7 things I wish I knew when I started woodworking

Thank you Sir, for all your insights, and advice. My very first project was your folding saw horse 1.0, then fixing it with 2.0.❤😁🙏👍

I am brand new to woodworking so I've been watching a ton of videos from different creators. Yours are some of the best! I really needed to hear the first two things in this list. I've always been a perfectionist in everything I do which can be very frustrating. Thank you for pointing out that perfection and precision isn't critical in this hobby.

Terrific! Observant, articulate and thoughtful, thank you.

You’re the best, Steve.

Brilliant…really brilliant advice!

I am late to the party, but especially the safety part is so friggin' important, I pride myself that I haven't injured myself in the past 7 years (when I started woodworking) and I like to keep it that way.

My best practice for safety:
What is the task at hand?
What does the tool want to do?
What does the workpiece want to do?
Where are my body parts in any of this shananigans?
And am I using the proper PPE for the task? (shop vac and air filtration fall under PPE in my book)

It's been only 5 years but so far knocks on a piece of fine walnut wood no injuries.

I have come close to injuries when I didn't think about the questions above and just started doing stuff to get it finished. But now, I always go through the points before I turn on a machine or do anything really in the workshop.

This might just be the best woodworking video I’ve seen in a while! I’ve needed to watch so many process videos lately to get an idea of how to do something, and they’ve left me feeling under qualified, underprepared, and far away from being able to achieve my goals because everything that precision and detail that is beyond me. This was the reminder I needed to hear!

Good tips for sure. A few little things Ive finally come to adopt - use a carpenter’s square to draw straight lines, square up boards before using, use TiteBond wood glue on your projects, use wood screws (not nails), use clamps to hold things down & to hold pieces/projects together during assembly & while the glue drys. Use sharp saw blades & sharp drill bits.

I woodwork for me not for acceptance of the internet community or my neighbors..

I grew up in the "big city) 4300 people in rural minnesota. The farm folk would do it themselves even if it wasn't code or would last long and think they did a good job. Knowing where your limits are is better than having a literal shit shower because you FUBAR'd it.

I agree with you on every point you made. I’m retired and started this woodworking hobby last year. This year is the work shed build and continue on my path. I’m not looking for perfection but more on original one of a kind project for whoever wants. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 💭 ❤❤❤

Bet you a million dollars i can start with nothing and build anything you can

Thank you so much

Newbie to woodworking here, thank you for your videos on using table saw, you may have saved me a finger or two, haha. I would love to know how to clamp things down properly. Although I am an experienced diyer, I don't always know how to clamp things down properly for the best cutting, drilling, etc. Please make a video on that if you haven't already. I sincerely thank you for your great content.

Thanks for this video! I definitely fall into the "STEM" background category so it is nice to know not to focus too much on precision.

CNC is not woodworking though.

Love you Steve! 🤍

where is the table saw Guard? r u in usa?

thanx

My dad was a master craftsmen (he didn't raise me but.. thank God for good step dad!) He did come and visit from time to time and he told me once that the difference in a bad craftsmen and a good one is the good one knows and has learned to hid or fix his mistakes. LOL Good video Steve. By the way great name I'm a Steve or Stephen also. LOL Thank you for all the inspiration you given us over these years.

Love this! Thanks! Especially the bit about being the tool guy and the handy man. My wife thinks I could single handily build a house 😂

A rainbow chair?

Great vid as usual.

I love you Steve. You are truly an inspiration. You got me started. 10 years later I still want to see what you’re up to and how you’ve been.

I made a mobile tool cart of his and measured a key dimension wrong on something. Being able to de-stress about it and just make everything else a hair smaller empowered me to make it work. No one but me knows I messed up on that cart. Everyone else sees a tool cart built like a brick house.

Thank you for including safety. I have worked my entire career in the mining industry and as a result have a high awareness of safety. You really cannot take too many precautions around high speed saw blades and other woodworking tools.

Lovely job. It looked great st the end. Thanks Steve.

Hey Steve, just wanted to point something out.. drain pipes don't usually 'burst' because they are not under pressure. Water supply pipes on the other hand...

8 fingers 2 digits

This video was really inspiring!

Got a lot of mileage out of that science sound effect 😂

I’m wondering if any of you know if a small butane torch (for cooking) is sufficient to do a burn finish on a sign roughly the size of a piece of paper. I can get a mega torch for $25, but I don’t need a giant one, except maybe to light coals in style 😂 (both parents are engineers, can you tell?)

Dan Harmon? NPH? Practical engineering? Giertz? You arent kidding, thats an eclectic lineup. I'm in.

There's a lot of wisdom in this video.

You have helped me so much with this kind of advice. I have really enjoyed all your reasonable work with tools I can afford, and teaching like i don't know much but not like an idiot. You have some of the best content out there and I am glad you are still making videos.

Steve do you have a video on making lattice by cutting a 2x about 3/8 to a 1/2 inch and how to calculate the spaces?
I have to replace latice that I framed in 12 years ago. I'm 65 so I don't want to do it again. Yes I did use pressure treated latice. Thank you I love your videos

it WILL save you money.. but you must compare apples to apples. IKEA is by no means handmade furniture, whereas your own side-table will always have that ooze of craft, which is a hefty premium you pay for when you don't do it yourself. Same goes for customization. Now you make your hall-closet exactly the right size, then compare that to commissioning a custom closet.

I needed this video today as a reminder and encouragement. Thanks!

Working with numbers in the .0001” at the job does not translate well into woodworking. Ask me how I know 🤦‍♂️ It sucks to not make something “perfect”, but it’s practice for the next “not so perfect” piece I make. 😃

Thank you for what you do. You are great!

Whenever I watch you cut dados on the table saw I ask myself why don't you use the piece you're trying to fit clamped to the fence for the first cut? Then replace it with a piece the blade width to cut the other side of the dado. It will always fit

I had to cut a piece of wood so I got a hand saw...this led me to spending monies and bought some tools. I have made some monies from things that just look good...to fund my hobby.
I'm a Sociologist.

Oh here you are, one of the entering-class of 2008. Loved your video on the ‘wood working’ video progression.

The old adage is "JUST DO IT," and keep at it. (Safety).

Thanks for the good advice Steve

I’ll never understand the “my shop, my rules!” mentality you see with far too many woodworkers on YT, when it comes to their complete disregard of basic safety. Especially when they approach their video content as being instructional.

Coming from machining w/tolerances in the tenths (±.0005 often times). It is very unnatural not to strive for tight tolerances & laser accurate measurement.

Luckily, before machining/engineering, I did some basic woodwork & remodel work so hopefully there will be some "muscle memory".

Thanks for the perspective.

L I K E 👍👍👍 👍👍 💯💯❣🤍❣💯💯🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

I've been working with zombie boards this whole time oh noooooo!!!!!

All the woodworking nerds must hate your open minded approach to woodworking. We love it 🔥🪵