After the working day was done I went out, got my tools arranged, and began again the work of assembling this great big wood storage thing. The shelter I guess, we could call it. Shelter for wood and shelter for us when we’re doing things outside in the summer. I listened to music and I honed my process.
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First I consult my 3D model. I take my measurements there and I bring them slowly into reality with a tape measure, square, pencil, and jigs. Some posts are more complex than others and so take a bit longer. The one in the picture here’s somewhere in the middle. It had only a few joints, but it also had space for an angular support, that’s the mark on display. Right now I have no real idea how well those’ll work...we’ll see.
After the marks are made I use a set of simple jigs to cut the far side of each joint precisely, but more importantly, the same way every time. Many are at odd angles. From there I run the skillsaw through the joint a few times so I can knock the wood out roughly with a hammer. I use a little octagonal hammer from Japan.
After the marks are made I use a set of simple jigs to cut the far side of each joint precisely, but more importantly, the same way every time. Many are at odd angles. From there I run the skillsaw through the joint a few times so I can knock the wood out roughly with a hammer. I use a little octagonal hammer from Japan.
Figuring out where to place my tools and which I need most often has been a compelling little lesson. The most useful tool of this build has been my rubber hammer. I use it constantly: to adjust jigs, move heavy things an inch or two, to persuade boards to fit. The joinery’s not so bad, but when it weighs as much as a 12 ft long 2” x 8” piece of hemlock, it feels a bit tougher than it actually is.
Used to just put the hammer on the table, now I tuck it in my belt. Used to put the tape measure on my right side, but it kept getting knocked off, so now I hang it at the square of my back. Used to do loads of things different on day one.
Used to just put the hammer on the table, now I tuck it in my belt. Used to put the tape measure on my right side, but it kept getting knocked off, so now I hang it at the square of my back. Used to do loads of things different on day one.
I borrowed some of Jacks chisels to clean up what the skillsaw leaves behind. I honestly don’t do an enormously good job. But you won’t see any of this, really. It’ll all be covered up by horizontal bits, and Abby and I and the kid(s) of the future’ll probably paint over it. There’s a great spot already for a tarp and a mural. There’s a few errors here and there, but we’ll cover them up in time, and they’ll be funny stories, I think.
There’s a difference between work you do for yourself and work you’ve paid for. Mistakes in work you’ve paid for aren’t funny at all, but mistakes you’ve made? They’ve gotta be a laugh.
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There’s a difference between work you do for yourself and work you’ve paid for. Mistakes in work you’ve paid for aren’t funny at all, but mistakes you’ve made? They’ve gotta be a laugh.
