Life Lessons 2 Things I Learned in My Wood Shop

1.       When you need a pencil, you will have a pen.

2.       There is no such thing as a wood stretcher.

3.       Oak is beautiful, but it is hard to work with.

4.       Dull tools are much more like to hurt you than sharp ones.  Take time to sharpen.

5.       You can’t build a decent frame if your miters are not precise.

6.       A project will take three times as long and cost twice as much as you estimate.

7.       Harbor Freight sells some pretty good cheap tools.

8.       Carbide-steel cutting tools are well worth the extra money.

9.       Don’t measure twice and cut once; measure four times and cut once.

10.   Be prepared to ruin some lumber.

11.   There is such a thing as having too much scrap lumber.

12.   Engineers cannot write tool assembly instructions – especially Chinese ones.

13.   Your likelihood of making a miss-cut is directly proportional to the cost of the board.

14.   A shop floor made from particle board will eventually cave in.

15.   A wood heater is a good way to dispose of your scraps.

16.   Sawdust makes good mulch.

17.   Medical science has made great progress in reattaching severed fingers.

18.   You can get splinters in your hand by stroking a pet board.

19.   Do not hold your hand behind a ½ inch board when air-shooting a 1 inch nail.

20.   Never allow grandsons in your shop.