It's actually better practicing sawing directly next to a line. It's going to be a very rare joint where you want to split a line (or use a line, accurate joinery tends to be knifed); most of the time you want your saw next to the line on the waste wood, so you don't change the dimensions of the remaining wood. Added advantage; cutting next to the line you get a much better indication of your accuracy. If you saw away the line this only means the line fitted within the kerf, it doesn't mean the kerf exactly followed the line, and inaccuracy gets worse the bigger the difference in width between the line and your kerf. Sawing next to the line you can see exactly whether you followed it: it should remain completely with no wood left between the line and the kerf.
Don't forget maintenance tasks, either... those little things you don't have time for in the middle of a project, seem too unimportant to worry about most of the time, or seem too big to do all at once and so tend to not get done. Some examples: clean behind things, oil some tools that don't get used very often, organize your drill bits, gather up some tools that have been left scattered from previous projects, put away some of the clutter that tends to collect on flat surfaces, sweep around the edges of the room, clean the rust off of a tool that has been neglected, sharpen something, clean one shelf, question the layout of your shop, change that one burned out light bulb or buzzing ballast, start a shopping list of the things you mean to get when you're at the hardware store for something else but keep forgetting. All of these things will make your more useful chunks of time more efficient and/or more pleasant. This could also be extended to chores outside of the shop. Do bits and pieces of the things that keep you out of the shop so you don't have to "waste" a whole day or a whole weekend doing random little chores all over instead of doing what you want to in the shop.
the reality is that you can't work effectively without doing those things and thus they are as much a part of your project as dimensioning the parts, cutting the joinery, applying the finish. so getting some of them done when you have small time is progress on your project even if it doesn't feel that way at the time
What a wonderful video. I usually get up a bit early in the morning and do 30-40 minutes in my shed, practising skills and slowly building my workbench. When I get home after work, the rest of the night is spent looking after my disabled daughter. I grab my sanity time wherever I can.
Being disabled, I can stand in my shop 10-15 minutes, usually at the max time frame. Pre-planning my shop time, and constantly incorporating practice in my actions makes my time become productive, and fun. Sage advice, and I do share some of my small triumphs, it helps the time fly...
Rex this is one of your BEST videos. You’re right we are all busy but the 10-15 min break from that business brings much mental peace. Practice makes perfect! Thanks for all you do to make us DIY’er’s better.
This a really useful discussion. A trick my grandfather taught me about crosscutting was to use the saw plate as a mirror. In that mirror, the reflection makes the saw appear sort of transparent and the board seems to visible on both sides of the saw. You want the edge of the board to appear to extend without an angle in it from one side of the plate through the other. You keep that apparent line straight while starting the cut. As you and other woodworkers point out, once the cut is well started it tends to stay straight and in the plane you started it in. I was told this when I was quite young. I did not understand how it worked until I took geometry in high school.
I'm building Richard Macguire's Escher Bench and the joints are embarrassing and it's taken longer than a pyramid. I'm proud of it and it is making me appreciate the time I have and how much I can accomplish in the time I have available. Your videos are an incredible source of inspiration and entertainment - the handle short still makes me laugh. This is all a way to say this was an awesome video, right up there with your plane restoration set that gave me the confidence to clean up a set of second hand planes and start using them. Thank you.
One of your best videos recently. I am a weekly viewer and found this video amazingly satisfying. I am excited to get out in the shop more because of this video than many I have seen recently. Well done, and thanks.
+1. This hit me in a real way. Time management and prioritization is a huge challenge so focusing on the long game, practicing technique, and taking small bites is such a valuable philosophy.
I made a model boat, just 20-30 minutes every day - 1 thing each day, 5 years on and its nearing completion, but 20 minutes a day, so far I have thousands of hours in this project. but you can do it a little bit at a time if you are willing to spend that time.
You nailed it. Nice reminder that practice is the only way to master one's craft. The only difference between a master and an apprentice is the time dedicated to their passion, work, sport, whatever. Talent help of course and will probably make a difference towards greatness. But I think that anyone can master a skill that they feel like doing. That was a boost in motivation. I am cleaning the mess in the shop to have a go. It has been a while for me. No big project still. I even need to finish my bench. But I could have still practiced the skills... I will keep this video in my mind ! Thank you for that ! 😘
Thanks Rex, a great video. You’ve really made me think about using those spare minutes rather than just waiting till I have a morning or afternoon free. And yes we should definitely look at practicing just as we would if we were playing a musical instrument. (I’m sure I can get a note out of that saw 😂) Ken from Southport UK.
so many times that I only have 15-30 minutes and I don't bother going to the shop because I feel it's just not enough time to do anything... THANK you for changing my mind!!
