[Woodworkingkid]

Does anyone else ever go through a time when they don't want to do any fine woodworking projects.

I have been getting taught all aspects of frame to finish carpentry over the last four months as basically an apprentice carpenter and when I get home I never want to go in my shop and work on a furniture project. I have not worked on a woodworking project in my shop since august. Today was a day off for me and all I did in my shop was fully clean my framing gun add a belt hook to it and put a new blade in my skil saw. I had a tool cabinet I could have cut the dovetails on today but I just looked at the milled slabs of oak on my bench and didn't touch it.

I think part of the problem is that my shop is a mess and that its really a small space and I am not a small person by any means and I sometimes get frustrated trying to work in a 12 X20 shop because I just feel like there is always in my way.

 

[ryan50hrl]

I go through the same thing....usually not that long. But i've been spending 60 hours a week in the office....and when I get home I just want to lay around......Usually if I can get myself down there one night....i'll make it a string of weeks.....

 

[FrankC]

Sometimes your brain and body just needs a break, if you are overloading at work probably just as well you are kicking back and relaxing. Don't worry you will be back at it soon enough.

 

[GeorgeC]

Sometimes I feel like wood working and sometimes I do not. In the first place my woodworking is only on an as required or as desired basis. I will go months at a time and do nothing.

George

 

[BassBlaster]

Yep all the time. In the summer I have so much other stuff going on that when I do have time I dont feel like it. For some reason, in the winter, I love to be in the shop. I do probably 75% of my woodworking in the winter months.

 

[tito5]

I do! My shop is also my garage so for me to work I have to get everything out and set up.....then when I am done I have to pack it up again so I can pull the cars in. Sometimes I don't have the time to in pack and repack.

 

[tonyuno]

My basement workshop is only 18' x12.5'. All my equipment is on rollers so I don't have anything in my way. The only time I don't want to work in it is a day like today when I sucked It up and thoroughly cleaned it , it looks so nice I don't want to screw it up again.

 

[durdyolman]

Yeah, I know and understand

I am 139% retired to the wood shop. Get up early to move the car out, get the tables where they "belong", plug everything in, dust off the saw and lathe....close the garage door and go back inside to read a book. Some times you just don't feel like it.

 

[Popsnsons]

I have a small garage workspace that even if I don't have a planned project going on I usually will tinker for an hour or so. Short breaks are always good to regroup and rejuvenate the enthusiasm.

 

[JMartel]

I never really take more than 3-4 days of a break, really.

 

[JohnnyG73]

You mention that you have been busy as an apprentice carpenter all day. That could take some drive out of you. It reminds me of when I was working as a diesel tech. After working on vehicles and motors all day, I had no desire to even maintain my own vehicles. Sometimes what you do for a living you don't find enjoyable as a hobby...or the visa/versa. Other times a person just needs to right kind of inspiration when they are in a slump.

 

[Al B Thayer]

I feel the same way. That's why I never wanted to be in the woodworking business. I rarely build the same thing twice. Tough to make any money.

Al

Nails only hold themselves.

 

[Crusader]

It might be a good thing for you. If there's no joy and excitement
in what you're doing, what's the point?
It's very common for me after a big project, or even several small
projects to take a break. I find it helps my mind and allows me to "think" Sometimes I find just cleaning my shop or reading up on some aspect of woodworking gets my juices flowing again.
I have to admit the length of time you stated did surprise me!
Don't worry be happy :thumbsup:

 

[tonyuno]

You mention that you have been busy as an apprentice carpenter all day. That could take some drive out of you. It reminds me of when I was working as a diesel tech. After working on vehicles and motors all day, I had no desire to even maintain my own vehicles. Sometimes what you do for a living you don't find enjoyable as a hobby...or the visa/versa. Other times a person just needs to right kind of inspiration when they are in a slump.

Right about that, after a lifetime in machine shops my only concession to metal is a mig welder otherwise forget it.

 

[tc65]

Woodworking for me is a release from all the other crap that goes on in my life, it is not my profession and I've never made money doing it.

My suggestion is to find something else you like doing to relax and do that for a while. Ignore the fact that you even have a shop and you'll be back in it quicker than you think!

 

[BernieL]

I agree with Johnny - I was a truck driver and didn't want to drive anywhere on the weekends. I've been retired for 4 years and I love jumping in the vehicle to go places. My wife is still working so I spend lots of time in the shop - but I'll have a few days when I don't want too - so I don't. Folks here are right... if you're not enjoying being in the shop then don't go in the shop. I also like cooking so I'll do that sometimes... or take a hike (looking forward to doing that on snow shoes soon).

"Do what you like and like what you do" :yes:

 

[tonyuno]

I suppose a lot depends on what other things you have going, I have a vegetable garden hand a greenhouse (I grow greens all year round) also chickens, do volunteer work (mainly building projects) have a chainsaw and generally keep busy, so my workshop time is valuable to me. Still hate to mess up my clean workshop though. It is a Workshop though ,not a wood shop.

 

[Lola Ranch]

Just the Opposite

Sometimes I can't understand why I am so compelled to work in the shop.

Sunday, a buddy and I went up skiing at our local slope. It was amazingly good for such an early opening and the weather was superb. We skied until our out of shape legs would not take it anymore. I got home, put my ski stuff away and went immediately to the shop and worked on a rocking chair until midnight.

I am a wood "hound", meaning I am always on the lookout for free wood or cheap wood deals. It's kind of amazing what you can come up with when you are always in the hunt. What I am getting at is that I always seem to have a sufficiency of nice cheap wood and I am always thinking about what I can make with it.

When I'm not in the shop I'm here at WWT or designing something to build on Sketchup.

Oh well, I guess there are worse addictions. I don't gamble except for the occasional Lotto ticket. I drink about one beer a day. I just have a desire to build things almost all the time.

I have all the handmade furniture I need. the house is full of stuff I've built. But there are always people needing gifts. I work in the shop making gifts for friends and family members. People really like getting the gifts I make for them but I think I enjoy giving them even more.

I do have some other interests such as golf and hiking but nothing as compelling as woodworking.

Bret

 

[44260]

Woodworkingkid, I am not gonna beat a dead horse, but yes, it is common not to want to do the same kind of work at home that you do as a profession. If you want to do woodworking at home, instead of doing fine carpentry like building cabinets, why not try a different aspect of woodworking? Try scroll sawing, wood carving, wood turning, something that you are still working with wood but using different tools and techniques that you do not use on a daily basis.

 

[Woodworkingkid]

I have been down there to tinker a little bit now and then and to even do handcut dovetails. I think it might just be that I havent had a project that inspiers me latley.