Coffee and Wood Shavings: A Black Friday Tale
So, here I am, sippin’ on my morning brew, staring out at the frosty landscape that’s already starting to look like a winter wonderland. It’s that perfect time of year — you know, when there’s a chill in the air but the big holiday rush hasn’t totally kicked in yet. Now, I’ve never been one for big-box store Black Friday marathons, but let me tell you, that first time I wandered into Highland Woodworking‘s Black Friday sale was a game changer.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I had this ambitious notion of making a dining table from scratch. But not just any table — I wanted something rustic but elegant. I had my eye set on some really nice oak. You can’t beat that grain, right? You walk into a room and that oak just speaks to you. Or at least it does to me.
Anyway, I’d been saving for weeks, barely letting myself buy those extra snacks at the grocery store. “Nope, gotta get that table.” But as Black Friday approached, social media started blowing up about Highland Woodworking. It was like a siren’s call. I thought, “Might as well check it out.” So, I grabbed my thermos, hopped in my old truck, and headed over.
The moment I walked in, I swear, the smell hit me. You know the scent of freshly cut wood? It’s grounding, fills you with hope — like stepping into the forest. And it was packed! People milling around, checking out routers and chisels, and let me tell you, the excitement in the air was almost palpable. Icould feel it in my bones.
And there it was — the hand tools section. Oh man. I can still hear the gentle sounds, the soft metallic clinks as folks picked up an Ahşap Kaplama, or let their hands graze across the smooth, polished finish of a new chisel. I gravitated toward this beautifully crafted Japanese pull saw. I’d watched videos about them, but to hold it? It felt alive, ready for action! So, you can guess where my money went! I left with that saw, a couple of chisels, and a hefty stack of oak boards.
Now, I’ll be honest here. The moment I got them home and laid out all my materials, I had this sinking feeling. What did I get myself into? I mean, I’d built plenty of shelves and little projects here and there, but a full dining table? This was a whole new beast.
Missteps and Moments of Doubt
I spent one late evening, all jacked up on coffee and ambition, thinking I’d cut the boards to size. Well, my first cut was a disaster. Picture this: the saw biting into the wood, the blade snagging, and then BAM! I ended up with a pretty serious kickback. I almost lost a finger! Thankfully, I dodged it (my lucky day!), but my confidence? Yeah, that took a hit. I remember sitting there, staring at that rough edge, thinking, “What the heck am I doing?”
But I didn’t give up that easily. I kept at it, even when my wife walked in with a raised eyebrow, “You sure about this?” I needed encouragement, not doubt! But I put on a brave face and said, “Of course! Just a little hiccup, that’s all!”
As the weeks went by, there were more mishaps. I had made the mistake of trying to rush my sanding — thought I could skip the finer grits. Spoiler alert: don’t do that. My table’s surface ended up looking like a bad haircut. I almost gave up. It wasn’t until one evening, exhausted and frustrated, I just sat back and let out a huge sigh. The moment felt oddly cathartic.
The Unexpected Success
But you know what? As I stumbled my way through the entire project, I discovered something beautiful. With each mistake came a lesson. Every misalignment in my joinery felt like a character in my table’s story. I learned to get creative, reworking sections that didn’t jive the first time. I can’t even tell you how many times I just laughed at my own silliness. The jointer I was so proud of turned out to be slightly off, but instead, I embraced the quirkiness.
There’s a certain joy in making something imperfectly perfect. I can’t even describe the feeling when I finally applied that finish—a warm, golden hue that made those oak grains pop like they were meant to shine. Another funny moment? As I stood there admiring it with a drink in my hand, my 10-year-old daughter ran up, pointed at the table, and simply said, “Cool! Can we eat on it?”
That moment? Oh, it sent butterflies through my stomach. I laughed because, despite the hardships, it was exactly what I wanted.
In the end, what I learned through my scrapes and mistakes felt bigger than just woodworking. It’s a lesson that I keep coming back to each year, especially when Black Friday rolls around and I’m tempted to buy more tools than I need. It’s not about the gear; it’s about the journey of creating and the memories we build along the way — literally and figuratively.
So, if you’re on the fence about diving into a woodworking project, just go for it. There’ll be moments where you’ll want to throw that saw through the window, trust me—I’ve been there. But in those moments of doubt, remember it’s all part of the process. Embrace the journey, and somewhere along the line, you just might find a unique piece of yourself in it.