Such an amazing video. When I think, everything I do well I honed my skills like this. Just today I took a slow time at work to program 1 piece of a little tool I’m making because I don’t get to do that enough anymore. Too many people in my position get out of touch with what they have to tell people to do. I spent a little time before and after work cutting new teeth into a saw I don’t love because I’ve never done that. I spent 20 minutes over lunch practicing guitar. I’m still terrible at that, but I love it. Now I’m watching videos after the saw work because it’s cold in my garage. I regret wearing slip on shoes, my feet are cold. I’ve learned that with the things I love, I love the activity. The output is extra satisfaction. I’ve also learned to start with a version of a project I’m OK with screwing up while I learn, or that I never finish. It’s a hobby and putting pressure on myself defeats the purpose. I have a job for that.
Youre so right! I love just going downstairs, sharpening my plane blades and creating some feathery shavings from the junk pile. And gather it all up and you have some nice kindling too!!
Thanks! I'm glad you brought out practice. Many of us already have the illusion that it is easy because what we usually watch is a 15min video of a project which really is hours or even days of actual work. Add to that our ignorance of the countless of hours, days or years of experience the creator has before he posted a tutorial video.
Seeing the Florip saw brought out the emotions. Cancer sucks. I think about all I want to do on my drive home from work. When I get home all I want to do is sit down. When people have a negative reaction to the suggestion of a four day work week I wonder if they enjoy working 45-65 hours a week and prefer not seeing their family.
You described me perfectly Rex. I'm building your English Jointers Bench by hand and go out to the garage between meetings to carefully cut one piece of joinery at a time. I love slowing down and experiencing the craft and skill building.
I have spent the last couple of years tinkering and learning a ton off of another local woodworkers scrap pile. I went 2x and got scraps from him. That yielded me hardwood scraps which I had never bought hardwood at all. I was too terrified of the cost v error potential. I have since learned to carve with a trim router on those scraps and make some decent signs. I have been practicing box joints, rabbets, etc. Box joint practice ends up making useful cell phone stands too. lol One day I want to try dovetails but I am not there yet. I will get there eventually. For a long time I had a lot of fear of messing up. Embracing scrap practice was the thing I needed. I was too mentally hung up on not wasting purchased wood. But those scraps have helped me learn so much. I still have a long way to go. I am a homeschool Mom with little bits of time so this video resonates. For my birthday in Feb my husband is going to take me to one of the hardwood dealers here. I now have a small planer and jointer so I want to get some rough lumber and finally perhaps create my own scraps. Lol And hello from down in Wayne County!
I feel like I need to setup a reminder on my phone to watch video this once every 2-4 weeks. I do nothing in my shop every winter because I have no space to setup a project, but I really should take that down time to play with some of the tools I have but I've never used so I don't have to practice on a project I want to be perfect.
I love your comment about the practice. That is how I teach art. I am expecting a work out for wood workers video next. How to scrap together that real chiseled bod look with splinters and all.
Its interesting that I saw your half-lap video and did a practice joint for that before I saw this one. (It wasn't pretty but a learned a lot from that exercise.) This video helped reaffirm the process I am doing and reminded me that I have a bunch of off cuts and scraps ready for me to practice on. Thanks! I also thank you for your words at the end. Its okay not to be perfect the first time or even the fiftieth time. Just keep doing your best.
A very useful video which reminds me I need to spend more time having fun playing in my workshop, one point though (mostly for others), I don't believe you need a dovetail saw to do dovetails, the dovetail saw helps you to get a fit straight off the saw but you can do dovetails with almost any saw with a little chisel work. And even with a dovetail saw you still need a lot of skill to get the fit straight off the saw.
A very useful tip. This tip is not limited to just woodworking. It rather applies to any skill you want to hone. Its also another version of the one-percent improvement principle. Thank you.
