Avoid these 5 common woodworking mistakes! (From a teachers perspective)

[@katzmosestools]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thanks for your special guest appearance my man 😂

[@jmwarren2012]

@@WilliamDouglasCo Where's that riving knife at?

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

@@jmwarren2012 left it at your moms house 🏡

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

@@jmwarren2012 just kidding 😄 someone took it off for a dado stack and I Didn’t put it on. My guys use the riving knife when using the saw.

[@whiteknight126]

I'm not sure what the technical term is, in framing it's the same as a collar tie, but on the bench in #1 and the chair in #2, they need to have cross supports between the legs to prevent the legs from blowing out or to prevent the entire unit from collapsing with sideward weight. The very first stool I made didn't have them and that's exactly what happened when the customer sat on it and scooter it forward.

[@barrytipton1249]

@ 2:28 That's Howie Kendricks of the Anaheim Angels, LA Dodgers, and Washington Nationals...SO cool he's also a woodworker.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

That’s him!

[@Brangustx]

Wow, this was refreshing and spot-on. I had an old mentor who used to preach, "the sign of a good craftsman, is one who can recover from his mistakes" . I'm subscribing.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

I appreciate that more than you know!

[@jessefurqueron5555]

Best sanding vid I’ve seen was done by a guy for a KZbin Festool vid. Only issue I had was he didn’t blow off his pieces between grits. We always blown off pieces to get rid of loose grits pieces (can be a problem with some sandpapers, even a popular US 3rd party paper whose name I won’t mention) and dust (especially in wood w open pores). When we moved from Bosch to Festool sanders we adopted his sanding pattern (and his advice on when/when not to skip grits) and still use his approach, cause it works, in our shop. Nice added bit, is found that we are spending significantly less time overall sanding than before and achieving a better surface. Key take away that gets skipped often, try turning down the suction on your vacuum (if you can). Really helps with swirls. While it’s expensive, I will say that in our experience, we get a lot less loose grit with Rubin sandpaper, but it can still happen..so pull out that air gun 😉 As always, YMMV. just sharing. nothing more. nothing less.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thank you for the comment and I really appreciate the extra tip there. I don’t know everything and still learn new things every day. That vacuum tip is something I have to try!

[@jessefurqueron5555]

@@WilliamDouglasCo Chuckle, 40+ years and I still learn something everyday, that’s what makes it fun 😁. Thanks for making vids!

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

@@jessefurqueron5555 always!

[@krisbeatty547]

One thing I learned from my uncle was "buy once cry once" I totally agree if you need new buy good not cheap. I believe it makes you better at what you do

[@siriosstar4789]

There is one thing that should always precede the excellent table saw instruction.Before the blade starts up , Always ask yourself - " where are my hands" in relation to the blade . i was taught this in woodworking class in the sixties and i still have that thought every time i start my saw up . This line of thinking can be applied to any machine . After fifty years of woodworking i still have all of my fingers and have never been cut by any machine .

[@alangeorgebarstow]

I look at my table saw and always say to my self before using it, "I am scared of you!". This stops me from being careless and inattentive.

[@Dhcrazy2805]

Main rule I was taught, “keep your hands away from the line of the cut” worries me every time I see it done like in the video, just takes one day when your not on your game and don’t move your hand fast enough and you’ve lost a finger

[@Oh6Torch]

An old machinist once told us, this is a lion, a raptor, a locomotive, anything you can think of that scares the piss out of you. It never loses and it can’t be stopped fast enough once it has you. So you got to be mindful of that the moment you look at it until you hit the off switch. I was 21 then and 53 next month. I took that with me regardless of what operate. Hell, even a hand held grinder. I still have all my digits and peepers. Be afraid people.

[@davidtimperley4241]

Some great tips and tricks to recover the mistakes we all make from time to time, but I would make one observation with regard to the table saw and that is not using a riving knife when ripping timber. There is a much higher chance of the timber kicking back or being dragged into the teeth of the saw blade along with your fingers, that is why saws come with both guards or riving knives. Please use them, no one wants to lose their fingers.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thanks for the comment. We have a small team of people working in here and sharing the tools. The riving knife comes off for the dado stack. I didn’t even notice it wasn’t on. My guys use it, I am the only one who doesn’t.

[@Oh6Torch]

@@WilliamDouglasCo other than one’s brain, the riving knife is single most important safety feature on the tablesaw. I hope a kickback to your midsection is not what makes you change your current habits.

