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> presumably by taking classes at a technical college? Trial and Error is all you need. I've never formally trained myself in woodworking and I'm pretty good a
by Jaruzel 6y ago
> presumably by taking classes at a technical college?
Trial and Error is all you need. I've never formally trained myself in woodworking and I'm pretty good at it. I could definately replicate what this guy did if I had the time and money. My wife and I have a book collection that currently lives on eight 2.5 metre high by 1 metre wide Oak bookcases that fully line two walls of our living room (which we call the Library). Each unit has 8 shelves (so 64 metres-ish of book space). All built by my fair hand.
The trick is to plan, and to plan well. being able to mock things up in a basic CAD package is a must. I use an old copy of Sketchup (the offline version) and it does me.
After that it's tools. Bad tools make for a bad job. If you can, spend money on good tools, but only buy what you need for that job. After a few years, you'll have a workshop full of nice kit that enables you to tackle anything. Once you learn what your tools can do, you suddenly realise how many projects are now accessible. It's a bit like getting a 3D printer and realising how many things you can now build or fix!
Finally, measure twice and cut once. This is your mantra. Accuracy is everything. If you are not sure, cut the wood slightly too big and trim off until it fits - it's easy to make a bit of wood smaller, it's impossible to make it bigger.
I've also designed, built and fitted our kitchen (that's all Oak also), and the desk units in the study (where I'm typing this) plus numerous other projects to long to list.
If I could give up IT and do woodworking everyday, I would.
- contingencies 6y agoI use an old copy of Sketchup (the offline version) and it does me. Blender and FreeCAD are both good open source options. You can also alternatively draw an SVG in Inkscape, import in to one or the other, then 3D extrude it.
- TheAdamAndChe 6y agoFor those who have never used these tools, they are very good but have an _extremely_ steep learning curve. If you just want to make stuff but see this software as a roadblock, you can still accomplish a lot with good old pen-and-paper.
- themodelplumber 6y ago100%. You can even learn to render in 3D well enough with pen and paper. Sometimes with simple maker projects you can even start with a loose 3D render and do the rest in your head. https://youtu.be/oJ7WHuvdsjI https://youtu.be/oJ7WHuvdsjI
- jki275 6y agoSketchup is so much easier to use than blender though. Amazingly easy.
- ragebol 6y agoI really liked OnShape for my latest woodworking project. Allows to make 2D drawing and assemblies etc, even animate joints. It's not open-source unfortunately though. Example: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/72898c3fef68768a08c1287a/w/5243f7d81ba091b7e574c7b2/e/700f568eac36d55cb8381789 https://cad.onshape.com/documents/72898c3fef68768a08c1287a/w...
- faitswulff 6y agoThe author mentions that he used OnShape for the project, actually.
- monksy 6y agoLooks like it is free for hobbyists. https://www.onshape.com/products/free?hsCtaTracking=12ef09fd-fa65-48a5-a496-d17c85a4662a%7C7bfa3811-7cbc-49db-9c26-50fb7bd007cd https://www.onshape.com/products/free?hsCtaTracking=12ef09fd...
- mauvehaus 6y agoSo was Fusion 360. I'm glad I hadn't gotten around to putting any time into learning it.
- dec0dedab0de 6y agoIf I could give up IT and do woodworking everyday, I would. I feel like this every time I do some project around the house. After replacing my toilet a few years ago I realized that manual labor is bad for the knees but good for the soul. But knowing me I would probably end up writing a script to help whatever job I was doing, and then end up making that my focus.
- vorpalhex 6y ago"Why are we tracking parts using a pen and paper? There's a much better way to be doing this..." Cut to five years later when your former-plumbing shop is now selling an inventory control PAAS to other plumbers and you're now trying to learn swift so you can port to the latest ipads.
- zimpenfish 6y ago> measure twice and cut once. I've had to amend that after a shameful disaster with a half-lap joint beam - "Measure twice, think once, cut once."
- dr_orpheus 6y agoYeah, doesn't matter how many times you measure if you did your math badly. Definitely happened to me a couple of times.
- kls 6y agoThere is an old saying in construction and woodworking, all defects can be covered up except for a board cut too short.
- bregma 6y ago> measure twice and cut once Evidently order is important here. Measuring and cutting are not commutative operations. Also, if you have two parts to join, the measuring on both sides doesn't cancel. If only carpentry and woodworking were as easy as algebra.
- anjc 6y ago> I could definately replicate what this guy did if I had the time and money Perhaps you can but for anyone else reading, this is a big and complicated project. Far beyond the capabilities of an enthusiastic/studious beginner. Your mitre saw or cross cut jig/sled being just a few thousanths off will mess this project up. This guy did a really great job.
- Jaruzel 6y agoI wasn't dissing his work. It IS great. What I was trying to say, is that without any training, and by pure self-learning, I have the same skill set. I was replying to the parent comment about needing formal training.