Rex - this is brilliant - few people are as realistic and as practical as you for us weekend wood warriors that get it wrong more often than we get it right. It’s always a treat to find a woodworker that doesn’t turn to the table saw in the first five minutes. “Incompetence is the path to mastery” - you’d have been a Greek philosopher in another life.. coffee drunk, UA-cam turned off and back to my bench to go and sharpen my skills….
This is good advice. I like sawing, and will just practice that for short periods to stay fresh but also try different techniques. For instance when sawing dove tails some say to start saw on far side, or some near side and even laying saw level. Some say to tilt wood in vise some do it level. Practice each and try different saw in different wood to find your own style..Or if nothing else sharpen something. Another good exercise is surface aboard to four or six sides with you plane.
yeah there's some great tips on both practice "drills" like these, AND actually doing your project efficiently with short amounts of time, in The Why and How of Woodworking
Fantastic video and with some of the best advice on or off YT. I can't count the times I've had a project to do and told myself i couldn't because i only had 15 minutes. As a power tool woodworker getting into hand tools I'm learning I can make fantastic progress with a few minutes and hand tools... and they won't wake up the house! Lol
Hi Rex.. thanks a ton for another masterpiece! Your clips are so to the point, right content, right rhythm. Great for us mere woodworking mortals. All the best, and kind regards from Switzerland 😊 Oh an btw, its so helpful when your measures are also shown in cm (for those living in countries that don't have a foot fetish 😁)
I agree, it takes practice to develop good tool skills. I am a woodturner, I don't do flat work (well not a lot). But I do need a lot of practice with my turning tools. But you said to practice using scrap. There is no such thing as scrap. Those pieces are just off-cuts waiting for another project. However that project may just be to practice tool work. 😃😃😃 Thank you for sharing Rex. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
I work from home a couple of days a week. The comment "you have ten minutes before your next zoom meeting" struck a chord with me. I have envisioned a series of practice things that lead to the next thing to practice: cross cut to shooting to making a mortice/tenon or dove tail
Very good discussion and very good point you're making! I've been collecting hand tools for 2 years now learning how to sharpen them prepare them and make them work haven't made one thing yet. But I sure made a lot of chips garbage cans full of chips I've been through a lot of scraps!
I actually prefer to plane by pulling the plane. It just feels more natural to me. My uncle who taught me always said it was weird as hell, but if it works for me that’s fine. That’s a lesson I’ve held tight to since; there’s tradition and what’s right for you, sometimes they’re the same, sometimes they’re not and that’s ok.
Apprentice does not mean cheap unskilled labour, it literally means the one who is learning. If they were doing only menial tasks, they would never develop their skills. One thing that I may disagree with you: you say to cut on the line, but line represent the intended edge of your cut. If you cut on the line, including the kerf (?) of the saw, you will be too sort. You should always cut on the outside of the line and at best the line must still be faintly visible on the part your keep after the cut.
Great video Rex. This is my exact problem, I might get 30 minutes or an hour to work on something. It took me 2 tries and like 4 days to make a marking gage ! BTW I got a Garrett Wade brace bit with 2 chucks ... DEFINITELY worth the money for hand drilling. I got a 1/2in to 1/4in hex drive adapter and the brace puts screws in like a champ. Thanks so much for doing a video on that tool too.
This is a fantastic and inspirational video. I've been watching your channel for about a year now, and it remains my 'go to'. I would take your advice to go out to the shop now, but I'm in my pyjamas with a whisky . 😅
Thanks for that one!! even though i make my living workin in a cabinet shop, i sometimes just dont hace the spirit to create actual projects in my own little home shop - and that makes me feel guilty and kind of stupid/childish more often than not. so thanks for the great reminder that it´s not only okay to "fool around" but also that everthing you do is improving your skills. i´ll go fiddle around with my newly purchased blockplane now :D
Hello, Mr. Krueger; UPDATE! I did the math & figured it out. $5 a month on patreon, I get the plans, next month I get the courses. WOW!, "by Grabthar's Hammer, what a bargain"! I wanted to update my earlier post in case others wanted your plans. *Thank you!, SIR!* Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!
Hi Rex I am probably one of your biggest fans I’ve seen half o your videos at least 3 times I’m also 13 and I find your videos are simple enough yet also have enough information I have my own lathe and UA-cam Channel so I love your turning videos ❤❤❤. thank you for the great content.