[@BandSWoodcraft]

best advice you have on here is to slow down. not just for sanding but whenever you encounter a mistake or problem, slow down and think it through before rushing into a fix that just makes it worse. great video hoss, keep it coming!

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thanks Brad! I’m glad you liked it. These basics help so much if they are consistently done ✅

[@24086657]

Thank you for your very informative video. I certainly agree with all you said, however, what you did not say about table saw safety is my concern. Minimum riving knife, plus unless cutting thin strips or small pieces of timber, why not use the blade protection.

[@CLoveIN123]

“Quality only hurts once.” One of my top ten quotes. I wish I would have learned that lesson in my younger years but unfortunately I too wasted more money than I like to recall on cheap tools.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Oh man I LIKE THAT QUOTE!

[@diether2423]

I don't fully agree with this though. "It depends"... There are many tools you hardly ever use, so should you really break the bank on those? I don't think so... On the other hand, if it's a tool you'll often use, then yeah, buy the best quality one that you can afford.

[@normandodson5079]

I do believe in quality tools. You never want to skimp on the ones you use all the time. However there are some instances where Harbor Freight tools will do just fine.

[@theguitarpicker]

I was lucky, when I first started I brought cheap (H.F. cheap) because I wasn't sure if I was really going to enjoy it ad stay with it. I did and I almost ended it with an H.F. router table. POC, screws loosened and the router gave way using a rather large bit. THAT was fear. Threw it out and brought a Woodpecker that cost as much as a used car. pre-2019 prices. Too many ways to get hurt to chance it on cheap crap.

[@theguitarpicker]

@@normandodson5079 hand tools, F clamps and sanders. 'bout it.

[@watermain48]

Experienced woodworkers have made lots of mistakes already, but are willing to try new ways of doing things to get better at their craft, IMHO...Thanks for a great video and all those tips.

[@justinhill2369]

I've been a woodshop teacher for 25 years. I will tell you the #1 mistake so many people make is taking the BLADE GUARD OFF THE TABLE SAW, because someone told them "it will just get in the way and probably cause an accident". I can tell you, from all of my experience teaching people from 10-80 years old, no one has EVER been hurt by the blade guard on my table saw! However, it has saved several student's fingers over the years. I know it is necessary to remove the guard for certain cuts, but it always goes right back on as soon as those cuts are done. BTW you are spot on with your other advice in the video.

[@Real.Estate.Report]

I learned a lot on this one! Taping your joints is a great idea. Never thought about that but totally makes sense especially in those harder to reach areas.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

It literally saves hours on my chair! Thanks for watching brotha

[@davidgee1585]

Was taught at school back in 70’s when sanding to wipe workpiece with a clean damp cloth before the final sanding to raise the grain, let dry then you get a nice smooth surface before applying the finish.

[@dg2553]

I guess its up to who is defining "experienced". If a person makes more mistakes than beginners in the class, by my definition that person is not experienced no matter what they claim. Experienced woodworkers can size up an "experienced" new hire on the first day by lunch time. Maybe in Arizona you have a problem with low moisture content creating problems and I'd imagine the opposite problem, similar result would happen in Florida, but in the midwest, kiln dried lumber at around 8-9% isn't going to move much nor does it need additional airflow. In general. You'll find commercial lumber suppliers (suppliers to commercial woodshops) have 2' to 3' high stacks of lumber plain stacked. Sometimes, depending species or thickness (eg. >6/4) or if their moisture content is a little higher on that shipment, they'll have some stickering. For squeeze out on the glue, you could use a rag and a bucket of water to clean up the joint after the squeeze out. Wipe it dry and the little that the grain raises is scuff sanded with 220. If you put too much glue, sometimes you can let it skin over for 15 minutes or so, clean it off with a spackle knife, chisel, etc. and then wet and wipe as needed.

