Woodworking Adventures in 2020: A Cup of Coffee and a Whole Lot of Sawdust
So, I was sitting in my little garage workshop the other day, sipping on my lukewarm coffee—yeah, I know, it’s supposed to be hot—but you know how it goes. Between the whirring sounds of my tools and the soft smell of fresh pine, I couldn’t help but think about all the new woodworking tools I’d tried out last year. Man, what a ride it’s been!
Honestly, when 2020 rolled around, I felt like a kid in a candy store. The woodshop catalogs began piling up in my mailbox, and every time I flipped through them, I had to resist the urge to grab my credit card and just swipe it. Some days, my head spun from all the choices. That shiny new table saw from DeWalt? Or maybe a fancy dust collection system? Let’s say it was a bit overwhelming.
The Challenge of Trying New Tools
Anyway, back to the story—there’s one tool that, despite all my hesitation, I finally pulled the trigger on: the Makita cordless router. I remember the first time I brought that bad boy home, I was almost giddy. I could already picture all the projects I’d tackle. But, just like the best-laid plans, life had other ideas.
See, I had this plan to build a new outdoor table for the backyard. You know, something to host those summer barbecues that I had been dreaming about since the snow melted. So there I was, a little naïve, measuring and cutting my cedar planks like a skilled craftsman. But as it turned out, my beginner-level experience with routing edges was more of a horror show than a success.
I had the router set up, and I couldn’t—or wouldn’t—read the manual (of course). I thought I’d just intuitively know what I was doing, which, spoiler alert, I didn’t. I spent half the afternoon adjusting the speed dial, trying to make sense of it all. I can still hear that whirring noise. It felt like a friendly hum at first, but then it turned ominous as I started cutting. Things went sideways real fast. The wicked scream it let out when I misaligned the wood still gives me nightmares.
The router bit skipped, and before I knew it, I had a huge gouge at the edge of my perfectly cut cedar. I almost gave up on the whole project right there. I stood staring at the mess, coffee in hand, and thought, “Why on earth did I think I could do this?” But, you know, after a minute of sulking, I laughed it off. I mean, come on! What’s woodworking without a few battle scars?
Embracing the Flaws
From that point on, I decided to embrace my errors. I figured if I cut a bit too deep, maybe I could still salvage it somehow. Creative problem-solving at its finest! After a few minutes of some pretty intense brainstorming—and maybe another gulp of coffee—I had an idea. Instead of panicking, I used that mistimed gouge to add a decorative inlay. Just a bit of walnut I had lying around from another project. Once I got that in, I couldn’t believe it actually worked! Turns out, those “mistakes” can lead you to some pretty interesting outcomes.
It’s funny how lessons come disguised as failures. That router, which had me on the edge of my seat, ended up being my favorite tool by the end of the week. I got the hang of it, finally learning how to adjust the speed and how to hold it steady. Honestly, I think it actually helped me appreciate the art of woodworking even more, which is something I sometimes take for granted.
A Touch of Family
Oh, and I’ve gotta tell you about the moment my little girl came out to see what I was up to. There’s something magical about the look on a kid’s face when they see a pile of wood turning into something useful. She stood there wide-eyed, watching the wood shavings fly and listening to the sounds of creation. I asked her if she wanted to help, and you better believe she rushed right over. We got her a small piece of wood and I showed her how to use a little block plane.
Her giggles mixed with the scent of cedar was just perfect. Little lessons about patience, craftsmanship, and hey, maybe a bit of chaos. I wish someone had told me that would be the highlight of my day, even more than finally finishing that table.
Looking Ahead
So here’s the thing: as much as 2020 threw a lot of us for a loop, it also pushed me to be more resourceful and creative. I didn’t just end up with a new table; I got a stash of memories, a bunch of goofy mistakes turned into lessons, and a little woodworking buddy too.
If you’re thinking about jumping into woodworking or picking up a new tool, just go for it. Seriously. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to know it all. Every misstep is just another part of the journey. Believe me, those flaws often make the best stories later on. So, grab that tool, hold on to that coffee, and let the shavings fly! You might just surprise yourself.