Nice Florip dovetail saw! And I really like this video! Can't wait to build my sawbench. Any idea when we will get the woodwork for humans dutch tool chest?😊
Thanks Rex. I guess it is a challenge to run a channel such as this since there are traditional methods, modern methods and the same again for tools. Although besides the functional self created methods we also are creating essentially the same traditional products that timber has always provided. Like mitre's for picture frames. An idea for the Sunday market, I would frame some pictures to sell. Armed with a freshly doctored mitre saw and a mitre box The mitres were not correct. After practice the angles were coming out okay but the matching was sub par. The most surprising discovery was to keep the saw vertically steady throughout the strokes. Practice, practice, practice. The same is true of every craft, and of art too. What you taught in this video is not how to. It is to learn, how to.
Imagine giving new workers time to grow and learn instead of just bullying and berating them. The fact that there's a shortage of young people in trades is so surprising.
So lets see how I would use 10-15mins in my "shop". Step one move the car out of the car porch. First though move the other car parked in the driveway. Next move the bicycles. Then move the work bench so I can work around it after cleaning off the junk which it seems to attract when not being used. Then unlock the tool trolley and table saw so I can get to the tool cabinet and scrap bin. Then "Honey can you go to the shops and get some veggies for dinner and when you get back can you peel some potatoes... Sigh!!! I'm very skilled at peeling potatoes.
Free scrap lies about all sorts of places if you keep your eyes open and have no dignity issues. Skips, building sites, other people’s bins demolition sites and so many more. Many finished items can start as scrap bits and the plan adjusted to suit the wood rather than the wood chosen to fit the plan. Drawers don’t have to be all the same depth for example.
Awesome! Although, I'm a little confused. At 8:04, why not flip the second piece over and keep it on the same side of the shooting board as the first piece?
The center of the jig is a perfect 90, but it's hard to be sure you lined it up to make perfect 45s. By using both sides, any error cancels out. This is only one way to do it.
Links from this video:
ALL my plans are HALF OFF! www.rexkrueger.com/store
Courses are 30% off! rexkrueger.retrieve.com/store/#/
It's actually better practicing sawing directly next to a line. It's going to be a very rare joint where you want to split a line (or use a line, accurate joinery tends to be knifed); most of the time you want your saw next to the line on the waste wood, so you don't change the dimensions of the remaining wood. Added advantage; cutting next to the line you get a much better indication of your accuracy. If you saw away the line this only means the line fitted within the kerf, it doesn't mean the kerf exactly followed the line, and inaccuracy gets worse the bigger the difference in width between the line and your kerf. Sawing next to the line you can see exactly whether you followed it: it should remain completely with no wood left between the line and the kerf.
That is some sage advice! Thank you.
Don't forget maintenance tasks, either... those little things you don't have time for in the middle of a project, seem too unimportant to worry about most of the time, or seem too big to do all at once and so tend to not get done. Some examples: clean behind things, oil some tools that don't get used very often, organize your drill bits, gather up some tools that have been left scattered from previous projects, put away some of the clutter that tends to collect on flat surfaces, sweep around the edges of the room, clean the rust off of a tool that has been neglected, sharpen something, clean one shelf, question the layout of your shop, change that one burned out light bulb or buzzing ballast, start a shopping list of the things you mean to get when you're at the hardware store for something else but keep forgetting. All of these things will make your more useful chunks of time more efficient and/or more pleasant.
This could also be extended to chores outside of the shop. Do bits and pieces of the things that keep you out of the shop so you don't have to "waste" a whole day or a whole weekend doing random little chores all over instead of doing what you want to in the shop.
the reality is that you can't work effectively without doing those things and thus they are as much a part of your project as dimensioning the parts, cutting the joinery, applying the finish. so getting some of them done when you have small time is progress on your project even if it doesn't feel that way at the time
What a wonderful video. I usually get up a bit early in the morning and do 30-40 minutes in my shed, practising skills and slowly building my workbench. When I get home after work, the rest of the night is spent looking after my disabled daughter. I grab my sanity time wherever I can.
Being disabled, I can stand in my shop 10-15 minutes, usually at the max time frame. Pre-planning my shop time, and constantly incorporating practice in my actions makes my time become productive, and fun.