[@terrmaso]

My first commissioned piece had a major mistake. I made a boat bookshelf and cut through on one side when making relief cuts for bends. The way I fixed it was to remove all the relief cut areas and replace them with a piece of Ash. Finished product turned out amazing, in my opinion, and everyone who sees it tells me how much they love the color combination. The fix turned out to be what catches everyone's the most. Mistakes are stressful, but they can often turn out amazing 👍. Totally agree on the tool aspect. I started out with some inexpensive tools and came to understand why they were inexpensive. I even have what some would consider more high end tools that I picked up cheaper due to a blemish. Doesn't effect performance, they just can't be sold at regular price. Those are nice, but as much as I hate to admit it, the guys in Red really set themselves apart with the small touches. Being able to leave your square on the corner/edge of your workpiece without it falling off. Having all your measuring tools read the exact same measurements (take two red tools and line them up side by side) is awesome because you don't have to worry about deviation. The added versatility of a well thought out and engineered tool makes life that much more pleasant. By all means, take advantage of the mistakes and learning experiences of those before us. And if you are referring to the 3M Cubitron sandpaper, taytools.com did the original comparison and actually has the hard data available on their website. Once you switch to Cubitron, there is no going back. Thanks for the great info, I always enjoy your content. Haven't seen the Jeep in a minute, what gives?

[@honorvetz4200]

"It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better." John Ruskin I saw this quote years ago and have remembered and applied it ever since.

[@4legdfishman]

Taping the joints! I'll definitely be doing that on all of my projects from now on. That should save time and expensive window replacement. Stickering? That's what it's called? I do place spacers but never knew there was an actual term. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thank you Carl! I appreciate you watching! Enjoy all of the time you are about to save!

[@serendipityguy]

I loved the way that you shown how to recover from mistakes and using the scraps or wedges for the resolve. Using the Tape is a nice tip, I have to bookmark this one. It was nice to see some of your student's work and how they are displayed. Yes the chair is amazing and the inlay is the bonus. These type of videos are the kind that gets viewed again and again. I know that I had enough kick backs and it's this experience that keeps me alert, same with the Router Table & fence. I too hate when good wood gets bowed . . .Why Why why . . . Thank you kindly for this Master Video techniques Will.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

He thank YOU for the comment and of course for watching! It’s really cool for me to see my work encouraging or helping others. It’s what keeps us going! Appreciate the love 🙏🏼

[@sueb4154]

I have so much to learn and not too much time to do so, since my retirement hobby (and income?) will depend on my abilities. Thank you very much for all these necessary tips and body part savers. The works that you and your students create are true art.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thank you for watching! I’m really happy to share these things with you and I hope they are helpful

[@JoshHarrisPhotography]

Loved the opening safety tips on the table saw, with no riving knife or blade guard. :)

[@exarkunn69]

As someone who broke his hand from table saw kick back getting a good push block system is critical. The main reason my injury happened was the work piece climbed over the blade and shot back into my hand using a very thin push stick and having zero pressure on the top of the board. Second tip is use the right blade for the job, even if that means swapping blades 2-3 times in a work session. The second reason I got my injury was I had a high tooth blade installed for a rip cut since I only needed to make one cut, well that one cut cost me 9 months of recovery.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Damn dude sorry to hear. Thank you for the additional tips

[@befmx31]

I hate to say it but although I have not been in this game for very long, I have just found out that there is a lot of benefit in "sanding thru the grits". Wow, what a difference. Now I just need to remove all the dust in between each grit. Thanks for the tip!

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

It really makes a big difference! Thanks for watching

[@southcarolina6537]

I've been a full time professional woodworker for 26 years and gotta say great tips man all on point I'd say maybe add reaching for items around the saw to the video this is one of the most common problems I see with new guys in my shop reaching directly over the blade to grab something on the other side people seam to always over look the simple things that cost fingers

[@wyssmaster]

Yeah, one of the first things I think everyone with a table saw should add is an outfeed table, even if it's literally a piece of plywood on some appropriately sized saw horses. There's almost no chance you'll lose a finger or hand if you push your stock (and cutoff) onto the table using a push stick or block. I've made it a rule to NEVER pick anything up from the table saw unless it's off.

[@mikeamboy7292]

Great tips! Add one more; when sanding something as wide as a tabletop be sure to treat both sides the same. Otherwise there is a good chance it will want to bow.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

That’s a great general tip for sure. Also one that most people don’t know.

[@peterfryer6915]

Could you explain why that is the case?

[@mikeamboy7292]

Yes Peter As you work with any piece of wood, either by milling or even sanding, you cause a release of internal tension. Perhaps you have noticed that when running a board through a table saw. The same thing happens when you sand a tabletop. On a small piece of lumber it's not noticable, but on something as WIDE as a tabletop it is noticable. Internal tensions are released and the top will bow. I capitalize wide because that is what is important, length doesn't matter. Hope this helps

[@peterfryer6915]

Thanks Mike.

