A Little Slice of Woodworking Life with the DeWalt DW735X
You know those projects that just seem to have a mind of their own? Yeah, I had one of those days recently. It started when my buddy Larry asked me to help him with his new kitchen counters. He got this bright idea to use some reclaimed barn wood he’d salvaged from—get this—a hundred-year-old barn down the road. I swear, that wood had more character than most people I know. But, man, it was rough around the edges. You could trip over a knot if you weren’t paying attention.
Now, I’m no master carpenter, but I fancy myself decent with tools and I’m always eager to help out a friend. I pulled out my DeWalt DW735X thickness planer, which, let me tell you, has become my trusty companion in the garage. It’s a 13-inch beast that feels a bit like magic when you run some rough lumber through it. The hum and whir it makes are music to my ears, I guess you could say.
So, there I was, coffee in hand and a good playlist on, ready to tackle this beautiful mess of wood. I pushed some of that old barn wood through the planer, and the smell was just divine—like sweet vanilla mixed with something earthy. I mean, it’s hard to explain, but if you love wood, you know what I mean.
But then it hit me—I’d see swirls of beautiful oak in one moment and the next, I was stopping the planer to pull out gunk that was stuck in there, and let me tell you, that’s when my confidence started to waver. I almost threw the whole thing out the window. But I took a deep breath, reminded myself that this was part of the process, and dove back in.
The Unexpected Twist
Now, here’s where things got really interesting. I was telling Larry how great this planer was and how I loved the two-speed feature on it. It was great for different wood types, you know? But if I’m being honest, I just couldn’t help but feel a bit smug about it. I flipped the switch to the faster speed, thinking I was about to knock this project out of the park.
Mistake number one—quick is not always better. I went from feeling like a woodworking wizard to a frantic mess. The noise nearly drowned out my good intentions. The machine was sputtering like an old car trying to start on a cold morning, and I could feel my stomach drop. This beautiful reclaimed wood wasn’t getting the care it needed. I barely managed to salvage most of it before I finally had to slow down.
When I switched back to the slower speed, it was like the clouds parted. The planer kicked back into gear, and oh boy, the way it sliced through that wood was like butter. The quality was just night and day. I’ll be honest, I laughed when it actually worked. I could see Larry’s eyes light up as each plank came out just perfect. Smooth, clean, no jagged edges.
The Moment of Doubt
But let me tell you, I almost gave up when I thought we’d ruined the last board. Some idiot (yep, that was me), put it through with a nail still embedded in it. I heard a sickening thunk and my heart stopped. My mind raced. What had I done? I slowly pulled the board out, half expecting to see it turned into toothpicks. Turns out, the planer survived, but I was left staring at this mangled chunk of wood that looked more like modern art than anything else.
I sat there, just staring, thinking of how Larry was probably cursing me under his breath. But then I remembered how wood was forgiving (and so was Larry—thankfully). We decided to cut that board down and use it for a smaller frame around the sink. What would’ve been a loss turned into something we kind of laughed about later. It was like the universe was nudging us, telling us it was all part of the learning curve.
Wrapping It Up
That day in the garage ended up being more than just about woodworking; it was about friendship, learning from mistakes, and having a good laugh. I learned a few valuable lessons, most of all that sometimes, you just have to go with the flow and not take yourself too seriously.
Now, I wake up every morning, coffee in hand, and feel grateful for that DeWalt DW735X. It’s not just a tool; it’s a ticket to creativity, even when things start out a bit messy. I’ve come to realize that if you let it, woodworking can teach you more than just how to make things. It challenges you, humbles you, and sometimes even surprises you.
So, if you’re sitting there thinking about diving into a project—maybe you have some rough lumber, a dusty garage, and a burning desire to create—just go for it. Don’t be afraid of the hiccups along the way. Those so-called mistakes? They make the best stories. And honestly, they’re what keeps you coming back for more.
