The Joys and Woes of Woodworking Auctions in Ontario
You ever find yourself on a sunny Saturday morning, coffee in hand, and before you know it, you’re scrolling through listings for local auctions? Yeah, that was me a little while back. I’d just gotten my hands on an old table saw, and I thought, “Hey, I could really use some more wood. Maybe even tackle that bookshelf the wife keeps asking for.” Little did I know, this would send me down a rabbit hole of excitement, anticipation, and a fair amount of frustration, not to mention a few “what was I thinking?” moments.
So, there I was, sitting in my small town in Michigan, enjoying that first sip of coffee and just browsing through the treasures that various woodworking auctions in Ontario had to offer. You could really feel the buzz of the wood, you know? You could practically smell the cedar and pine through the screen. The thought of snagging a good deal made me giddy.
The Auction Day
The day of the auction arrived, and I swear, it was like Christmas morning. I get on that virtual platform and see everything laid out: stacks of reclaimed wood, tools left behind who knows how many years ago, and when I spotted those beautiful walnut slabs? My heart skipped a beat. I thought about all the fancy things I could create. End tables, a cutting board, heck, even a coffee table, if I had enough!
But, naturally, things didn’t go as smoothly as I pictured in my head. I bid on a lot that included some gorgeous cherry wood. Now, cherry isn’t the cheapest option out there, but it’s a dream to work with. So, I went for it, and wouldn’t you know it, I wound up winning it. I was ecstatic. Until, well, the moment I realized I had also accidentally bid on a box of rusty old tools from the same lot.
The Tools Trap
Let me tell you; if you’ve ever picked up a rusty chisel, you know it feels like you’ve just unearthed a long-lost relic. The smell of old oil and metal hit me all at once when I opened that box. You’d think I found a treasure chest. I spent the next few hours cleaning those tools, just to discover that the only thing salvageable was an old hand plane and a couple of coping saws. I almost gave up when I realized I wasn’t sure if I was keeping historical artifacts or simply enhancing my trash pile.
But somehow, amidst the disappointment and initial frustration, out came the determined spirit that seemed to fester in most woodworkers. I mean, what’s woodworking without a couple of mishaps, right? The smell of the wood dust, the rhythmic sound of the saw cutting through grain, somehow turned my mood around. I figured if nothing else, those rusty tools could serve as a reminder of what not to do next time!
The Wood Wonder
With the cherry wood loaded into my truck, I drove home, feeling like I’d just gone to war and come out victorious. As soon as I unloaded those thick slabs, the real fun—if you could call it that—began. I had my table saw set up, my heart racing. I planned to cut it into smaller pieces, but as I made the first cut, I could feel the vibrations shoot through my body—almost like a heartbeat. I can’t explain it, but for a few seconds, everything else faded away, and it was just me, the wood, and the saw.
But like I said, not everything goes as planned. I misjudged a cut—by a lot. Instead of a neat edge, I got this jagged mess. At that moment, I felt like just throwing in the towel. Like, maybe this whole woodworking shtick was just not for me. Have you ever felt that pang of regret, you know? It’s like staring at a beautiful sandwich and watching the last bite drop to the ground.
But then I took a breath, looked at the mess, and thought, “Well, what if I turned this into something else?” I’d seen somewhere online about making small charcuterie boards. Why not? I took that hunk of misfit wood, sanded it down to smoothness, and slapped some food-safe finish on it. And wouldn’t you know it? It turned out delightful. Almost made me laugh when it actually worked out in the end.
A Community Connection
What struck me the most during this whole adventure was the sense of community. You’d think working with wood would be a lonely endeavor, but I found a bunch of really supportive folks online. I started sharing my projects, my mistakes, and the happy accidents that somehow ended up looking great. It’s amazing how quickly we forget all the dirt and frustration when a little piece of wood comes together beautifully, right?
At one point, I ended up in a Facebook group with a bunch of old-timers sharing their wisdom. They had been there, done that, and let me tell you, their stories of disaster were almost comically relatable. One guy told me about a table he tried to build that ended up resembling a funhouse mirror—completely lopsided! Made me feel a lot better about my miscut.
The Takeaway
So, wrap this whole thing up nicely: if you ever think about diving into something new—like woodworking or even attending one of those auctions—just go for it. Seriously, take that plunge. You’ll mess up, and it might feel frustrating at times, but in the end, you’ll build something—hell, it might even be something beautiful, or at the very least a great story to share over coffee.
And, who knows, maybe you’ll end up with some rusty tools, a hilarious mishap or two, and a real sense of belonging with a community that totally gets it. So grab that cup of coffee and dive in, friend. You won’t regret it!
