My father in law was a woodworker and was instrumental in helping me hone my skills.  He also had a great addage that he lived by.  He always said, " I never make mistakes, I make kindling."  So that got me thinking about all of the dumb mistakes that I've made and thus helped add to my kindling pile. 

 

My latest was a month or so ago when I was making challenge coin holders to send to the WWP.  I had 10 blanks cut 12" long by about 4 1/2 wide.  The back of the holder is about 2" tall and the front is about 1 1/2" so there is an elevation or slant to the top.  I carefully laid out the dimensions for the slots and set the fence for the 1st cut.  I set the saw blade at a 7 degree angle so that the slots would be parallel with the back and the coins would tip straight.  Then all I had to do was run all of the holders across the saw, move the fence to set the slot size and run them through again and continue the process till they're done.  Nice plan if I had done it right.  However I failed to remember that I had to start with the rear edge not the front edge against the fence.  Starting at the front edge would put the slot angle slanting the wrong direction.  Unfortunately I scrapped two holders before I saw my mistake.  MORE KINDLING! 

So, I ask all of my fellow woodworkers out there, "Have you made any kindling lately?"  I know we all have warts so let's see em. 

 

Here's the coin holders that were left after the corrections.  Notice that there are only 8, not 10. 

 

 

 

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Ron Dudelston
Above and Beyond WoodWorks

Okay Ron I am going to post some of my mishaps later, but I got to check on thing. If I am counting right there are only 6 and eight. So how many did you run in the wrong direction???

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

Ron, do you work for the federal government? They can make 6 or eight look the same too!

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Bob Kloes
www.bobkloes.com

My latest kindling. When I put the top of the trophy together with the sides in the wrong position for the top box. I made a new top before sending it out, but now I look at the scrap bin and feel really foolish. But then that is why we can claim to be human. It's it great to laugh at yourself?

 

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

You guys are sharp as a bowling ball.  I think I know why I make mistakes.  I can't count.  Yes, I started with 8 not 10.  I should have looked at the picture.  I know for a fact that I trashed two.  By the way, anyone want a toilet seat for a mere $1500?

 

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Ron Dudelston
Above and Beyond WoodWorks

i dont know about kindling ron, but as ive always said "i dont make much, but i sure do make a lot of sawdust", just my thought, have a good day

And I fully agree Paul!

Paul Whitmarsh said:

i dont know about kindling ron, but as ive always said "i dont make much, but i sure do make a lot of sawdust", just my thought, have a good day

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Ron Dudelston
Above and Beyond WoodWorks

Okay Ron, not going to just put you out there by yourself. I have made my share of miss cuts and bad glue ups. Most of us don't like to show our mistakes, but hey, we all make them. Some you can recover from and some, well as you said become kindling.

 

I always get comments at craft shows that my cutting boards are too pretty to cut on. They just wouldn't use it. So I have one that slipped in the clamps and didn't pull up good. I didn't notice it until it was too late. I am thinking of keeping it under the table and when I get that comment, pulling this one out and saying, "would you feel better putting this one on the counter and using it?"

 

So this one lays in the shop, in the pile of those that didn't make the grade.

 

 

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

I make charcoal. People love it. Its funny, but the figure still shows after it is charcoal. I always tell them, they are the only folks with tiger maple and birdseye charcoal....

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Bob Kloes
www.bobkloes.com

And expensive charcoal at that Bob.  Hey John just cut the sides down and sell it for the kitchen of a mobile home.

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Ron Dudelston
Above and Beyond WoodWorks

My roomate tells her friends that we have expensive firewood. She always asks me to save scrap for kindling in the winter. Plane shavings work great. I am glueing up a massive top for my newest workbench. I marked all the grain directions on each board. The first set of 4 pieces had a board that was marked wrong. Luckily, I am using hide glue. I spent a while with a heat gun in my hand to fix this mistake. I pay more attention to my wood now.

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Adam Welker
Red Car Construction and Fine Woodworking

I love that suggestion Ron.

 

Ron Dudelston said:

And expensive charcoal at that Bob.  Hey John just cut the sides down and sell it for the kitchen of a mobile home.

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Ron Dudelston
Above and Beyond WoodWorks