Sage advice, and I do share some of my small triumphs, it helps the time fly...
Rex this is one of your BEST videos. You’re right we are all busy but the 10-15 min break from that business brings much mental peace. Practice makes perfect! Thanks for all you do to make us DIY’er’s better.
This a really useful discussion. A trick my grandfather taught me about crosscutting was to use the saw plate as a mirror. In that mirror, the reflection makes the saw appear sort of transparent and the board seems to visible on both sides of the saw. You want the edge of the board to appear to extend without an angle in it from one side of the plate through the other. You keep that apparent line straight while starting the cut. As you and other woodworkers point out, once the cut is well started it tends to stay straight and in the plane you started it in. I was told this when I was quite young. I did not understand how it worked until I took geometry in high school.
I'm building Richard Macguire's Escher Bench and the joints are embarrassing and it's taken longer than a pyramid. I'm proud of it and it is making me appreciate the time I have and how much I can accomplish in the time I have available.
Your videos are an incredible source of inspiration and entertainment - the handle short still makes me laugh.
This is all a way to say this was an awesome video, right up there with your plane restoration set that gave me the confidence to clean up a set of second hand planes and start using them.
Thank you.
One of your best videos recently. I am a weekly viewer and found this video amazingly satisfying. I am excited to get out in the shop more because of this video than many I have seen recently. Well done, and thanks.
+1. This hit me in a real way. Time management and prioritization is a huge challenge so focusing on the long game, practicing technique, and taking small bites is such a valuable philosophy.
Oh…my FAVORITE teacher! Some help with basics and valuable time. Thanks!
Honest. Challenging. Philosophically delightful in the spirit of Paul Sellers. Thanks for being you, Rex.
I made a model boat, just 20-30 minutes every day - 1 thing each day, 5 years on and its nearing completion, but 20 minutes a day, so far I have thousands of hours in this project. but you can do it a little bit at a time if you are willing to spend that time.
You nailed it. Nice reminder that practice is the only way to master one's craft. The only difference between a master and an apprentice is the time dedicated to their passion, work, sport, whatever.
Talent help of course and will probably make a difference towards greatness. But I think that anyone can master a skill that they feel like doing.
That was a boost in motivation. I am cleaning the mess in the shop to have a go.
It has been a while for me. No big project still. I even need to finish my bench. But I could have still practiced the skills...
I will keep this video in my mind !
Thank you for that ! 😘
Some of my favorite times in the shop is just fooling around with my planes and chisels making shavings.
When you have scraps of time, practice on your scraps.
I like it! Thanks!!
Thanks Rex, a great video. You’ve really made me think about using those spare minutes rather than just waiting till I have a morning or afternoon free. And yes we should definitely look at practicing just as we would if we were playing a musical instrument. (I’m sure I can get a note out of that saw 😂)
Ken from Southport UK.
so many times that I only have 15-30 minutes and I don't bother going to the shop because I feel it's just not enough time to do anything... THANK you for changing my mind!!
you make a great point in the outro. you really are an amazing teacher!!
I learned the trick about putting a little bevel on the end of the board that could split off on the shooting board. Thanks!
Damn skippy. Nice job Rex 'cause ya'll get it! Perfect the first time? Dumb luck? NO, learning is the path. You really do get it sir
And Thanks for the encouragement, Rex. Happy Thanksgiving!
Such an amazing video. When I think, everything I do well I honed my skills like this. Just today I took a slow time at work to program 1 piece of a little tool I’m making because I don’t get to do that enough anymore. Too many people in my position get out of touch with what they have to tell people to do.
I spent a little time before and after work cutting new teeth into a saw I don’t love because I’ve never done that.
I spent 20 minutes over lunch practicing guitar. I’m still terrible at that, but I love it.
Now I’m watching videos after the saw work because it’s cold in my garage. I regret wearing slip on shoes, my feet are cold.
I’ve learned that with the things I love, I love the activity. The output is extra satisfaction. I’ve also learned to start with a version of a project I’m OK with screwing up while I learn, or that I never finish. It’s a hobby and putting pressure on myself defeats the purpose. I have a job for that.
Youre so right! I love just going downstairs, sharpening my plane blades and creating some feathery shavings from the junk pile. And gather it all up and you have some nice kindling too!!
