I swear some days I can't even make a bird house. Everything I touch turns to junk. I'm a menace. Best to just get outa there and do something else for a while. Do you have days like this?
yes. That's when I clean, or make something for the shop. I don't throw away as much wood as I used to, as long as I'm not bleeding too bad, it's a good day.
yeah but mine happens when ive worked too long and am getting tiered,then i know it's time to call it.but some days nothing goes right,i think all woodworkers have those days.
All the time. I get paralyzed by mistakes. Sometimes a project will sit for months before I go back to it.
Measure 3 times and still cut it to short. Cut the bevel the wrong way.
Get back in the shop and push through it.
Usually when I start making big mistakes that's when I call it a day because it usually just gets worse from there. Seems like some days the wood gods are on your side most other days it seems like they're just pointing and laughing at you.
You are certainly not alone. I do have those days at times as well. Jst do something else for a while… it's good to have other hobbies…
"It doesnt have to be perfect, it just has to be DONE!"
That is very true for me too. It helps to repeat that to oneself… and my wife now starts saying that to me, too…
Bio rhythms. Some days my brain is about 15 degrees out of sync with the rest of my body. It comes and goes on something of a regular basis and it'll get back into a proper rhythm. Meanwhile, I clean the shop, read a book or occupy myself with things that don't require a lot of hand-eye coordination or patience. Athletes experience this and golfers, especially, know all about it.
Yeah best to walk away and come back a different day. I find those days are also the most likely to have an accident or near accident as well. So over the years have learned to just take the dogs for a walk or watch tv or something. Try again the next day or weekend etc. Ironically it usually actually saves time and money overall.
I'm a beginner and it turns out I'm more of one than I first thought. I'm still looking forward to my first good day in the shop. Exceedingly depressing.
My screen name was intended as a joke, but it may be that my dream of building things is the real joke.
If I don't make at least 1 dumb mistake every time I work in shop, get worried that the next shop day I will lose a digit or limb. I buy band-aids by case, and always buy 50% more wood than project needs. I expect to get cut, splinters, and waste wood; admitting I am klutz helps me to avoid being disappointed when stuff happens.
IMHO - Quality wood working is more about perseverance towards a goal, than expecting world class skills with very little practice. Best part is once you push through all the 'bad' days; something useful, cool, or maybe even gorgeous appears in the end.
Most of the projects I see require dedication, perseverance, concentration, inspiration and energy. But we live in a world of instant gratification and YouTube videos of how easy it is to do "X". Fortunately I'm retired and choose my own schedule, level of challenges, etc.
Retirement! I highly recommend it. But until you can retire, relax! Take a break!
I think guys that do woodworking for a living have their bad days like the rest of us. They are just better at covering up mistakes. Unless one has the patience of Job or a Zen Buddhist, it is natural to make mistakes. When we multitask, not everything gets the same attention needed, so nothing will be 100% perfect. You just got to live with the imperfections of being human.
Welcome to that club in which you alternate between being the bug and the windshield.
If I find myself playing the role of bug while building a cabinet, I switch to an electronics, granite, copper plating, plastic bending, carving or other project.
I m a beginner and it turns out I m more of one than I first thought. I m still looking forward to my first good day in the shop. Exceedingly depressing.
My screen name was intended as a joke, but it may be that my dream of building things is the real joke.
Thanks jocks, the dark clouds are starting to blow away and I can get back to work
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