Whittling Away the Day: A Journey with River City Woodworks
You ever get that itch to create something? Like, that burning fiery passion that tells you to make something with your own two hands? I think most folks have, at some point or another. For me, that itch turned into a full-on gale when I stumbled upon River City Woodworks in Fernie. Not just a store, mind you — it’s like stepping into woodsy nirvana.
It all started about a year ago when I decided it was high time to do something meaningful with the pile of cedar boards I had sitting in my garage. You know the feeling — it starts all small, maybe with some social media posts about woodworking or a random YouTube video of some guy crafting a stunning dining table. I thought, “I can do that!” Spoiler alert: It definitely didn’t go as planned.
So, one chilly Saturday morning, I grabbed my favorite cup of coffee and said to myself, “Let’s build something.” I shuffled into the garage, where the smell of sawdust mingled with the faint odor of old paint — a lovely reminder of the countless projects past. My goal was simple: a rustic-looking coffee table. Just a few planks, some legs, and, of course, the finishing touches. How hard could it be?
The First Cuts
I pulled out my trusty table saw, a no-name brand that had seen better days. Honestly, I’m not even sure where I got it anymore, but it worked well enough… the first few times. It had this creaky sound whenever I flipped it on, like it was grumbling about all the labor it had been through. I couldn’t help but chuckle. But back to the task at hand!
I started measuring my cedar boards. I used to think measuring was something you could just, you know, eyeball. Nope! I quickly learned that wasn’t going to cut it — literally. The first couple of cuts were completely off, which meant I couldn’t even fit the boards together. I almost gave up right then and there. I sat down on the garage floor, surrounded by these sad, misaligned pieces of wood and thought, “What in the world am I doing?”
But there’s this thing about crafting; it burrows itself deep into your bones. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that mistakes are part of the journey.
Learning the Hard Way
So, after realizing that, yeah, I should probably measure twice and cut once, I began anew. I decided to stop getting so caught up in the aesthetic and, instead, focus on the structure. I pulled out some wood glue—Elmer’s, I think—which may not be the best for crafting furniture but hey, it was there. I used it generously between my wood planks and clamped them down, feeling that satisfaction of having made some progress.
While I waited for the glue to dry, I went into a bit of a rabbit hole. River City Woodworks had this incredible selection of wood stains, like the kind that makes your heart skip a beat. I was already daydreaming about the finish, picturing the rich, warm hues even before my coffee table was a thing. I chuckled thinking how absurd it was to get so excited about wood stains, but there’s something wonderfully grounding about it, like the whole world slows down for a moment as you soak it all in.
The Big Reveal
Fast forward a few days — I finally got everything glued, sanded, and polished. I’d picked out a dark walnut stain from River City Woodworks that smelled heavenly, earthy almost, like being wrapped in the great outdoors. I applied it with a foam brush and could hardly wait for it to dry. Once it was finished, I stepped back.
That feeling? It’s indescribable. I mean, all the struggles, the doubts, the moments of inner dialogue about how I might just be wasting my time — it melted away. I almost laughed when it turned out better than I could’ve imagined. It wasn’t perfect, mind you; you could definitely tell it was handmade. But that was the beauty of it. Each rough edge and slight imperfection felt like a badge of honor.
Reflections Along the Way
So, here I am, a year later, sipping coffee and writing this story. I’ve tackled a few more projects, and sure, there have been hiccups along the way. Like the time I tried to make a bookshelf and ended up with a leaning tower of Pisa instead. I’ll spare you the details on that one — let’s just say wood glue doesn’t fix everything!
If there’s one takeaway from my journey with River City Woodworks in Fernie, it’s that creating is about so much more than just the end product. It’s about the mistakes, the laughter, and those moments of sheer disbelief at what you’ve managed to pull off, with just your own two hands and a bunch of wood. And, of course, it’s about the folks you meet along the way — friendly staff at the local woodshop who genuinely care and offer advice when you’ve got that deer-in-the-headlights look.
So, if you’re sitting there, sipping your own cup of coffee and contemplating whether to dive into woodworking or any hands-on project, just go for it! Don’t overthink it. Savor each miscut and triumph; it’s all part of the adventure. You might surprise yourself.