Thanks! I'm glad you brought out practice. Many of us already have the illusion that it is easy because what we usually watch is a 15min video of a project which really is hours or even days of actual work. Add to that our ignorance of the countless of hours, days or years of experience the creator has before he posted a tutorial video.
Really enjoyed the unique format and style of this video.
Seeing the Florip saw brought out the emotions. Cancer sucks.
I think about all I want to do on my drive home from work. When I get home all I want to do is sit down. When people have a negative reaction to the suggestion of a four day work week I wonder if they enjoy working 45-65 hours a week and prefer not seeing their family.
We're all pulling for Erik.
You described me perfectly Rex. I'm building your English Jointers Bench by hand and go out to the garage between meetings to carefully cut one piece of joinery at a time. I love slowing down and experiencing the craft and skill building.
The care for your subs/students is self evident. Original content. Thanks Rex. Happy Thanksgiving brother.
"What if you only have 10 minutes?" Boy, are you speaking my language! Thanks for the inspiration.
I have spent the last couple of years tinkering and learning a ton off of another local woodworkers scrap pile. I went 2x and got scraps from him. That yielded me hardwood scraps which I had never bought hardwood at all. I was too terrified of the cost v error potential.
I have since learned to carve with a trim router on those scraps and make some decent signs. I have been practicing box joints, rabbets, etc. Box joint practice ends up making useful cell phone stands too. lol One day I want to try dovetails but I am not there yet. I will get there eventually.
For a long time I had a lot of fear of messing up. Embracing scrap practice was the thing I needed. I was too mentally hung up on not wasting purchased wood. But those scraps have helped me learn so much. I still have a long way to go. I am a homeschool Mom with little bits of time so this video resonates.
For my birthday in Feb my husband is going to take me to one of the hardwood dealers here. I now have a small planer and jointer so I want to get some rough lumber and finally perhaps create my own scraps. Lol
And hello from down in Wayne County!
I feel like I need to setup a reminder on my phone to watch video this once every 2-4 weeks. I do nothing in my shop every winter because I have no space to setup a project, but I really should take that down time to play with some of the tools I have but I've never used so I don't have to practice on a project I want to be perfect.
Such wholesome videos. This being yet another. Amazing work, Rex 💪🙏
I love your comment about the practice. That is how I teach art. I am expecting a work out for wood workers video next. How to scrap together that real chiseled bod look with splinters and all.
Excellent, Rex.
Its interesting that I saw your half-lap video and did a practice joint for that before I saw this one. (It wasn't pretty but a learned a lot from that exercise.)
This video helped reaffirm the process I am doing and reminded me that I have a bunch of off cuts and scraps ready for me to practice on. Thanks!
I also thank you for your words at the end. Its okay not to be perfect the first time or even the fiftieth time. Just keep doing your best.
You don’t make errors you make learning
A very useful video which reminds me I need to spend more time having fun playing in my workshop, one point though (mostly for others), I don't believe you need a dovetail saw to do dovetails, the dovetail saw helps you to get a fit straight off the saw but you can do dovetails with almost any saw with a little chisel work. And even with a dovetail saw you still need a lot of skill to get the fit straight off the saw.
A very useful tip. This tip is not limited to just woodworking. It rather applies to any skill you want to hone. Its also another version of the one-percent improvement principle. Thank you.
Rex thank you for sharing. I agree that regular practice, even just a few minutes a day make a big difference in skills development.
Hi Rex some very good tips in this one. Hello from Yorkshire, England
Rex - this is brilliant - few people are as realistic and as practical as you for us weekend wood warriors that get it wrong more often than we get it right. It’s always a treat to find a woodworker that doesn’t turn to the table saw in the first five minutes. “Incompetence is the path to mastery” - you’d have been a Greek philosopher in another life.. coffee drunk, UA-cam turned off and back to my bench to go and sharpen my skills….
I really appreciate this video! I’ve want to get started with woodworking but I’ve been afraid that I won’t have enough time for it.
Thx Rex. I think I’ll try this. Great idea.
