I have had an interest in woodworking for decades. My life and career have always sent me in another direction. After almost 12 years of retirement, my life is becoming too quite. I have a pretty well equipped woodshop. I need to get it organized and enjoy the time I have left in life. I am looking for some woodworking inspiration.
Welcome to the forum, JD! What tools do you have in your well equipped shop? What sources do you have for lumber? What piques your interest in woodworking? Work in your comfort area and test the market, at least that's where I would begin.
regardless of how many tool-toys you have, and whether you can access the most exotic woods at the neighborhood corner store.....
"making stuff to sell . . " is one aspect
been there, done that.
the key to inspiration to do things as best you can is exceedingly simple:
spouse
children
acquaintances . . . .
who express a "I wish I had . . ."
are the projects that will bring you the most joy and satisfaction.
1/10ths because of how you did them, 9/10ths because they are appreciated and valued.
Not really interested in making items to sell. Just looking for something to do. I've got the usual stuff. A table saw, a radial arm saw, a router table (with two routers, bits, etc.) A dedicated drill press for woodworking use. Mortise and tenanting jigs . With the virus and all, I have a lot of time on my hands. Just thought I'd read what others are doing to get some ideas.
Maybe I shoulda wrote a book? :nerd2:
There Ya go from small to large, complex to simple and some stuff in between. None of those projects were started and completed "overnight" and many took weeks, and one even evolved over years in the case of the table saw(s).
start with a hinged box. small, simple, then practice staining and poly'ing it. Rub a paste wax (bowling alley wax" buff with 0000 steel wool, and bam! you have a masterpiece.
There are several woodworking clubs in Southern California. Some of them are having virtual meetings using Zoom.
Several So Cal woodworking clubs have groups that makes toys for children in need and in hospitals, and they have continued to make the toys through the pandemic. They also have a groups that make pens for our military and veterans.
Do any of those ideas appeal to you? At least you could "meet" other local woodworkers and see what they are doing to stay busy.
For me, my shop is a sort of perpetual project. Seems there's always a cabinet to build, something to organize, a work area to make more efficient, or even just plain clean up.
I tend to bounce between shop projects and furniture projects. I like to find a challenge and pursue that, for example, I've been into bow front tables lately. I'm on my second small table and first large table. Its been an exercise in pattern routing, odd joinery and veneering.
I can't tell you what to build, but I get ideas from around the house - end tables, maybe a dresser, maybe to replace some store bought cheap stuff. They will be family heirlooms.
Chip carving is something else I got into merely for diversion, and I fell in love with it. Its a good side trail to take away from the noise of the shop.
I am toying with the idea of building an "owl box" to watch over my wife's vegetable garden. We have about 1 1/4 acres here but a lot of it is wild. I have seen this done before. A resident owl might keep the varmits down.."Build it and they will come" ? ...J.D.
In my almost 75 years I have had a lot of careers. I have been retired from the Operating Engineer's Union and the State of California since 2008. I was a Certified Stationary Engineer. The challenge when you get to my point in life is staying busy. I have a small machine shop set up in one garage, along with mechanic's tools left over from a previous career. I just finished setting up a home computer network linking my laptops with my server, TV and video conference software. I have 3 British motorcycles I try to keep roadworthy. Variety keeps the mind active. At my age you want to use your mind or you loose it. I have about 1200 sq.ft. of woodshop that has lie dormant the last few years. I left the working world when I got what I needed out of it. Now I just have to keep busy. ...J.D.
Now there you go again, trying to get me employed again. I solved that problem years ago. Not interested. People go into business for various reasons. I am done with that. I prefer to live out here in the sage brush, in an undetermined location. Even took myself off of Linkedin last year because they kept trying to find me a job ...J.D.
I've got a snap back game table to make, another high end poker table and figuring out the knapp joint and I think I'll retire completely form woodworking. If I can take an interest in my lathe I might find some new thrills but pretty boring at this time..
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Woodworking Talk
1M posts
88.3K members
Since 2006
A forum community dedicated to professional woodworkers and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about shop safety, wood, carpentry, lumber, finishing, tools, machinery, woodworking related topics, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!