When things go wrong in the woodshop, it can feel like the world is no longer fun.
Now, breathe deeply and fight the urge to throw a tool across the shop. Because making mistakes is a normal part of working with wood.
A master woodworker taught me a class years ago. He told me that he still makes big mistakes and a lot of little ones on every job.
That's why I always say that being able to fix your mistakes is what makes a great maker.
Today, we'll look at some of the most common mistakes people make when they work with wood.
But first, you need to know...
Stop letting everyone know about them! You are already better at woodworking than more than 90% of people in the world.
Everyone will not only not notice your mistakes, but also have no idea what you're on about when you complain about the pins in your dovetails.
The more you work with wood, the better you'll be able to see mistakes coming and avoid them.
Still, here are some tips that will help you avoid a lot of trouble.
It doesn't matter if you use Fusion 360, the free version of Sketchup, or the back of a junk mailer with a great new credit card deal. Making a build plan changes everything.
It helps you see where problems might happen before you start, and it also gives you something to look at while you're cutting.
It also helps you get the most out of your wood, which is important since good woods isn't cheap these days.
You shouldn't bring a tool to a fight over a router, but I wouldn't bring either one either.
In woodworking, there are a million different ways to get the same result. To avoid mistakes, it's important to know which way works best in each case.
While power tools are fast and effective, hand tools may be better for fine work that needs to be very precise.
When you use power tools, remember to make several small passes instead of one big pass. It'll work better and keep you safer. When it comes to routers and dado stacks, this is very important to remember.
Set yourself up to measure as little as possible. It sounds silly, but it will help you get more accurate results. It's important to be able to do things over and over again, and jigs are the best way to do that.
You can use one leg as a guide to make the other three the same length if you need all four to be the same length.
You could set up a stop block on your table saw or line up the legs and use a track saw to cut them all at once.
You have a WAY better chance of getting legs that are the same size this way than if you used a tape measure and a writing knife on each one separately.
Make sure your shop has these things on hand so you're always ready to fix things.
As a builder, these are the mistakes you'll most likely make, from "oh shoot" to "Honey, put down the pipe clamp."
1. SMALL DINGS AND SCRATCHES
Bring out the wood filler if you have a nick that is too deep to sand out.
One thing I like about Timber Mate is that it's water-based and won't go bad. Pour some water over it and let it sit for a while if it gets dry.
It's also possible to mix colors to make a custom color that fits your stock better.
2. Dents
The first time I saw this trick, it blew my mind. It fixes dents in wood where the grain hasn't been broken or gone through, like when a hammer falls on it.
It should come back up flush with the heat and wetness, giving you a flat, damage-free piece of work.
3. Chip Out (With Chip)
You might chip out a piece of wood along one of the edges if you use a chisel or handplane.
Look for that chip. If you want to keep your shop clean and free of dust, this is a great reason to do so.
It's just a matter of putting the chip back in place once you have it.
If you need to get somewhere quickly:
This can also be done with chips that are still attached to the wood. Put CA glue in the crack, spray it with activator, and use your finger to hold it in place.
Something to remember about CA glue: Your finger WILL stick to the piece of work. They say that if you pull your finger off, you might tear off the wood chip again.
That's because CA glue can pull very hard. It does, however, have terrible shear strength.
When you twist your finger before pulling it off the chip, you keep it from coming off again.
If you have more time, you can stick the chip on with wood glue and use painter's tape to hold it in place and push down on it.
4. Chip Out (Without Chip)
As you finish the edge of a board, a chip flies off and lands on the floor. You look for it in mounds of sawdust, but you can't find it.
It's possible to get great results if you take the time to match the grain.
5. Cupped Board
There's a chance that when you come back the next day, the board you worked on has been covered. Especially if you're trying to bookmatch the grain, it can feel pretty bad.
This kind of wood movement is caused by differences in the amount of moisture inside and outside the board. This trick also works on the same concept.
Note: It doesn't always work, but you should try it anyway.
Your board should be flat and ready to use when you get back in the morning.
6. Gaps in Panel Glue Up
Have you ever glued up two boards for a panel and seen a big hole in the middle? It may seem hopeless, but this is easy to fix.
When you lay the boards back out, they will fit together perfectly, even if you plane the sides at a crazy 30° angle. No need for a jointer.
7. Gaps in Joinery
After spending hours cutting what looked like a perfect joint, you find gaps in it when you put it together.
Now is a great time to use sawdust and glue, which is my favorite "wood filler" that I make myself.
The joint will look as tight as a ½-inch stick smashed into a ¼-inch hole when the glue dries.
Since I'm being honest, I even use this trick on perfectly joined furniture. It promises that a few weeks from now I won't find a gap that I'll be crazy about for all time.
It's normal for even the best woodworkers to make mistakes. You learn how to deal with them without getting angry over time...
Always remember that every mistake you make is a chance to get better at woodworking.
