2 hours ago, DAB said:

woodworking does not translate to TV or youtube or short classes well.

 

much of woodworking is problem solving, figuring out the size and shape of the next part.  math, stock selection and preparation, cutting away that which is not needed for that part, fitting up with previous parts so the next part can be worked on.  it's time consuming, sometimes tedious, can be physically challenging, and may involve the use of multiple tools with their own set ups.  or perhaps it's time to design/build a jig, which is a little, mini project thrown into the middle of your bigger project.

 

no one wants to watch me sit at my bench, pencil in hand, fussing out the details of the next part.  they just want the glory of seeing it all come together from a pile of parts that have all been properly cut and fit before the cameras start rolling.

 

and that, among other reasons, is why i don't have a time clock in my shop to log in and log out and track my time.  it's done when it's done.  whining and yelling don't help it get done faster.

I agree with your time clock. When I take a commission I always say It will be done when it is done at my pace. Unfortunately I tend to push just to get the pile off my bench.

2 hours ago, DAB said:

woodworking does not translate to TV or youtube or short classes well.

 

much of woodworking is problem solving, figuring out the size and shape of the next part.  math, stock selection and preparation, cutting away that which is not needed for that part, fitting up with previous parts so the next part can be worked on.  it's time consuming, sometimes tedious, can be physically challenging, and may involve the use of multiple tools with their own set ups.  or perhaps it's time to design/build a jig, which is a little, mini project thrown into the middle of your bigger project.

 

no one wants to watch me sit at my bench, pencil in hand, fussing out the details of the next part.  they just want the glory of seeing it all come together from a pile of parts that have all been properly cut and fit before the cameras start rolling.

 

and that, among other reasons, is why i don't have a time clock in my shop to log in and log out and track my time.  it's done when it's done.  whining and yelling don't help it get done faster.

I totally agree, but a good teacher can definitely help guide you in making wise decisi.ons, selecting woods, tools, and providing woodworking experience.  Never had that advantage, so it was learn as you go. Woodworking was never a part of my growing up.

2 hours ago, Al B said:

I totally agree, but a good teacher can definitely help guide you in making wise decisi.ons, selecting woods, tools, and providing woodworking experience.  Never had that advantage, so it was learn as you go. Woodworking was never a part of my growing up.

 

Social media and resources like YouTube have opened up a whole world of woodworking to those who would not otherwise get into the hobby, trade. If you don't have a mentor, or a parent, or a teacher in the craft, it's likely you may just toss in the towel the first time you run that dull hand plane across a board and dig in and gouge it all up. But now, you can access videos for free, on how to sharpen a plane iron, how to cut dovetails, how to set up a jig, how to this, how to that, there has never been a better time to be a woodworker thirsting for knowledge and guidance, then now. Without plopping a single penny down, or fighting traffic to the nearest adult school teaching woodworking, you are a click away from learning virtually any skill you are short of. It's an amazing thing, this technology, I believe in its purest form, this is what the internet is all about, learning, teaching, collaborating on wonderful ideas and more.

And please use your safety guards and keep your digits.