Woodworking Axioms

[Berta]

Try it on scrap first.

 

[junquecol]

Never have more of the table saw blade exposed above the work, than you want to cut into your hand. Kelly Mehler table saw workshop years ago

 

[Chris C]

Don't try to catch any falling tools... especially razor sharp edged tools.

 

[Oka]

Wood is forgiving except in the hands of the unlearned ....... my dad

With regard to concrete, I always guarantee my concrete work .......... will crack .......... guaranteed

 

[Wiley's Woodworks]

Every time you pick up a sharp tool or start up a power tool go through the mantra, "Where's the blade; where's my hand."

 

[Oka]

Kinda similar This is one I teach in safety classes:

Think about what you are going to do, then plan how you want to do it Finally, remember this mantra every time you pick up any power tool " this tool can hurt, maim or kill me if I am not focused where the cutting edge is and where it is going" .... then begin

Every time you pick up a sharp tool or start up a power tool go through the mantra, "Where's the blade; where's my hand."

 

[23tony]

Not exclusive to WWing, but one I learned from a friend, who said his kid's scout troop used it
"Beware the blood zone"
Consider where that tool will go if it slips, your hand slips, or the cut is complete.
Applies to almost any tool - knife, axe, hatchet. machete, chisel, screwdriver - and to every body part (yours or someone else's).

A lesson I learned very painfully a couple years ago when working with a chisel.

 

[junquecol]

Things that eat meat have sharp teeth. Power saws have sharp teeth! Don't feed them any meat.

 

[wfuuna]

My Dad used to always say that if you don't know how to make it with hand tools, you have no business trying to do it with power tools. Power tools are meant to make you more efficient, but won't make your work better quality.

 

[cmarzahn]

Any object dropped while working on a project will immediately roll to the hardest point to reach.

 

[Mountain City Bill]

When people say 'You made that? Cool. I saw one of those at Walmart for 25 bucks."

 

[tvrgeek]

If anything worth doing is worth doing well,
quia non sequitur,
Anything not worth doing is not worth doing well?

The first 90% of any project takes the first 90% of the time/money.
The last 10% takes the other 90% of the time/money.

The ultimate truth for any project management:
"Murphy was an optimist"

Over-estimate how long it will take and you then have the time to do what you want.

If you want a new table saw, bring home brochures for motorcycles or sports cars. ( I'll take credit for this one)

I could argue with Clay on some of his collected rules. Over a few beers of course.

 

[Wannabe]

Personally, I never deal with family or relatives about anything. It just seems like it always come back to bite you, one way or the other!

 

[chris_goris]

"You can make a small fortune woodworking, but you have to start with a large one"

 

[Gotcha6]

This is a paraphrase of a scripture verse about doing business with your neighbors:

"A profit is not without honor, save in its own community."

 

[cmarzahn]

Within acceptable accuracy, consistency is more important than precision.

 

[Cuprousworks]

"Measure twice, cut once"

"You can't make a board longer"

 

[Gofor]

Power tools enable you to screw up at the speed of light.

 

[LeftyTom]

From Dave Onan, "Don't use a 5-gallon bucket of paint as a step ladder. "

 

[Oka]

I always love (and cringe) when someone goes "Wow! you made that?, it looks like a professional did it..." or "wow that looks awesome, you should do this for a living" ......... uhhhh .....