[@BlessedLaymanNC]

My guess for the reason the most experienced make the mistakes is either because they developed their methods/habits already, or they have become complacent. It's too routine. In the Navy, I was taught to watch out for airplane propellers. But then told that it was the Chief's who are more likely to walk into them. Thank you for the tips. This is my first visit. I'm checking you out to see if I subscribe.

[@HW-75]

I also agree with getting quality tools. and do research online and read the reviews. I remember long time ago I purchased a unbranded generic router bit set. it was junk and also a hazard with the way they would easily break. I learnt my lesson after that. Thanks for sharing these great tips.

[@jordanmontes4401]

I recently made a set of 3 small tables out of hickory for some friends. I noticed when I was done at the right angle with the light there are waves from the sander and want to know whats the best way to stop this. I'm using a festool ets 150/5 starting with 120 after finishing with 120 from the drum sander. My progression is 120, 150, 180 and finish with Rubio. I take my time and just guide the sander and don't push down. The only thought I can think of is change out the stock backer pad for a stiffer one.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

My thought is that maybe your wide belt or drum sander is causing the initial issues.

[@jeremyeaston3105]

Its sounds like either unprepared or none flattened piece and or excessive pressure being applied while sanding( light touch soft grip let the tool show you the bad spots through feeling with proper technique you can get some ugly surfaces flat.

[@SAWimp1]

i use to run those sanders and i found that the backer pad needs to be changed alot.

[@raid7866able]

Turning mistakes into design features is gold! I've been using my noodle to do so since I started. At first I thought I was clever, but then I noticed how everybody does this and some so much better! Well I may not be as clever as I would like but the knowledge is solid gold.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Hi! Thank you for watching. Learning to turn mistakes into opportunities carries over into so much more than just woodworking.

[@Lincolnstww]

solid video dude. the ash walnut sandwich was really clever

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thanks man! I knew you’d like that one 😉

[@tangotango3406]

Great video!! A good shop tip overall when I saw another comment address reaching for things around the table saw… *quick tangent: besides shutting off your machines and waiting for the blades to stop turning before you make your next move…* I think it’s important to note accessibility. Sometimes I see people using portable or jobsite equipment on bench tops, which adds a whole other level of danger and complexity. A “jobsite” table saw on top of a waist high bench to cut 3/4, 4x8 birch plywood is not smart. As demonstrated, you should be able to apply the downward pressure and to do so, one must be at an appropriate angle above the material being cut. Also, I think more experienced craftsmen make more mistakes because 1) they may not actually be mistakes, but midstream design changes…(yeah right…haha) and 2) we, as a whole population, can often get complacent or too comfortable. It doesn’t matter, but complacency kills. Again, great video and very informative! Thank you for sharing! 🙏🏻

[@4n2earth22]

Personally, and as PK Woodworking says so aptly, 'In my experience', starting from scratch and learning by doing (and surviving) provides a level of confidence and aptitude to approach all challenges as opportunities who's existence comes with solutions if you learn where to find them. Having a teacher, well, daum!! that is just icing on the cake! I think there is a level of aptitude that comes with just plain ol hard work; ya learn ways to do it (usually real quick) better, especially when you get paid for the quality and quantity of your output. And even more emphasis on the process when the payment is you and your families well being. Life.

[@JesseFFT]

well said

[@treyreppe4348]

People who are more experienced make more mistakes because, "practice makes permanent" practice bad=bad habits. Also im a new woodworker building out a shop, im looking at a plainer what would you recommend (I was looking at doing end or coffee tables maybe try my hand with bookmatch). My current frontrunner is a 13" dewalt (750 something)

[@paulfowler3416]

Nice common sense advice. I agree about the tools, my sanding has greatly improved now with Festool rotex and ETS sanders. The angle tool on the ETS makes it easy to sand through to p4,000 if needed while keeping chamfers crisp….also now have less vibration issues because the ETS is so well behaved.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

That’s a great little tip! Thank you for sharing. I’ve never been a big fan of the rotex. It’s like a wild horse

[@thomasbyrne7770]

SANDING ..... very well done. great teaching! Tom Byrne

[@Paul0937]

I like the bit on painter's tape for glue squeeze-out and re-working cut mistakes -- or rather -- happy accidents.

