Poll: How good are you?

[Copper]

Here's a chance to gloat about your work. I'm wondering how people rate their own wood-competency. I'm to the point now where I can correct most mistakes (i.e. cutting a piece 1/8 too short) and ending up with a scrap piece. How do you rate yourselves?

[Wood_workur]

I see Rod hasn't voted yet. (last onehas 0 votes)

[dwolsten]

I'm a pretty new woodworker, but I haven't done a project yet that didn't have some modifications from the plans. That's part of the fun of the hobby; why make something exactly like someone else did, when you can customize it somehow or make it suit your needs better?

[Pappy]

I usually work from my own plans/sketches. How detailed they get depends on the project. I have a lot of plans that I downloaded but those that I have used ended up heavily modified to my needs or preferences.

There are times when I wing it from an idea in my head.

[lcm1947]

God knows I'm still learning but I've come a long ways and a lot of the thanks actually and really go to this forum. I am light years ahead of where I would have been had I not discovered this forum and the truely fine bunch of guys that hang around here. Sincerely. Now I hope I haven't made any body start crying.

[cwsmith]

I voted with "Start with a piece of paper", but actually I use the computer. Having spent my career illustrating technical stuff, I can usually plan everything out that way.

I also spend an inordinate amount of time reading or studying the details of a project before I start something that I may not be familiar with. (To a point where I spend more time preparing than I do producing.)

CWS

[Warren]

I'm not sure if any of these choices relate to turning out a good product. I checked starting with a piece of paper and pencil. This is my usual routine, but I work from plans also, usually modifying to my taste. It all depends on the project. One of my credos is "have a plan."

But, when I started woodworking I turned out ill fitting garbage, with or without plans. Patience and attention to detail, skills slowly and painfully learned, now assiduously applied, have help me become a competent woodworker.

[drumpriest]

I'm with CWS, I do a 3D model of any project that is complicated enough to really need a "plan". Simpler projects usually get a rough sketch and fine details are hammered out on the fly.

I'm building the Rockler futon at some point this year, that'll be my 2nd project ever from a plan.

[jabe]

I voted "I start w/pencil & Paper", I've been into wood working for over 30 yrs and have taught it for 25+ years. Currently running a cabinet making/remodleing business. I always taught plan first b4 cutting or buying anything. Without planning, you wouldn't be able to generate a material list, material cost, labor cost, profit margin, and most important having the job/project go smoothly. Planning is 50% of the project even if you're not doing woodworking as a business. Making your mistakes on paper is cheaper than cutting a board 1/8" short.

[mater]

I am always learning but I look at a picture or get an idea and sketch it on paper. I am no artist but I make do.

[BigguyZ]

I voted for "use plans but can correct mistakes". However, I do make my own plans, I guess. What counts as plans? Where do you get plans? What I typically do is look at pictures/ examples of somone else's contruction and see if that's what I want to do. Then I draw it up, incorporating multiple features from more than one example. I want to build a wine cabinet/ bar. I don't know where to find detailed plans, but I looked at a bunch and now I think I know how I want to do the legs, top, and cabinet as well. The top is still up in the air.

[LarryG]

I agree with Warren that the choices don't at all reflect one's skill as a woodworker, but only how one approaches the planning of a project.

[/nitpick]

I chose the "I start with a piece of paper and a pencil ..." answer. This despite the fact I earn my living, such as it is, doing architecture and running CAD. There have been a couple times I've drawn a project up on the computer but most of the time I just sketch out the basics of what I want to do on a few sheets of graph paper and take it from there.

[Otter]

Whats saw dust?

I thought this was a form for Navy Boiler Techs

welll pop my bubble.

[Thom2]

I can't vote

there's no choice for .....

"I don't need no stinkin' plan .... oh crap ... maybe I should start with pencil and paper .... SUNUVAmaybe I should start with a plan .... (@#&$@(#& .... I'll go find a detailed plan ..... (#&$(# mistakes, and all this scrap #(&$(#&"

[charliex]

assiduously ?? Your kidding right? What's a margin of profit? Since this is a hobby I though it's supposed to include cost overuns, time delays, ulcers and no profit. Okay I rough out approximate drawings but then "wing it". I make more changes after I start a project than when I'm sketching. Besides if I cut something 1/8" short I can just make the item 1/8" shorter that way it's not an error it's a design change.
I almost forgot, Rod we need your "no sawdust" vote to keep this poll "fair and balanced".