We spend A LOT of time watching kids sports.  We have been lucky enough that we have become friends with a lot of the other parents.  I was talking to some people and showing some of the projects that I have done.  They had a ton of questions for me about wood working.  Questions like:

What projects do you like to do best?

What steps of the process is the most fun? 

is there anything you do not like about a project?

What do you like best about woodworking?

It brought on some fun conversation for me.    I told them,  I am ususaly a one and done project guy.  I do one project and rarely do i make it again.  I like the whole process of the project, for the most part.  I love drawing it out, and using all the tools, and watching the project transform and come together.  The only thing i do not like is figuring out a lumber list.  I guess my favorite thing for me is,  the whole process.  I do love to make something unique for someone and give it away.  

 

It got me thinking of the rest of you guys.  If you were asked these questions, what would your answers be?

My favorite projects are containers. Everything from tiny ring boxes to rifle cases. Includes band saw boxes, storage crates and planter boxes.

For me, every step of a project is enjoyable. If it wasn't, I wouldn't do it.

I love to try new methods  and find different ways of accomplishing a task. i.e. straightening boards without a jointer. Or measuring without a tape. 

And, like you mentioned, I'm usually a one and done type of wood butcher. Repition is boring.

I'm like you in that I mostly make one of something- except for rolling pins.

 

I use Sketchup to create my drawings of projects and it's fun to see them come to life in the workshop.

 

Finishing is my least favorite part of a project- mainly because I am never satisfied with the way it looks.

 

Of all of the things I've made over the years, my favorite is still one of the first projects I did early on. Mimi wanted a dining room added to our house and a china closet to put into it. I made the china closet from plans in the Woodsmith magazine.

 

 

The dining room came 10 years later!

Stupendous work on that China cabinet. 

It depends on what type projects. Flatwork is no longer my forte and was always one and done . But past projects my fav was a side table built with no screws except to fasten the leg to box all other joints glue or dovetail. Turning is now my thing and yes there are repeats with platters being fav.

 

Turning wet wood id the most fun. For flats it is making drawers.

 

Sanding is my least fav on any project.

 

 

Cherry side table based on shaving stand on New Yankee

 

 

Jimmy Clewes style platter

3 hours ago, Gerald said:

It depends on what type projects. Flatwork is no longer my forte and was always one and done . But past projects my fav was a side table built with no screws except to fasten the leg to box all other joints glue or dovetail. Turning is now my thing and yes there are repeats with platters being fav.

 

Turning wet wood id the most fun. For flats it is making drawers.

 

Sanding is my least fav on any project.

 

 

Cherry side table based on shaving stand on New Yankee

 

 

Jimmy Clewes style platter

 

Nice side table, @Gerald!

At this point Roy, anything I could build would be my favorite project, I have hit such a dry spell it's getting frustrating. But when I was actively crafting in my shop my favorite to build is chairs, I love building chairs. I hope soon I can get back in the shop, but it just seems like one thing after another these last couple years, praying there is an end to my dry spell in the shop very soon

37 minutes ago, John Morris said:

At this point Roy, anything I could build would be my favorite project, I have hit such a dry spell it's getting frustrating, but it just seems like one thing after another these last couple years, praying there is an end to my dry spell in the shop very soon

 

Had to modify your statement a bit but couldn't have said it better myself John. 

Doesn't mean we can't dream up a few projects though. 

4 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

 

Had to modify your statement a bit but couldn't have said it better myself John. 

Doesn't mean we can't dream up a few projects though. 

That's why I love coming here Larry, I do live my projects through the folks here who are actually building. We'll get it together right!

ladies and gentlemen:  i will now, over the course of several days/weeks transform, right before your very eyes, with my own bare hands and some simple tools, this pile of untamed lumber into a beautiful set of maple communion tables (4 planned).  each will have 4 square legs, one top, and one shelf under the top about 1/2 way up from the floor.  they will be sized to fit the spaces available and to hold the intended objects comfortably and securely.  please....hold your applause until the end....

 

this project is coming soon, pics when i have something to show.....

 I've got this image of an Oak roll around A&C/Mission Style Audio Rack Media Center rolling around in my mind. 