[@chuckyt9083]

wish i would have found you sooner. im still a beginner and have learned alot from baldy and Dave Ramsey‘s cousin, but you really put it all in perspective. Super cool approach and your experience screams loud and clear. looking forward to it. C. from Louisiana

[@CO_Slayer-b1l]

I liked the Taping your glue joints, great trick

[@DickvanZanten]

I Once bought a circular saw (handheld type). It was meant to live through the insulating and finishinhing my new shop. It didn't matter if it died then, but it surprised me! That cheapo motor and blade kept running and cutting true for 5 years longer.........

[@pemtax557]

Wow … where have you been? I’m a retired engineer that has always had a passion for tools and working with my hands. Since retiring, I’ve really centered my efforts on woodworking and it has gotten deep in my skin. I love learning and this video grabbed my attention and didn’t let go. Man, have you got talent… You passion is addicting and I can’t wait to view your catalogue of videos. Count me as a new sub and thank you for sharing your obvious love of woodworking and teaching … cheers

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thanks so much for the love it REALLY means a lot to me. I’m glad you liked the vids! Woodworking is such a fulfilling craft and I’m happy to hear you are diving in. Good luck with everything and enjoy all of the small victories and learning lessons along the way 🙌🏻

[@MrScubacat]

Great presentation approach; clear, to the point ,without chatter.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

I’ve been working on that exact thing!

[@HepauDK]

I totally agree on the last one. More often than not, I have regretted cheaping out on my tools. The first hammer drill I bought (Power Craft) broke before finishing the first hole (the plastic gearbox broke). The first plunge router I bought (Power Super, I begin to see a pattern here...) broke on the first cut. Trying to make a 5/16" (8mm) groove in a post, one of the handle caps broke off and the bit snapped in half shortly after. So my advice is to always buy the most expensive option you can justify. Price and quality is mostly closely related. You shouldn't buy a Shaper Origin if you only need to chamfer a couple of edges now and then though. Once in a while though, I have bought cheap tools that would have been worth it even at 5 times the cost...

[@riversider681]

great vid. I'll use this knowledge. as you gain experience your get more comfortable with your craft then feel freer to explore. exploration is what leads to mistakes and for the experienced woodworker this is a welcome addition to your knowledge bank.

[@theofarmmanager267]

Very good video - not just for relative newcomers but also the more experienced who have become slightly over confident? For me, the greatest lesson is to think more and be patient. Think a joint or a feature through - even over night - and reduce stupid errors. On the question of expensive tools, I think the difficulty for newcomers is that price doesn’t always define quality. I have quite a number of Festool tools (track saws, dominos, planers, sander etc.) but the Festool drill that I have, even though costing an arm and a leg is only average. I put my toes in the water a few years ago buying Veiko measuring tools through Banggood. They are a fraction of the price of, say, Woodpecker but are they accurate? The answer was, and is, yes, they are very good indeed. By the way, people who say I should only buy British or whatever are missing the point that very few tools are made in the UK - even big brands have their stuff made in China. Made in China doesn’t mean bad stuff; it doesn’t mean good stuff. Bridge City are beautiful looking tools - and I like working with beautiful tools, but you can get measuring tools equally as accurate for a fraction of the price. It’s a minefield for newcomers - and I don’t see any easy lessons.

[@roberttolnai378]

Taking more chances and pushing your skills sometimes leads to more mistakes. It's an understanding that it comes with the territory. It's a lot of fun to design on the fly.

[@draztiqmeshaz6226]

Just finished my first ever mitered bridle joint, the first of three for some coffee table legs. The tiny bandsaw I was lent simply couldn't cut it, so I jigged up a ryoba blade, some ¼" ply, and a few playing cards. Welp, now I know which surfaces to leave proud just in case some measurement doesn't take tooth splay into account, and I am taking notes from this video to decide on an adornment for the gap on the show face. Maybe melt some gold in there, Japanese style, lol.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Wabi sabi!! I am definitely familiar 😄

[@Chris-8047]

Couple things about using tape on tough to reach joints... first, remember to finish sand before you glue it up or you will end up sanding anyways ... and second, remove the tape once the glue sets but before it hardens or you'll be chiseling glue and pieces of tape out of the corners

[@juliangreaves4727]

Great bunch of tips for beginner woodworkers like me and, I imagine, more experienced ones too. 👍👍

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thank you for watching!

