When I first started woodworking, I thought dovetails were really important…

I thought if you wanted to build boxes and furniture, you needed to learn how to cut dovetails.

More than 30 years later, I’ve never cut a dovetail.

And I’ve built a lot of things.

That’s one of the things I’ve learned about woodworking. Some of the things you think are essential when you’re starting out aren’t nearly as important as you think they are.

Learn how to measure. Mark. Cut. Join. Glue. Finish.

Build things.

The fancy stuff can wait…

#FabricatorsFieldGuide #grownostr #woodworking #DIY

I haven’t posted much lately…

I’ve been pretty focused on writing and testing the first hands-on project for Fabricator’s Field Guide. It’s a curated build for beginners to learn real shop skills by doing the work.

I’m working through the manual and the short videos that go with it, going back through the build and asking, “Would this make sense if I’d never done this before?”

That led me to change how I’m teaching the mitered cleats. It’s a slower process, but the fit is better and the process is easier to understand.

I’m trying to take 30-plus years of hands-on experience and put the lessons that matter into one build, so a beginner has a place to start and doesn’t have to figure it all out alone…

#FabricatorsFieldGuide #grownostr #woodworking #DIY #proofofwork

Still working through the manual for the first project…

I’ve been using the Japanese pull saw I’m putting in the kit. I’d never really used one before, and I wasn’t sure how much I’d like it…

It’s a much smoother cut. Since you’re pulling instead of pushing, you can use a lighter stroke, especially when you’re starting the cut. There’s less tendency for the saw to dig in, bind, and jerk around…

I can see why this might be a better experience for someone learning to saw for the first time. It may look a little strange compared to a traditional saw, but it’s actually a much better experience…

The funny thing is, after using it for this project, I’m thinking I could have built a lot of things with this saw and never touched a power saw…

Craftsmanship is rarely fast…

This is something that I am alway having to relearn.

I finished the first prototype of my beginner woodworking learning module, a project that teaches measuring, sawing, fitting, sanding, and assembly by building a small cedar box.

Now I’m back at the bench with the completed project beside me, working through the manual one operation at a time. It’s amazing how many little improvements you find once you can compare the written instructions to an actual build.

The prototype teaches you how to build the project. Going back through the manual teaches me how to teach it.

Good glue-ups don't come from cranking down on the clamps...

Clamps are there for control, alignment, and holding the joint together, not brute force.

In this video, I walk through the basics of choosing the right clamp, using the right amount of pressure, and avoiding a few common beginner mistakes.

#grownostr #woodworking #DIY
https://youtu.be/1OcoISFlPIU