Good glue-ups don't come from cranking down on the clamps... Clamps are there for control, alignment, and holding the joint together, not brute force. In this video, I walk through the basics of choosing the right clamp, using the right amount of pressure, and avoiding a few common beginner mistakes. #grownostr #woodworking #DIY

Quality work takes the time it takes…

Practice makes perfect… No Failure makes perfect. It is thru failure, that you know where you need to improve. #coffeechain #grownostr

The first prototype is complete… What it has reinforced for me is that beginners don’t need a more complicated first project. They need the right first project. This little cedar box isn’t the destination. It’s a vehicle for learning. The goal is to build confidence through measuring, marking, cutting, fitting, sanding, assembling, and finishing. Skills that carry over to every project that follows. Looking back, what was the first project that really taught you something? #FabricatorsFieldGuide #grownostr #woodworking #DIY #proofofwork

A little more context on the first prototype I’ve been building… The first project is a small cedar box. That may sound simple, but it teaches quite a few foundational skills: • measuring and marking • crosscutting • rip cutting • fitting parts • sanding and shaping • glue-up and assembly • applying a finish One thing I’ve been trying to avoid is the typical hobby-kit approach where everything arrives pre-cut and you’re mostly assembling parts. The goal here is different. The student starts with material that still needs to be measured, cut, fitted, and shaped, but in a way that’s approachable for someone with little or no experience. The box is the project, but the real goal is learning the process.

Over the past fews months, I have been asking how people learned woodworking… Part of the reason is that I’ve been developing a hands-on learning system aimed at people who never had a shop class. This weekend I started building the first prototype… #grownostr #woodworking #diy

New video is up! One Overlooked Woodworking Step That Makes Projects Look Unprofessional