[@garynelles]

I've been woodworking for 15+ years and I agree with all these common mistakes as well as your recommendation for buying a new shirt (If I had one I'd even wear it in my videos)!!! Cool video and keep up the good work!

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Hey thank you very much! I will have to check out your vids too 🙏🏼

[@danceswithaardvarks3284]

Some great tips thanks. This is not a criticism of the video, I am just pointing it out that the "spears" do not always came out straight. I used to believe this and it is the cause of my only table saw injury. I was cutting almost exactly how you are in this video (out of the firing line?) and was also using a homemade grrripper to be extra safe. My mistake was not adjusting the grrriper to control the offcut "spear", which was pulled down, sharpened in the snag, and shot out at a 45 degree angle from the sawblade straight into my right thigh. I must have made thousands of cuts like this and have seen the spears launched out straight several times, but they can exit at an angle apparently. It took a couple of weeks for my thigh to heal. It was not a serious injury, but a few inches to the left and it could have been much worse.

[@andrewbieger5004]

Great info on the sanding stuff. Will re- visit JKM's video shortly to get down to the nitty gritty (pun intended). The big takeaways I saw in your technique is : 1.) let the sander do the work and not rush back and forth across the work surface. Otherwise the RO feature of the sander is WORSE than useless, as you are creating way too many gouges. 2.) Blow off the loose grit, as those crumbs only cause more gouges and eyeball the piece to see if you went as far as beneficial with that grit. 3.) the light pencil trick was epic, cause that is the 'tell' when you have done a complete pass. 4.) the use of top quality paper. I might be wrong, but cheap paper is worse than a budget sander. A Mirka or FT is not in my price range, but my old reliable Porter Cable 6" RO does just fine. Good luck with the channel. Just subbed.

[@jeremiahjackson117]

Straight to the point and SPOT ON! Thanks for doing this one man!

[@glumberty1]

I agree with the last tip of purchasing quality tools. Working with a high quality tool is what makes this craft enjoyable.

[@johnlp3376]

Most experienced making most mistakes over confident and going to fast. My best projects are the ones I move at turtle speed and I will still make mistakes. I just started taping my glue lines man what a help that and not putting way way to much glue. The kate moses video on sanding changed the way I sand and you can definitely see it in my finished projects. Love that chair to that's what I have to work on better ways of fixing my mistakes.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

That’s spot on my man. For fine woodworking.. you have to take your time. Especially if you are building a new design

[@r.m.2301]

Good tips have to say I am guilty of one or two myself. Have to agree with the tool comment did the cheap buy first and have learned and like the saying buy once cry once.

[@richpeggyfranks490]

I was told that "skill" is the ability to successfully create a joint. Fixing a mistake is "artistry". Also, I totally agree with buying the best tools possible. After 50 years as a weekend woodworker, I have finally accumulated enough quality tools that if there is a problem with a cut, profile, finish, etc., it's something I screwed up - not my tools. Can't use that excuse anymore. Thanks.

[@pkwoodworking]

In my experience, (see how I did that) experience is not always a plus. It gives you acquired knowledge that helps with methods of work, but it also creates bias that keeps you from being open minded to different ideas. When you stop learning, you stop thinking. A mindless technique lends itself to mistakes. I agree that some of the best projects I have made include mistakes that only I will ever know of. Unless you are making cabinets for specific inset drawers, there is flexibility to almost all designs to cover the miss steps. I agree with the tools mantra - spend more than you think you can afford. Only cry once. It the kitchen-aid mixer for your resin pours (hahahahaha). Keep up the great work! - We need another comedy video on customers/clients...

[@serendipityguy]

I too see the blemishes in my work and I have learned that 2 people looking at the same table are not seeing the same thing. They see the gift and are amazed, yet we see the blemishements with imperfections enough to know then what we could have done differently if we had the time, oh and the timelines of when we have to let the project go. Good Topic PK . .

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

This is great. I actually had fun reading it and I can barely read without falling asleep. Those are some wise words that can only come from a man/woman who has clocked some hours in the shop

[@branchandfoundry560]

It's true. Newbies lack bad habits.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

@@branchandfoundry560 lacking bad habits is great!

