What Do You Do When You Have A Major Screwup?
I just had one that set me back about 10-12 labor hours. And it’s only that much because I now have the design and all the measurements done. I’ve gone from devastated to depressed to forcing myself to continue and heading out and buying some more wood and starting all over. But my brain is at war with itself. One side is saying, “How did you screw that up?!?!” while the other is saying, “You gotta keep going!” FWIW: it’s for a customer and that, more than anything, is why I picked myself from my bootstraps. But I’m still upset with myself because I was done with everything but the final fitting.
So I was wondering how does everyone else handle it when you have a major screwup? Do you drop what you’re doing and walk away? Do you get right back on the horse? Do you set that project aside and work on something simpler?
Maybe I can learn something about the mental attitude part of woodworking.
Replies
Walk Away
You have to step back and re-boot. The feeling of failure must pass before you turn on those power tools.
I like to figure out a way to use the pieces although milled wrong and jury rig a solution. Think out of the box - there is always a way to save your self from starting again even if you have to drop the cost estimated to your customer.
SA
Juli,
Ahh, 12 hours isn't that much, measured over the course of a lifetime, is it?
We all do it. Sooner or later, hopefully, not too often.
It was either Watson, or Crick,( the duo that cracked the dna code,) said, "Every time I fall down, I pick something up."
I was halfway thru building a partners desk when I realised I'd priced only one side-half- of it, in my proposal to the customer. No wonder I got the job! And no joy in completing it, only relief that it was done, and I could move on.
There was the bed that was FINISHED, head end (posts+rail+headboard) leaned against the workbench, that waited til I turned away, to slide down to the floor, raking the headboard against the vise-- gouging it irreparably. I had to cut the posts loose from the rail's tenons and pull the headboard out, make a new headboard and rail, stain and finish them again.
I've about decided that after waiting 2 months- and three promises of "it's in the mail"- for payment of a bill for near a month's worth of work, payment isn't gonna happen, without much gnashing of teeth at least.
Just today, I decided that the rails I'd cut for a small frame for an old desk were too small, and got out wider ones.
Feeding the woodstove can be terribly cathartic.
Ray
Thanks Ray, that put me in a better mood. I guess misery loves company.
I already got back on the horse and so far this effort is turning out better. I made a routing template that is working like a charm and I added a little flair to the pieces that take it a step closer to a pure Japanese design. So when it's done it will definitely look better than the original. I guess I'll have to wait a little longer to see how the LED strips work. As for my customer, he's been great, "However long it takes you, that's okay because I know it will be something I will treasure." I need more customers like that!
Oh Sure
Pick the one you like best (they are all true depending on the operation and the day ) :
When I don't screw up I celebrate and eat chocolate. The rest of the time I call "Normality ".
I never ever screw up. What is this screw up that you speak of ? ( Well maybe not all are true )
When something goes less than stellar I observe it dispassionately and do the next step based on what I have in front of me. So many people that I admired and respected and should not be gone, who were younger than I am now, are dead. Everyday is a gift. A bad day in the shop is better than the alternative.
I expect perfection from myself at all times and when the bad happens I get all bent and throw things. Must be why the ward nurse has forbidden me access to all those nice sharp tools that I vaguely remember.
PS: Practice safe chocolate use. Bissingers can only be fully appreciated with ones eyes closed. Turn off all powered cutting tools before administering.
Wordless
" handle it when you have a major screwup"
My words cannot express it - on a forum such as this...and stay within guidelines...
Ray said it well. So did roc (the chocolate part...).
Best wishes,
Metod
Hi Juli
And I thought screwing up was just part of woodworking!
Recent example: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/SomedaysIshouldstayinbed.html
It reminds me of what I reply to me wife when she tells me not to drive so fast ... "The reason you alkways get lost is you drive so fast", she will complain. And I will say, "The reason I drive fast is that I know I am going to get lost, and I need the time to find my way back!"
Regards from Perth
Derek
Quick,
When the bills don't get paid til the job is done, having the customer say, "Take all the time you want," doesn't really lessen the pressure to produce. Just sayin'.
Ray
If you are working for a customer, you have no choice but to fix it and make it right. It can be frustrating and it knocks us off our high horses. Some have a little fit or a few choice words for themselves but the problem doesn't go away and has to be dealt with in a calm, thoughtful maner. The solution may take a cup of coffee or a nights rest to work out. Everybody does it, that's why all the sayings about hiding mistakes and modifying designs. Sometimes you can make a save, sometimes you have to start over.
There are a few things that can help avoid making big ones or fixing them. Many pros aren't stingy with lumber. We make some extra and process the extra pieces to match the work pieces. These are used for set ups, practice and as a back up if a mistake or issue comes up. Another is to do full scale stick layouts and maybe, a mock up when needed. The stick layout tells the whole story concerning sizes, how pieces relate or join. It's essentially an exact cut list for every part and can be refered to anytime you need to. Great for thinking through the project ahead of time. There are still hundreds of other places you can screw up. The real difference between pros and novices is that pros have had the opportunity to make a lot more mistakes. It's the only way to get better.You just stepped up a notch. Congrats!