Just made the advanced joiners mallet as my first woodworking project, just wanted to say thank you for putting in the work to bring us those plans
This is good advice. I like sawing, and will just practice that for short periods to stay fresh but also try different techniques. For instance when sawing dove tails some say to start saw on far side, or some near side and even laying saw level. Some say to tilt wood in vise some do it level. Practice each and try different saw in different wood to find your own style..Or if nothing else sharpen something. Another good exercise is surface aboard to four or six sides with you plane.
This reminds me a bit of Pekovich book. Great stuff Rex, thank you.
yeah there's some great tips on both practice "drills" like these, AND actually doing your project efficiently with short amounts of time, in The Why and How of Woodworking
IMO, this may be one of your most important videos. Thank you for sharing.
Very good advise. I think we all need a reminder from time to time. Happy Thanksgiving.
Greetings from Portugal!
Fantastic video and with some of the best advice on or off YT. I can't count the times I've had a project to do and told myself i couldn't because i only had 15 minutes. As a power tool woodworker getting into hand tools I'm learning I can make fantastic progress with a few minutes and hand tools... and they won't wake up the house! Lol
Hi Rex.. thanks a ton for another masterpiece! Your clips are so to the point, right content, right rhythm. Great for us mere woodworking mortals.
All the best, and kind regards from Switzerland 😊
Oh an btw, its so helpful when your measures are also shown in cm (for those living in countries that don't have a foot fetish 😁)
I agree, it takes practice to develop good tool skills. I am a woodturner, I don't do flat work (well not a lot). But I do need a lot of practice with my turning tools. But you said to practice using scrap. There is no such thing as scrap. Those pieces are just off-cuts waiting for another project. However that project may just be to practice tool work. 😃😃😃 Thank you for sharing Rex. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
Great reframe, thank you 😊
First step is always clean up the shop from the last 3 projects...
Great message and advice!
I work from home a couple of days a week. The comment "you have ten minutes before your next zoom meeting" struck a chord with me. I have envisioned a series of practice things that lead to the next thing to practice: cross cut to shooting to making a mortice/tenon or dove tail
Thanks for giving me permission to practice.
Thanks a bunch for the lesson, Rex!!! 😊
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
And happy holidays!
Very good discussion and very good point you're making! I've been collecting hand tools for 2 years now learning how to sharpen them prepare them and make them work haven't made one thing yet. But I sure made a lot of chips garbage cans full of chips I've been through a lot of scraps!
I actually prefer to plane by pulling the plane. It just feels more natural to me. My uncle who taught me always said it was weird as hell, but if it works for me that’s fine. That’s a lesson I’ve held tight to since; there’s tradition and what’s right for you, sometimes they’re the same, sometimes they’re not and that’s ok.
Hello from Ireland
Incompetence is the path to mastery is my new slogan everywhere
1,2,3,4,5? That’s amazing!! I have the same combination on my luggage! - President Skroob, Spaceballs
Thank you for making this video! I've seen many of your videos, but from this one I feel I've learned the most! So, Thank you!
Apprentice does not mean cheap unskilled labour, it literally means the one who is learning. If they were doing only menial tasks, they would never develop their skills.
One thing that I may disagree with you: you say to cut on the line, but line represent the intended edge of your cut. If you cut on the line, including the kerf (?) of the saw, you will be too sort. You should always cut on the outside of the line and at best the line must still be faintly visible on the part your keep after the cut.
Hi from Greece!!!!
Thank you Sir.🎉
Great video Rex. This is my exact problem, I might get 30 minutes or an hour to work on something. It took me 2 tries and like 4 days to make a marking gage !
BTW I got a Garrett Wade brace bit with 2 chucks ... DEFINITELY worth the money for hand drilling. I got a 1/2in to 1/4in hex drive adapter and the brace puts screws in like a champ. Thanks so much for doing a video on that tool too.
Great advice, thanks!
This is a fantastic and inspirational video. I've been watching your channel for about a year now, and it remains my 'go to'. I would take your advice to go out to the shop now, but I'm in my pyjamas with a whisky . 😅
Thanks for that one!! even though i make my living workin in a cabinet shop, i sometimes just dont hace the spirit to create actual projects in my own little home shop - and that makes me feel guilty and kind of stupid/childish more often than not.
so thanks for the great reminder that it´s not only okay to "fool around" but also that everthing you do is improving your skills.
i´ll go fiddle around with my newly purchased blockplane now :D
Very inspiring
Hello, Mr. Krueger;
UPDATE!
