Coffee and Wood Shavings
You know, it’s funny how life leads you down some unexpected paths. I was standing in my garage the other evening, coffee in hand, inhaling that sweet smell of sawdust, and it hit me—how much I’ve learned since I started tinkering with wood. I thought it might be nice to share a little about my time with JL White Woodworking Inc. It’s a small local place that’s become a bit of a safe haven for me.
So, I first stumbled upon this place on a whim. I mean, you know those moments when you’re just aimlessly scrolling on your phone? Well, that was me one Sunday afternoon. My wife was watching some weird rom-com, and I just needed an escape. I found their website—nothing too flashy, but hey, the stuff looked solid. They specialized in custom woodworking, and boy, did they have some talent.
The First Project
I decided, maybe a little too hastily, that I’d try my hand at building a coffee table. I pictured it in my mind: a beautiful walnut tabletop perched on some elegant, sturdy legs. “It’ll be a showpiece,” I confidently told my wife. But let me tell ya, confidence doesn’t mean a whole lot when you’re standing in front of a pile of lumber, staring at a bunch of tools you barely know how to use.
I headed over to JL White to pick up some walnut. Walking in, I was greeted by that familiar scent of fresh wood and the sounds of tools in action. It’s hard to explain, but there’s something calming about it. The guys there were genuinely nice—like friendly neighborhood carpenters. They helped me pick out the best pieces, talking me through the differences between heartwood and sapwood. I nodded along, pretending I understood half of it. What I should’ve known was that I was way over my head.
The Mistake
Flash forward to the weekend, and I was ready. I had my saw, a couple of clamps, and a brand-new sander, which, between you and me, was probably the best investment of my life. But here’s where things started to go south. I got cocky with the miter saw. I didn’t measure twice, and let me tell you, I regretted not listening to my buddy Dan’s voice in my head. He’s always saying, “Measure twice, cut once.” My first cut was off—by a whole inch. I was frustrated—maybe I was cursing a little too much, but I felt like I’d just thrown away a perfectly good piece of walnut.
I almost gave up at that point. I stood there, staring at the leftover wood, and thought, “What the hell was I thinking?” But then, something clicked. I remembered the fellas at JL White. They didn’t give up on people; they took every mistake as a chance to learn. So, instead of tossing that beautiful wood, I decided to make a smaller side table instead.
The Rebirth of the Project
And you know what? Making a side table turned out to be one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done. The walnut grain had this rich, chocolatey color that honestly made me weak in the knees. After rethinking the design, I used some poplar for the legs—cheap enough that I wasn’t going to cry over mistakes. I took my time, measuring, cutting, and sanding. And the whole time, I could hear the whir of my sander in rhythm with my thoughts. It felt like some kind of zen dance.
There’s this moment all woodworkers know—the first time you put finish on something you built. It’s magical. I used a few coats of Tung oil, wiping on, then off, and with each layer, that walnut just deepened in color, lighting up like it knew it was finally coming to life. I was proud, you know? I laughed when it actually worked out. “Look at me!” I shouted to nobody in particular. My wife almost dropped her phone.
Lessons Learned
Now, I won’t say everything was perfect from then on. There were plenty of hiccups, like when I tried to join the pieces using dowels for the first time and ended up making a giant mess with wood glue. But JL White had taught me something invaluable—mistakes in woodworking are part of the process. Every piece of wood, no matter how “ruined,” has a lesson hidden in it.
An evening spent in the garage with coffee, a power sander, and a piece of wood is, honestly, one of the best stress relievers. I found a community of folks who cared, who understood that every scratch and groove tells a story.
The Takeaway
So, if you’re sitting there, sipping your morning coffee and thinking about diving into woodworking, take the plunge! Start a little project, even if it seems daunting. You’ll mess up. I know I did. But trust me, it’s in those mistakes that you’ll find your groove—your style. And who knows? Maybe you’ll end up with a side table that raises eyebrows instead of tossing it out like I almost did. Just remember, it’s not about the end product but the journey you take to create it.
So, go ahead, pick up that piece of wood. You might just surprise yourself.