I think almost everything I've ever built has a screw up it is somewhere. I was quite pleased with myself recently when I managed to extend a splat for a rocking chair back after cutting it about 3" too short. The splice was very strong and nearly invisible. I'm sure I'm the only one who will ever noitice it.
The worst screw ups for me are when the project is all finished and you are going to put it in place and discover that it doesn't fit. I usually just laugh at my stupidity then drag the item back to the shop for the modifications.
I think I have it backwards though.....I eat the chocolate before I make the mistakes
Bret
You are being way too hard on yourself.
When building a one of a kind unique custom piece, everyone screws up at some point or another, including the best pro's.
Personally, I just take a break, start with a fresh day after thinking through the new action plan, which may be rescuing the piece or starting over.
I use expensive 3D software (Solidworks) which allows me to build each part on the computer, as I would in the shop and then I assemble the piece on the computer as well. During assembly, any little errors are shown up by the software, such as an angle which is off a couple of degrees, of a wrong dimension. For a complex piece, it always amazes me how many errors I make on the computer and makes me realize that those could have happened in the shop. Once my design is complete and I follow the CAD drawings, I do not have errors. The problem is sometimes I deviate a little from my original design, without a computer update and that is when I screw-up.
make lemonade!
No such thing as a screw up! It's called a design change!
The mark of a good craftsman is the ability to cover his mistakes.
BTW, everybody has had that experience. I just set that material aside and when I need a small piece , it comes out of the barrel.
Not to worry
I used to get frustrated when I made a mistake. A number of years ago I took a carving class from Greek master carver Dimitrios Klitsas. I was working on a piece when I inadvertently cut right through the delicate work I was doing. I was dismayed. Dimitrios came over and took a look and said "don't worry about that" and recarved that section a little deeper in about 30 seconds. He said that there are no mistakes in wood carving...just design opportunities.
I find that if I make a mistake in a woodworking project I like to put the tools down and take a break, often overnight. Ideas for rectifying the problem usually come to me when I am relaxed and thinking about something else. I don't get crazed anymore, although the chocolate remedy is something I would recommend.
Jim
I was at the customers office yesterday, installing CAT5 wiring. He prioritized the wiring over the fixture.
There was a birthday cake in the reception area. It was for his 81st birthday. Still going strong at 81. I really admire the man.
I talked to him about the fixture and told him I am basically rebuilding it all over again. The new jig didn't line up properly with the "good" pieces. I told him I didn't have any any more figured maple so I had to make a run to the hardwood store. As I was trying to find some nice pieces, I found I didn't like even what they labeled "high figure". Then I saw the section with quilted maple and I instantly knew that the wood I used was the other thing that had been nagging at me when I had it partially dry assembled. There wasn't enough "pop".
Now I'm excited again. And he seemed pleased. Then I asked him why I wasn't invited to his birthday party. He said, "The Japanese celebrate 66, 77, 88, so I have to wait until I'm 88 to have a party." Then I joked, "I hope I have your fixture done by then!" He agreed!
Ray - the money I make on woodowrking isn't for survival. It's just a side thing. Besides, this man is one of those rare individuals who just likes to help people. I'm doing this more for him than for profit. So I want it to be something he really will cherish.
screw ups
Look at a mistake as a learning experence and tell yourself to make woodworking a Zen experience. Let the worries of the present fade away before you start the day. Smile, breathe, and go slowly, it does not get better than that.
Smile and go slowly
You said it brother.
I read in the book The Geography Of Bliss : One Grump's Search For The Happiest Places in The World by Eric Weiner . . . (a war corespondent taking a side trip ) . . .
my first book I bought on Kindle by the way . . .
any way. . . he said the people in Iceland and the Netherlands understand the value of not rushing what they do.
In the USA and Japan you can get deported , or worse , for slowing down and enjoying what you do and doing it well so you don't have to do it over.
Well the Japanese tend to do it well AND fast but lets ignore that for this conversation right now.
Industrial bluprints for construction are often revised several times during the construction process. The final drawing revision, once the project is complete, is called the “as built drawing”. It essentially documents all the screw ups.
Anyone who says they don’t screw up is lying.
You brought back good memories for me. Thanks !
> Industrial blueprints for construction . . . revised etc.<
When I was a shorter person than I am now. A lot shorter. I remember my Dad always bringing home plans (industrial pipe fitter; steel mill etc. ) and re drawing things and making up side drawings to clarify things etc.. He always had a slide rule and I was fascinated with it. Now I have it ; see photo. I wish I could share MY "slide rules " with him .
He was often gone for most of a week on a job and then home for a day off now and then. His day at home was pretty full so I didn't learn as much from him as I could have/should have. I wish I had been more of a pain in the butt and asked more questions.
When I got to "the big kids school ", middle school, I remember once in a math class the teacher said "Ok for the coming semester I want to spend part of it teaching you what YOU want to learn. What do you want to learn ? "
My hand shot up. I said " I wanna learn how to use a slide rule ". The whole class, including the teacher, got very quiet.
That happened fairly often when I spoke up in class during my schoolastic hazards and not for the same species of reason.
Oh well, I got used to it.
When you are weird you think weird is normal. I was a VERY normal child.
: )
Wow
Sounds like you've "Been there / done that ".
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