I did the math & figured it out.
$5 a month on patreon, I get the plans, next month I get the courses.
WOW!, "by Grabthar's Hammer, what a bargain"!
I wanted to update my earlier post in case others wanted your plans.
*Thank you!, SIR!*
Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!
thanks for sharing
Hi Rex I am probably one of your biggest fans I’ve seen half o your videos at least 3 times I’m also 13 and I find your videos are simple enough yet also have enough information I have my own lathe and UA-cam Channel so I love your turning videos ❤❤❤. thank you for the great content.
You just got a new sub!
Thank you that means a lot.
Great video 👏
Great advise.
Nice Florip dovetail saw! And I really like this video! Can't wait to build my sawbench. Any idea when we will get the woodwork for humans dutch tool chest?😊
Well i took the advice and bought some plans. I have an off the grid shop i am building. Lets see how it works out.
Turn off UA-cam? Dude I just sat down after spending an hour getting a Thanksgiving turkey brining in my "upstairs shop". :D
Thanks Rex. I guess it is a challenge to run a channel such as this since there are traditional methods, modern methods and the same again for tools. Although besides the functional self created methods we also are creating essentially the same traditional products that timber has always provided. Like mitre's for picture frames. An idea for the Sunday market, I would frame some pictures to sell. Armed with a freshly doctored mitre saw and a mitre box The mitres were not correct. After practice the angles were coming out okay but the matching was sub par. The most surprising discovery was to keep the saw vertically steady throughout the strokes. Practice, practice, practice. The same is true of every craft, and of art too. What you taught in this video is not how to. It is to learn, how to.
Appreciate you Rex!
Hetero male here… but I love you Rex! Your videos are incredibly coo & real! You’re the best!
Imagine giving new workers time to grow and learn instead of just bullying and berating them.
The fact that there's a shortage of young people in trades is so surprising.
In the words of Jake the Dog: "Suckin' at something is the first step to being sorta good at something!"
On that dove-tail practice piece: that'd make a pretty decent platform for using a fret/coping saw if you cut a notch into it
Great video rex, really enjoyed it.
This needs to be said! I’m literally thinking every other day-what can I get done in the next 10 minutes before my next zoom call.
Thanks for sharing.
Wow there are quite a few tips in here.
My guy
That's a well sharpened saw.
I'm not good at dovetails... Proceeds to make Moravian stool
Very good idea to practice, especially the dove tails. My dove tails are always ugly 😢
So lets see how I would use 10-15mins in my "shop". Step one move the car out of the car porch. First though move the other car parked in the driveway. Next move the bicycles. Then move the work bench so I can work around it after cleaning off the junk which it seems to attract when not being used. Then unlock the tool trolley and table saw so I can get to the tool cabinet and scrap bin. Then "Honey can you go to the shops and get some veggies for dinner and when you get back can you peel some potatoes... Sigh!!!
I'm very skilled at peeling potatoes.
Free scrap lies about all sorts of places if you keep your eyes open and have no dignity issues. Skips, building sites, other people’s bins demolition sites and so many more. Many finished items can start as scrap bits and the plan adjusted to suit the wood rather than the wood chosen to fit the plan. Drawers don’t have to be all the same depth for example.
Old furniture on the curb for trash pickup is my favorite source of scrap wood. All shapes, sizes and types of wood, just begging to be repurposed.
What are your thoughts on dovetail saw guides? Better to practice without a guide and make mistakes/learn from them? Thank you.
I think those guides will just keep you from learning. You don't need one.
@@RexKrueger thank you! Sorry one more question. Do you think having a 4 inch double square is necessary if you already have a 6 inch combo square?
Awesome! Although, I'm a little confused. At 8:04, why not flip the second piece over and keep it on the same side of the shooting board as the first piece?
The center of the jig is a perfect 90, but it's hard to be sure you lined it up to make perfect 45s. By using both sides, any error cancels out. This is only one way to do it.
Ah, got it! Thanks for the reply!
G'day Rex. Love your work! Nearly 7.00am in Melbourne Australia. I reckon I can pop into the workshop for 10 mins before I head off to work.
👍😀
If nobody was paying attention to this video consciousness, I’m willing to bet they started listening after 8:58 😅