Mistakes on projects!

[Black wallnut]

Sometimes I just have to live with some mistakes. On my son's high chair after tapering the first set of legs on the wrong side I decided to go buy new stock to start over. First set of legs were a glue-up lamination of two 4/4 thick boards so I did not feel too bad. I went and purchased 8/4 stock taking far mor care in the layout of the joinery but when it came time to taper I once again tapered the wrong faces. Oh well! In the completed project such a small mistake does not even show but it sure complicted some assembly.

You may just need to take a few days of deep breathing and refocus before you return to finish.

[oakchas]

Yep, it happens to me, it happens to all of us.

Most of the time you can cover your errors. Sometimes you have to redo the whole part.

When I had nearly completed the staircase, I "lost" a 48" level. It went down the stairs like a sled. It cut gouges (very small) in about 3 treads. But it took a 1/2" chunk out of the bottom tread, right at the front, in the center (of course).

This first tread is curly oak, a beautifully figured piece of white oak. I invented several cursewords that day. I was devastated. Then I got to thinking about it.

It's a staircase. People will walk on it. Some inconsiderate folk will probably even walk on it in street shoes. The dogs go up and down these stairs and sometimes without having recently had a pedicure.

So, I patched it up by gluing the chunk back in, blended some varnish, filled the divot that was crushed, and sighed. Building the stairs began as a labor of love.

Being on a constant (moving) deadline... "By Easter? Thanksgiving? Christmas?" for about 5 years, made me hate the stairs. But they got done... they look good. They will be used. I am satisfied. The compliments are plentiful, and only I can see every mistake.

It's all part of the process. I'm sure even Dave in Cairns (wherever he is) made more than a few mistakes in his career.

[footprintsinconc]

thank you all for the advice and words of comfort!

i think my biggest problem is i want it done fast, and start getting frustrated when things start happening. i think of the things that can go wrong just before i start and then bam! i actually started out drawing a bed for the kids, only to draw up our coffee table set only to get involved with the shoe storage crisis at the front door, only to go back and finish the coffee table plans first because i needed to buy maple plywood and needed to know how much and what size the cuts were going to be........ so i guess i was distracted in too many directions and the pressure build up fast! go to learn to stop and start in a disciplined manner.

by ranting here last night, i some what cooled down about 5 minutes later and went back to fixing the mistakes that i just had made and assembling the whole thing and except for the bench top. hopefully, i will try to take it slowly tonight

seriously speaking, thank you all for being here!

[eccentrictinkerer]

My dad always said the difference between a Master carpenter and a Journeyman was that the Master knew how to cover up his mistakes with molding!

Dad was a Master plumber. I never asked him how he covered up his mistakes.

[Uncle Cracker]

Don't feel bad, I once made the same mistake five times; on the same project. Now that's down right DUMB, or something.

No, that's consistent...

[TB Roye]

I have the perfect reminder of a mistake in my shop and see itevery time I use it. I built a nice storage cabinet with adjustable shelves about 6 1/2 feet tall. I made nice rail and stile door for it and it was perfect and was real proud of it. I then hung in on the cabinet using the European hidden hinges, went in to watch Super Bowl. Came out during half time and found the door hung inside out. It is a beautiful door once it is open.

Tom

[newood2]

I'm too smart to make mistakes. Yea yea yea I said it.
I know you won't believe me, but you're never around to prove me wrong.

Howie( the blundering fool)

[TheRic]

When making a mistake on something you know how to do, then the best is to step back and try again when you are in the right frame of mind. 2 wrongs do not make a right.

If you made a mistake on something that you are trying for the first time, learning how to do it. You need to step back and figure out what you did wrong, why you did it wrong, and figure out more than one way to correct that from happening again. The reason for more than one way to correct the problem is the first way is not always the best, also it makes you think of better / different was of doing things.

More than once I have stepped back from a finished task and mentally tore the thing apart figuring out ever little detail that I did wrong even things that I know no one would care / notice. But when I was finished I was able to walk away knowing that I learned something.

They say you learn from your mistakes, if that is true I have a PhD several times over.

[Ed62]

Most of the time, if I make a mistake, I'll continue working until I make another one (unless the first one is really bad). That usually means my mind is not focused properly on my work. Then it's time to quit.

Ed

[warrenp]

Sure...happens all the time. I just try to remember that my woodworking is for fun and part of the challenge is to cleverly hide those mistakes. I actually have more of an appreciation for work that is not perfect...it shows that it is handmade.

I inspected some pieces of fine antique furniture and was surprised to see that the handmade dovetails were far from perfect. My perspective is that sometimes we tend to forget that the dovetails (and other details) are to hold the piece together...not as works of art in themselves. The furniture of course were art pieces in design.

Of course, I also have an appreciation for some of those beautiful works that seem to be perfect.

And of course, I have yet to make my first dovetail...that should be this spring.

[footprintsinconc]

i just have to learn to walk away, but for some reason, i couldnt on the project. i have it all assembled and put in place. i havent applied a finish yet, but that is going to wait for a couple of weeks until i get a couple of things done that need finishing. i have posted some pics in the 'finished project' section.

thanks again for the wonderful advice that you all have shared with me.

regards,

[mater]

You are not alone. Most mistakes can be worked around and covered up. I have made some that were just plain stupid because I wasn't paying attention.