A Day in the Shop with Severn Valley Woodworks
Grab a cup of coffee and settle in. Let me tell you about my latest adventure in woodworking over at Severn Valley Woodworks. It’s been a journey, to put it mildly—full of mishaps and those moments where you think, “What in the world was I thinking?”
So, there I was, just after a long day at work, heading into my little garage, which I’ve affectionately dubbed my “woodshop.” I had this vision of a beautiful wooden coffee table that would be the centerpiece of my living room. Easy peasy, right? I mean, how hard could it be? Well, let’s rewind a bit.
The Grand Idea
I decided on a nice slab of walnut. Oh man, let me tell you, if you’ve ever smelled walnut dust, it’s divine. It has this rich, earthy aroma that pulls you in, telling you there’s something magical waiting to happen. I bought it from a local sawmill, and when I unwrapped that slab, my heart jumped a little. The grain was just gorgeous, swirling in all the right places and promising a stunning finish.
But right after I got it in the shop, reality hit me. I had to flatten that beast. Now, I’ve got some tools—nothing fancy, just a jointer and a planer, but they work. The trouble was, my jointer was giving me trouble that day. I fiddled with the settings, checking the blades, all of that, and besides maybe a silent prayer, I was at a loss. It just wasn’t giving me the level surface I needed.
Almost Throwing in the Towel
I almost threw in the towel that night. I mean, I looked at that slab and then at my tools, and I thought, “Did I really think I could pull this off?” It felt like I was wrestling a wild beast. It was just so heavy and unwieldy. I pictured my beautiful dream turning into a splintered nightmare, and I contemplated whether I should just call it quits and go buy one of those mass-produced tables from a big-box store.
But then I remembered why I took this on in the first place: the love for creating something with my own hands. So I took a deep breath, stepped away for a bit, and made myself a second cup of coffee. Sometimes, you just have to let it simmer in your mind.
Epiphany in the Chaos
A couple of days later, I came back, feeling a little clearer headed. I decided to approach the jointer with a bit more patience. Armed with a fresh cup of coffee, I double-checked the blade alignment and—boom!—just like that, it worked. The first pass through, and I heard that soft whir of the blades slicing through the wood. I felt a rush. It was one of those “Aha!” moments that make the frustrations worth it. The surface was grand, and I could finally see my vision starting to come to life.
But of course, that was only the beginning. I had to glue that thing together, which sounds simple enough until you remember that wood moves and glues dry fast. I used Titebond III, which is my go-to for just about everything. You get a good bond, and it’s waterproof, which is great since I’m likely to spill coffee on the table—let’s be real.
The Glue-Up Saga
So, I spread that glue like I was frosting a cake, and I thought I was doing great until I realized I hadn’t accounted for all the clamps. Friends, if there’s one thing to know about woodworking, it’s that clamps are your best friend, but they can also be a pain in the neck. I ended up scrambling around for every clamp I owned—some C-clamps, some strap clamps—and I think I used way more than what was actually necessary. I was here, there, and everywhere, trying to hold everything in place.
Then, of course, like a classic comedy, I realized I had forgotten to wipe off the excess glue—so, I found myself scrubbing away at dried spots for the next hour. I laughed when it actually worked out in the end; the cleanup was so much more tedious than the actual project.
The Finish
Once it was all assembled, I moved on to the finish. I used a mix of mineral spirits and Tung oil, and wow, watching that wood come to life was nothing short of magical. As the oil soaked in, it darkened the walnut and brought out the grain, showcasing those wild swirls I’d fallen in love with. The smell of the wood and oil combining made me feel like I was sitting on top of a proper forest.
Honestly, when you put in that much work, that moment when you see it all come together is euphoric. I called my wife in, all proud, and she raised an eyebrow at first, but then her face lit up. “That’s beautiful!” she said. That felt like the biggest win of all.
The Takeaway
So, if you’re thinking about diving into woodworking, I say just go for it. Don’t let the little bumps in the road scare you away. I’ve now had my fair share of mistakes, from poor glue choices to wrestling slabs of wood, but they’ve all led to lessons learned and a bit more confidence.
Unless you have somebody to hand you the perfect blueprint—spoiler alert: you won’t—you’re probably gonna mess up. And that’s okay! Every screw-up just means you’re getting closer to your next win. Trust me, it’s all part of the process. So, grab that slab of wood and get to it—you never know what delightful mess you might end up creating.