 

Edited April 26, 20242 yr by Larry Buskirk

47 minutes ago, DAB said:

ladies and gentlemen:  i will now, over the course of several days/weeks transform, right before your very eyes, with my own bare hands and some simple tools, this pile of untamed lumber into a beautiful set of maple communion tables (4 planned).  each will have 4 square legs, one top, and one shelf under the top about 1/2 way up from the floor.  they will be sized to fit the spaces available and to hold the intended objects comfortably and securely.  please....hold your applause until the end....

 

this project is coming soon, pics when i have something to show.....

Go get em Dab!!!!

In years past I really enjoyed building blanket chests and I did maybe a dozen or so with mostly different sizes and designs.  Haven't built one in several years having been sidetracked on home improvement projects and some other furniture pieces.  I would like to do one more blanket chest before I scale back for smaller less physically demanding projects.

I have also enjoyed those projects I was able to do using recycled materials that were likely destined for the landfill.  Pallets, old rafters and such.  I recently completed a set of cabinets from old hotel bed headboards that I thought came out every bit as good as the ones I built from oak ply for our kitchen remodel.

My favorite type of project has taken many turns over the years due to workshop space and my age.  I started with a big shop, wood stove heat and many large tools. I moved here to Colorado and now have half of my garage. I have made my shop machines as compact as possible and lumber storage space is very small. Most of my projects are made on my mini lathe or one of my fold away tools. As for my age, I am now content to make smaller projects and just enjoy wood working small lathe projects. I am presently making ear rings and small table saw projects. No matter what the project, even if it fails and I toss it, I still enjoy working with wood.

2 hours ago, Ron Altier said:

My favorite type of project has taken many turns over the years due to workshop space and my age.  I started with a big shop, wood stove heat and many large tools. I moved here to Colorado and now have half of my garage. I have made my shop machines as compact as possible and lumber storage space is very small. Most of my projects are made on my mini lathe or one of my fold away tools. As for my age, I am now content to make smaller projects and just enjoy wood working small lathe projects. I am presently making ear rings and small table saw projects. No matter what the project, even if it fails and I toss it, I still enjoy working with wood.

Beautiful pieces, Ron!

I have done a few bedrooms, bunk beds, cabinets, 50 or so bookcases, chairs, toys, kitchen cabinets, sewing room cabinets, 8 or 10 workbenches, tables, chests, refinishing. Probably what I have done the most of is a couple hundred picture frames (including making the frame, cutting mat and glass, and assembly.   I've also made a couple hundred boxes from Shaker oval boxes, to square and octagonal boxes, jewelry boxes with drawers, and a few bandsaw boxes.

 

All told, there's not a room in my house or any of my three children's homes that does not have at least one thing I've made and often more than a few.

 

Since 2015, I've been volunteering at a local furniture bank.  Last year between the half dozen or so woodworkers and the external volunteers, we made over 2100 tables and repaired over 150 pieces.  Twice a year , I help build theater sets that are often quite elaborate that fill a 45' wide stage and often have multiple levels or pieces that move in and out during the show or move as part of the show.  That's more "carpentry" though.

 

I used a plan or two early in my career, but generally, if I see a picture of it, or imagine a picture in my mind, a quick sketch will get me going.

 

I enjoy it all except cleaning up the sawdust.

 

I was reading recently about the 8 dimensions of intelligence and one of them was the ability to problem solve and generate solutions.  Guess that fits with woodworking.  spatial intelligence, Bodily-kinesthetic

12 hours ago, kmealy said:

generally, if I see a picture of it, or imagine a picture in my mind, a quick sketch will get me going.

 

I usually look at a few pictures of something similar to my "MindSketch", pick the features I like from them then try to figure out how to combine them into the project.

 

"What projects do you like to do best?

What steps of the process is the most fun? 

is there anything you do not like about a project?

What do you like best about woodworking?"

 

1)Generally speaking the ones I like the best are the ones that have a fair amount of router table work...it's my favorite tool to use.

2) milling/shaping the wood

3) not really

4) seeing the final product, which is sometimes (not always) accompanied by a feeling of pride.

 

 

This is a lot of good responses.  My favorite projects are usually whatever I am working on at the time.  I really go in phases with what my favorite tool is.  There are times that i can not get enough with playing with the lathe.  Sometimes i have a lot of fun cutting with the table saw.  Maybe that's why i enjoy it so much because Im always changing and when i need a break from something i have fun doing something else.