A Little Slice of Woodworking Life: My Adventures with Cunningham Woodworks
Grab yourself a cup of coffee and sit back, because I’m about to take you on a little journey through my experiences with Cunningham Woodworks. Now, I’m not here to teach you the ins and outs of woodworking like some fancy blogger. I’m just your average small-town guy who decided to take the plunge into building my own stuff instead of buying everything from the big-box store. Spoiler alert: it hasn’t always gone smoothly, which makes for some good stories, if I’m honest.
The First Project: A Simple Bench
So, let me rewind a little. A couple of years back, I decided that I was tired of all the flimsy furniture that seemed to fall apart faster than I could assemble it. I figured I’d start simple, you know? A garden bench seemed like a good way to ease into this whole woodworking thing. I ordered some beautiful cedar from Cunningham Woodworks—hands down, it’s got that incredible aroma like nature itself just popped open a bottle of perfume. Nothing like it!
I grabbed my trusty DeWalt miter saw, which, let me tell you, has been the best investment ever, and started cutting the wood. At first, everything felt smooth as butter. There I was, feeling like the king of the world—until I realized I’d messed up my dimensions. I had this beautiful cedar that was now a jigsaw puzzle of mismatched pieces. I almost threw my hands up in the air and declared defeat. This was my first project, and I was already feeling like a real loser.
But then—the beautiful smell of cedar wafted through my garage, and I paused. It just felt wrong to give up on it. So, I scaled back, took a breath, and made a new plan. I cut down my pieces to something more manageable. Long story short, yeah, the bench turned out smaller than I’d initially envisioned, but it works perfectly in my garden. Plus, it’s a constant reminder that every mistake comes with its own little charm.
The Finishing Touch: Stains and Seals
On to the stains! I learned quickly there’s a big difference between what looks good on the sample card at the store and what works in real life. I was in the local hardware store and saw this gorgeous dark walnut stain. My brain said, “Yes, this is it,” while my gut was quietly screaming, “What are you, crazy?” I went with my gut but kept that walnut in mind.
I decided to try a clear seal first, just to get a sense of how the cedar would breathe. Man, the smell of that wood while applying the sealant was intoxicating! But after I let it dry, I decided to try a light brown stain just to see how it mixed. And, oh boy, it turned out pretty nice—just a hint of that cedar peeking through, but still rich and warm. I remember laughing to myself a little when it actually worked. I thought I was absolutely nailing this.
But here’s where I made another boo-boo: I didn’t buff out the stain properly. I ended up with this sticky mess that I thought might never come off. You could practically see my face drop as I sat there, trying to figure out how to remedy it. After Googling frantically and then watching a YouTube video or two—thanks to whoever posted that—I learned that a little elbow grease and some fine steel wool could fix it. Who knew? So, yeah, after some grueling scrubbing, I managed to save it. And truth be told, that bench has turned into my favorite spot to sip coffee on Saturday mornings, even if it did come with a side of anxiety.
Unexpected Challenges: The Table Disaster
Now, if you think I learned all my lessons with the bench, boy, do I have another story for you. I thought I’d take on something bigger—a dining table. You know, the kind you envision turning into a family gathering place overflowing with laughter and good food. I even bought the most stunning live edge maple slab from Cunningham Woodworks. I remember walking in and just being blown away by the wood selection.
However, when I got the slab home, reality hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized I had no idea how to level it properly. I mean, it was beautiful, but the thing had a serious wobble that could have made a toddler dizzy. So, I found myself scouring the internet for solutions.
Eventually, I learned about using a router to flatten it, which sounded simple enough—until I almost cut a chunk too deep. Heart racing, I felt that sinking feeling of dread. I was about to ruin a lovely piece of wood that I paid good money for.
But you know what? I took a breath. It took me a few tries to get comfortable with it, but I finally leveled it out, and boy, did it feel good. And when I finally finished that table—after what felt like a million trials and tribulations—I almost cried. I couldn’t believe I’d done it! Not perfect, mind you, but just… right for me.
Closing Thoughts: Just Dive In
As I sit here reminiscing with my coffee, I think about how rewarding this whole journey has been. It’s really easy to get bogged down in the mistakes, but they didn’t just teach me how to saw and sand; they showed me patience, creativity, and that sometimes it’s okay to fail.
So, if you’re sitting there wondering if you should dive into something like this, just go for it. Seriously. It may not be perfect, and you’ll probably mess up a few times along the way, but that’s where the real magic happens. Each mistake just leads to something better, and in the end, all those missteps turn into cherished moments that help you grow. You’ll laugh, you might cry (definitely), but you’ll come out the other side with something unique—just like me and my little collection of furniture. So grab that wood, make something, and let it surprise you. You might just find a little piece of yourself in there, too.
