginning of the raw
edge. For framework, cleats and carcasses look for straight,
unknotted pieces. Warps and twists can be overcome, but they make
the whole project less fun.
With this level of preparation and with sharp tools, the
project will proceed nicely and the finished piece will bring you
satisfaction, many years of service, and can sometimes even
become a treasured family heirloom. Note: The heirloom status is
often true of a desk, a well-made toy or a rocking chair. Don't
set your expectations too high for laundry shelves.
Kent Walters is currently an amateur woodworker in Houston,
Texas. His entrance to the craft was similar to many - woodshop
in school. He continued the craft some time later as a toymaker
on a drill press, sander and spray booth. He was a furniture
maker at one time, building mostly desks, book cases, wall units,
display cases and cabinets.
As time moves on, he is "downsizing" to intarsia and toys -
panels are getting too heavy to lift, and heirlooms are becoming
more important than they once were. For more articles, resources
and a woodworker's website directory, see http://www.woodworkingcenter.com.
 MORE RESOURCES updated Thu. February / 09 / 2012
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Joan D. Kreider, Oct. 24, 1928 – Feb. 7, 2012Uinta County HeraldHer hobbies included oil painting, knitting, crafts of all kinds, golfing and singing. Joan is survived by her daughter, Jan Pecenka, of Evanston; sons, Jeff (Sandy) Pecenka, of Cheyenne, James (Shaunna) Pecenka, of Evanston, Jay (Sandra) Pecenka, ... |
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Learn a New HobbyAbout - News & Issueshobbies resources here on About.com, I resisted putting painting first because it would seem biased. The skills from other crafts are always useful for multimedia too... Seriously, most creative people I know have a particular focus but work across ... |
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Valentine tea to honor membersTimes-Standard... vice president, progression coordinator and is currently parliamentarian. She volunteers for the Sons of Norway, and is a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka. Her hobbies are gardening, cake decorating, arts and crafts, and painting.and more » |
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Farm show resultsReading EagleMary Heffner, Fleetwood: four awards in the canned foods open category; first, baked products open; six awards in the crafts open category; third, hobbies. Julie Yoder, Mohrsville: third, canned foods open; second, baked products open. |
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When it comes to crafts, think beyond needlepointToronto StarI've dabbled with papermaking and encaustic, but never really took them up as hobbies. Lately, however, I've found great joy in exploring crafts with a rich history if not modern day popularity. Late last year, for example, I took an introductory ...and more » |
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Moms Talk: What Is Your Favorite Hobby?Patch.comThe other hobby I have is doing crafts with my children. They may not look that good when we are done, but sometimes it is the act of doing it that really makes it fun. Answer from Mom's Councilmember Emily (mother of 2): Some of my favorite hobbies ... |
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For hobbyists, it's creative playtimeSanta Rosa Press DemocratThe public is also invited to come by and learn more about a range of hobbies, most focused around models, many radio-controlled. The word “hobby” can evoke a limitless range of pastimes, from collecting to scrapbooking, sewing to arts and crafts, ... |
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Victorian era full of Valentine'sRepublican & HeraldWhile antique hair receivers are worth about $30 to $50 and are available at yard sales and flea markets, the hair crafts made from all of this saved hair are hard to find. Victorian women saved their hair in a small ceramic bowl with a hole in its top ...and more » |
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