Finding My Way in Woodworking with William Ng
You know how it is when you stumble upon something that just grabs your heart? For me, it was woodworking, and I’ve got William Ng to thank for that. Now, let me set the scene a little. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon, the kind where you just want to curl up with a book or binge-watch another show. But instead of settling in with the remote, I found myself scrolling through YouTube. That’s when I discovered William Ng’s channel, and, boy, did it change my approach to woodworking.
The Hook
I’ve always been fascinated by wood. There’s something about the smell of freshly cut cedar or the way a fine piece of walnut gleams that just speaks to me. But, being a self-taught hobbyist, I often found myself stumbling—like, gloriously misjudging how much wood to buy for a project. I mean, who knew a coffee table could require that much wood? Spoiler: I learned the hard way.
So, I’m watching one of William’s videos, and it’s like he’s speaking directly to me. He’s not just rattling off specs or showing off fancy tools. He’s down-to-earth, excited about what he’s building, and every ounce of energy is infectious. As I watched him shape and sand a piece of lumber, I felt a spark. “You can do this,” I thought. So, I decided to try my hand at a project—a simple side table for my living room.
The Great Wood Debacle
Well, let me tell you, what I thought would be a weekend project turned into a saga worthy of its own YouTube series. I did what any novice would do: I watched a few more videos, made a sketch on a napkin, and headed to the lumber store. Mmmm, the smell of the wood! I picked up some 2x4s—thought they’d do for a simple frame. Turns out, they weren’t exactly cut to the lengths I needed. Who knew?
I came home with my triumphant haul, feeling like a real craftsman. But when I started cutting, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I had a saw, sure, but, man, you should’ve seen the angle I tried to cut for the legs. At one point, I almost gave up. I was sitting on the floor of my garage, frustrated, sawdust in my hair, and wondering if I should just stick to IKEA.
The Lightbulb Moment
But then, I took a break. Just sat there, looking at the jigsaw puzzle of wood pieces I’d created and thought about William Ng. It was like he was nudging me, saying, “It’s okay to mess up—it’s part of the game.” I grabbed my coffee, sat back with the wood, and just thought about the end goal. Sometimes, that’s all it takes: a little perspective.
After a moment, inspiration hit. I grabbed the sandpaper instead of the saw. I started smoothing the edges and in that moment, something clicked. It was like sculpting—I could see the table taking shape, rough edges becoming smooth. I even chuckled when it worked out! The table wasn’t just a piece of furniture anymore; it felt like a small victory.
The Tools that Matter
Now, I have to mention the tools I ended up using. My dad’s old drill—a rusty but trusty thing—became my go-to. It rattled and whirred enough to feel like we were in a race, but somehow it made everything come together. I also had a random orbit sander that I wasn’t too sure about at first. I mean, it was loud and shaky, but when you got it going on a nice piece of oak, it produced this silky smooth finish that looked and felt professional.
And can we talk about the smell? There’s this warm, woodsy aroma when you sand oak, like autumn leaves with a hint of something sweet. It inspired me in a way I didn’t expect. I inhaled deeply, feeling the pride grow with every whiff.
Lessons Learned
Skip ahead a couple of days, and I had my side table propped up in the living room. Was it perfect? Heck no! But it had character—lots of it. I learned to embrace the knots and imperfections in the wood just like I’ve learned to embrace the knots and imperfections in life.
There was a moment when I ran my hand over a particularly gnarly knot near the corner and chuckled. “Well, at least it’s not even,” I thought. And that’s where the charm is, right?
If you’ve ever thought about trying something new, whether it’s woodworking or something else, I guess what I want to say is just go for it. There will be mess-ups and moments where you want to throw your tool across the garage. But those moments are precious. They teach you something about yourself and about the craft. William Ng has a beautiful way of showing that it’s not just about the finished product, but about enjoying the process.
So, grab your tool kit and that wood you’ve been eyeing. Your own story is waiting to be built, one mistake and triumph at a time. And who knows? You might find a piece of yourself in those imperfect creations.
