Finding My Groove with New Woodworking Tools in 2018
You know, there was a time when I thought woodworking was about grabbing a hammer and nailing things together like I was some kind of caveman. But boy, how things have changed. Here I am, sitting in my garage, sipping a cup of black coffee—because, really, anything else is just fluff—and I can’t help but chuckle at some of the shenanigans I’ve been through trying to get the hang of these shiny new tools that came out in 2018.
The First Encounter: A Planner That Planed Me
So, I picked up this brand-spankin’ new Dewalt thickness planer. It seemed all the rage that year, and everyone kept raving about its perfect finish. I thought to myself, "This is gonna change my woodworking game!" I had a vision of smooth boards sliding right off this beast. But, man, if I knew then what I know now, I probably would’ve just stuck to my old hand plane just for the sake of simplicity.
When I first fired that thing up, the roar of the motor was like a small jet engine taking off, and, of course, the smell of fresh wood shavings filled the air. Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever smelled freshly Planed maple, but it’s pure heaven—sweet and woody. I was feeling pretty good about myself until I realized I forgot to adjust the in-feed and out-feed tables. You can probably guess what happened next: I ended up with a board that had more waves than the ocean. I almost gave up, standing there—sawdust all over my boots and a bewildered look on my face.
Then I got it. I adjusted those tables, took a few deep breaths, and tried again. When it actually worked, and I ran those boards through perfectly, I laughed like a kid who just scored a touchdown. Sometimes, it just takes that one small tweak.
A Dash of Technology: The Laser Level
Then there was the laser level—man, let me tell you, I felt like a wizard with this thing. It’s a Bosch model, and its bright red line was like something out of a sci-fi movie. I was all set to build a new bookshelf in the living room because a friend told me about how he made one without even measuring. “Just use the laser,” he said. Easy-peasy, right?
Well, I set that beast up and turned it on. It felt so high-tech; I was practically waiting for someone to hand me a lightsaber. I marked my outlines—everything looked great. But when I started putting those shelves together… let’s just say they ended up looking more like a modern art installation than an actual bookshelf.
Turns out, my flooring isn’t exactly level. I almost threw my tool belt across the room in frustration, thinking, “Nothing is level in this town!” After a bit of cursing and a lot of repositioning, I finally realized I had to shim things. It felt like a mini science project, but in the end, I got that shelf up and even added some biscuits for good measure.
The Sweet Smell of Success
Ah, and I can’t forget to mention my love affair with the miter saw. I still remember when I snatched that thing off the shelf at the hardware store. It was a Makita—gorgeous with that blue finish, and the sound it makes when cutting through wood? Pure music to my ears. I knew I wanted to take it home immediately.
You remember that old project I started for my sister’s birthday? I had this grand plan of making her a coffee table, all fancy-like. I had selected some beautiful walnut for the table top. The wood almost had purple streaks through it—gorgeous! I went to town with that miter saw, cutting angles left and right. But I messed up the first few cuts. I was so focused on the angles that I lost track of which way the wood grain was going, and suddenly I had a collection of mismatched pieces, looking like a jigsaw puzzle for a three-year-old.
But instead of sulking, I thought, “Let’s embrace the chaos.” I salvaged the pieces and turned that coffee table into a charcuterie board instead. It was a little smaller than what I originally planned, but you know what? It ended up being a hit at her birthday party. People loved it, and I even got commissioned for a few more. Life has a funny way of working out.
Reflecting on the Journey
Looking back, these tools, these new innovations in woodworking that came out in 2018, they’ve definitely changed my approach—to both the craft and my mindset about mistakes. I mean, sure, sometimes the mistakes put a dent in my pride, but they also teach me a lot more than the victories ever could.
So if you’re out there, thinking about trying your hand at woodworking, or if you’ve got some new tools gathering dust in the corner, just dive in. Experiment. Screw up. Laugh. It’s all part of the journey, and you never know what beautiful creations might come from a good mess. Trust me, you’ll end up with stories that are much better than any how-to guide ever could.
