I recently built a small table, like none I have tried before. No plans, just go for it and use ideas as things proceed. When I encounter a problem ( I don't use plans) I can usually find a way to solve the issue. I  do ask for advise from the forum, but there are NO woodworkers near me. Sometimes it is a design, wood type/color or construction problem  has me stalled.  So I set the project aside, maybe for a couple of days or weeks.  Some have set for years.  Then one day I rethink the project and a different approach or procedure comes to mind and I finish it. My wife has also helped by saying things like "this part should be smaller/larger, same color, different color, etc.

 

How do you solve project issues, what is the best method you have found?

Durning my high school days I took three years of drafting. So I like to sit down and draw it out to look at size and joinery. I guess I am a. Little old school as I usually use a t-square, triangle and pencil and paper. I have tried in sketchuo, but I can draw it out before I get it in the correct plain in sketchuo.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

I use scaled paper and a scaled ruler. I start with a basic view and progress from there. By the time I am done, the plans are complete, to scale and all the joinery is detailed. It doesn't take too long although that depends on the project. I have tried sketchup but can do it faster with pencil and ruler.

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Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

Me too John, I loved those classes. Even today when I look at an object, I can project all three views in my mind. Sometimes I do draw it out also. I can also take the three view drawing and project a dimensional object in my mind, and be able to turn it around to view from all sides, something like the CAD programs of today. I thought all the guys in my shop class could do that, but they laughed at me when I told them that. That was in the late 50s

John Moody said:

Durning my high school days I took three years of drafting. So I like to sit down and draw it out to look at size and joinery. I guess I am a. Little old school as I usually use a t-square, triangle and pencil and paper. I have tried in sketchuo, but I can draw it out before I get it in the correct plain in sketchuo.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

I was in drafting in the late 60's and early 70's. But I know what you mean about projecting the views even in your head.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Most of my project are started with simple pencil drawings. Sometimes, I'll make full sized layouts  for an idea I've never attempted so there is less of a chance of a miscalculation and wasted materials. Like you, I'm pretty much alone as a woodworker but the school where I taught has a really knowledgeable carpentry teacher. Sometimes he gives me some ideas. Mostly I rely on forums, like this, and trial and error. After the China Closet Fiasco, I've learned to take Mimi's advice about sizes. 

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Ron, I used to build just like up until a very short time ago. I have taken to pencil and paper and some drawing aids within the the last couple of years. I used to love just winging it, I am pretty good at visualizing something and making it happen. I break things down into their simplest forms and approach each one individually.

But, I have become a big fan of drafting and working it out. When I put it down on graph paper, I am able to see problems before they even occur. And, I have less firewood after a project!

But to answer your question, what I used to do is make the best of the error, errrr, character I mean. If the project went down a road I was not happy with, I made the best of it and usually just incorporated the error into the over all design. I was building a small buffet a few years back, more like a hall table, no drawers. I had the table within a few hours of being finished in the construction process, I was edge routing the table top after it was installed my router dipped to the side and gouged a nice little chunk out of the the front apron. Guess what, now it got a drawer!!!!! And it turned out even better then originally planed.

Now that was an example of a malfunction instead of a design gone bad flaw. But that is how I handled those situations.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

Oh yes, and the best method I have found, take a deep breath, walk away, do something else, and usually while doing that something else, a light goes on! And I get it.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

I usually start with a rough sketch of what I have in my mind, then I decide where the project will be located and measure the space and scale it to fit in that location. I define the intended type of joinery, accents and main features. Sometimes I will make a mock up from cardboard. I use a lot of information from books, the internet and when I'm sure of the design I begin the build. I will only join pieces together when I'm sure of the fit. Sometimes I'll dry fit pieces 20 times before final assembly. When I get stuck along the way I set it aside and come back to it after sorting out the problem. If that doesn't work then it's time for alcohol..... 

Mike Dillen said:

 When I get stuck along the way I set it aside and come back to it after sorting out the problem. If that doesn't work then it's time for alcohol..... 

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

Depends on what exactly is perplexing me.

If it's design or geometry I turn to Turbocad Pro 16 Platinum

If it's finishing  I ask in places like this, hoping to find people who know more than I. Invariably there's someone, it's a game of fishing till I catch what I'm after. 

If it's technique I usually google around till I see something that inspires.  Failing that I just try new- or old - things as they occur to me.

Cliff, my old neighbor in Ohio was a master woodworker in his younger days, he is now 91. I picked his brain as much as I could and most of his "old tried and true" methods worked very well. I sure do miss being able to walk over to his shop and  sit for a while. In winter he had his wood burning stove going, saw dust flying and we spread the BS long and deep

Cliff said:

Depends on what exactly is perplexing me.

If it's design or geometry I turn to Turbocad Pro 16 Platinum

If it's finishing  I ask in places like this, hoping to find people who know more than I. Invariably there's someone, it's a game of fishing till I catch what I'm after. 

If it's technique I usually google around till I see something that inspires.  Failing that I just try new- or old - things as they occur to me.

I wrap my head around the problem.

 

No really, i do.

 

Found out a long time ago i can think on 4 dimensions not just 2 (wanna play me in space chess?)

 

I just sit and think about the problem and the solution usually presents itself with very little tweaking neeeded on my part.

 

Most people start by trying to modify an existing error, instead of building it right the first time.