A Cup of Coffee and a Craft: My Take on Britain’s Best Woodworker 2023
So, I’m sitting here with my morning coffee, the steam dancing up towards my face like it knows I need a little wake-up call. You know that feeling when your head’s still in a fog, but you’ve got some inspiration bubbling beneath the surface? That’s where I found myself recently while scrolling through social media—again. I stumbled upon this video of the UK’s best woodworker for 2023. I mean, wow! The guy’s name is Ben Hartley, and what he does with wood is nothing short of poetic.
Now, something clicked in me because I’ve been trying to up my woodworking game, too, right here in my little garage workshop. I’ve got my trusty table saw, some clamps that I’ve probably overpaid for at an estate sale, and a bucket full of assorted screws I’m never quite sure if I should use. Ben, though? He makes it look easy, and that’s where the trouble started for me.
The Brainstorm
So, I thought, “Why don’t I try to channel a bit of that British magic?” I decided to create a custom coffee table because, let’s be honest, my living room could use a little love. I swung by the local lumber yard—oh boy, the smell when you walk in there! It hits you like a nostalgic punch, a mix of fresh pine and oak, an aroma that instantly makes you think of cozy cabins in the woods. I picked up some lovely walnut. It was dark, rich—gorgeous stuff. My plan was for a simple yet elegant design. You know, something that could sit in my living room and make me look like I’d been crafting for years.
The First Stumble
Now, I’m not saying I have it all figured out. The first piece I cut was supposed to be the tabletop, but, oh man, I mismeasured by about three inches. I swear, it felt like I was slicing a loaf of bread with a butter knife. I almost threw my tape measure out the garage door. Maybe it was just a lack of coffee in the morning? Who knows.
Since I was already too deep in, I thought, “Okay, why not make a smaller table?” So, right there on the spot, I pivoted from a coffee table to a side table. You know, those cute little things that sit next to a couch? So, there I was, feeling somewhat clever about it and smirking at my “improvisation,” but also kinda wondering if I should just give up and go sip my coffee instead.
Hiccups in the Process
Anyway, I plowed through. Once I got it cut down to size, the next task was the joinery. This is where I really needed Ben’s wizardry. I had it in my mind to do some traditional dovetail joints; they looked so clean and classy in his videos. But let me tell you, those little angled cuts had my brain doing backflips—it’s like math, but with sawdust everywhere!
I ended up with a half-dovetail that looked more like something drawn by a toddler than a seasoned woodworker. I almost quit right then and there, a swirling mess of walnut shavings around my feet, but then I thought about that table in my mind. I could almost see it—glossy finish, harmonious grain, a place to set my evening brew. So what did I do? I went back online, watched a couple more of Ben’s videos, and started over.
The Sweet Sound of Success
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I sanded it down to where it didn’t feel like I was brushing against a cactus. Man, that moment—when you wipe the dust off the last corner, the feeling is a little euphoric. You can hear the wood almost whispering “thank you” as you apply the finish. I went for a natural oil finish that really brought out that deep walnut color and smelled just fantastic—warm and nutty, like fall mixed with fresh coffee.
And I’ll tell you, the first time I set it in my living room, I stood back and couldn’t help but laugh. It actually turned out pretty good! Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but it was mine. I made it, mistakes and all. I could almost hear Ben Hartley saying, “It’s not about perfection; it’s about the process,” or something along those lines.
A Moment of Reflection
Sipping my coffee from the finished table made everything feel worth it. Each mistake became a lesson etched into that wood—a memory, really. I think that’s what makes woodworking so special. It’s not just the end product; it’s the frustrations, the little victories, and all the moments in between.
So here’s the takeaway—if you’re sitting there thinking about diving into a project, whether it’s woodworking or something else entirely, just go for it! You might mess up, you might end up changing plans halfway through, but isn’t that the point? You learn, you adapt, and you end up with something that really feels like a piece of you. That’s what I wish someone had told me earlier—the beauty is in the journey, warts and all.
Grab a piece of wood and make something, even if you aren’t quite sure how it’ll turn out. You might surprise yourself. After all, if a simple side table can remind me of that, I’d say it’s worth the effort.