[@branchandfoundry560]

@@WilliamDouglasCo Exactly ;-)

[@drewbriggs3313]

question on stickering ... are you stickering freshly milled boards or lumber on the storage racks ... or both? Great stuff though, always enjoy learning from you!!

[@brucemiller1696]

Always do both and i would use bigger spacers, maybe 3" or so. Its best to have all wood acclimated to your shop properly. Projects i currently work on, boards are stored on edge. It only takes a few hours to have boards start warping if stored flat since air is only getting to one side. Tabletops especially need plenty of air circulation.

[@shawnbradford9833]

Cool tips! I had no idea Howie was in to wood working. Always a huge fan of his. Great video!

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Yes Howard is just now getting into it! Super cool dude

[@cookinitmax]

So you talked about 80 grit and 180 grit then 220 grit are theses the ideal grits to get that finished look. Not sure you talked grit but not the through process of sanding from start to finish with what grit. So you start with 80 and move through each grit until you get too 220 that's alot of grit or do you only prefer to use 80 grit 180 grit then 220 grit to get the finish you like?

[@chuckjohnson4048]

Great vid, excellent advise even for those who do not consider themselves beginners.

[@AUX_fab]

Stepping the sanding for each grit will save more time rather than starting at 120 or 150. Also you shouldn’t touch the last grit sanded wood due to oils on finger tips can appear in finishes or stains. I’m not saying your fingers are super greasy but just a good practice/habit. It’s like never leaving a sharp metal tool on table saw top. I still do it but try to minimize it. Great vid 👍🏼

[@dennismacwilliams196]

Good video Like the sanding part

[@jmwarren2012]

Experienced woodworkers make the most mistakes because in their mind they've moved onto the next step in the process, and that takes focus off what they're currently doing. They also have the best recovery tips.

[@shandoe7gw867]

As a journeyman Glazier I have the same answer as you!!

[@troybradley8647]

I do this sometimes 😆

[@SuperOxygenTV]

100% agree on buying good tools! Good tools are more precise. Precision in woodworking is key. #SawStop #Festool #Woodpeckers #BridgeCity

[@somebodypeculiar]

Good stuff, but... What I want to know was what you use the electric stand mixer for.

[@troytorgerson3977]

Bro, I was trying to understand the clamp rack being you. I need to build a clamp rack that has to fit inside of about 9 inches. Just moved to new house and greeting shop set up. Any advice would be great

[@mukfu]

do you recommend 80, 120, 180 and 220 as the progression?

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Yes that’s what we do In our shop

[@RamChickPig]

"Learn how to use a hand plane and you'll have eliminated 80% of sanding." Something like that by Paul Sellers. I rarely sand because the surface I get from my hand plane feel like glass smooth.

[@CountryBoyMoto]

Love the taped joint tip.

[@stephenwatson1873]

I appreciate your tips, also you may have removed the guard for filming purposes, but there is no reason in your first tip why the riving knife was removed.

[@philsmith5263]

great tips. what are the three , what appears to be copper pi[es in the background for? thanks

[@TheOlsonOutfit]

I don't have a table saw, and I have an irrational aversion to sand paper, but #2 has some great ideas.

[@TJ-vv9dl]

I feel like if it is someone new will follow instructions exactly how they are told Verse someone with experience may think they know or get ahead of themselves thinking about other parts of the project. Great video man!

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thank you for watching! You are definitely right! The experienced woodworkers jumó ahead

[@Dandoestilla]

I love the video, you mentioned why more knowledgeable woodworkers make the most mistakes, depending on the amount of work they are doing this can be accurate however it depends on the individual, I don’t consider my self a knowledge woodworker by any means but I been doing this since I was a kid, nothing professional just something I got from my grandpa but I don’t some unique pieces in the process, I make tons of mistakes however a good woodworker will learn to fix them or hide or make them part of the design, I subscribed to your channel and I’ll be looking forward for future videos

[@clivevreeswijk4555]

Tape is the mistake I make.... usually just used a damp rag... going to try the tape!

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

The damp rag can introduce a few other issues. It’ll work in a pinch but tape will be a game changer

[@adamchesis7443]

I'm extremely experienced, I don't make mistakes very often, but like all humans I do sometimes, I agree with you always buy the best tools and machinery that you can afford. That being said often times the highest priced machinery isn't the best. The best machinery was built before everything went overseas to cheapen the price. Stuff made from the 1930's- 80's was the best

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

I definitely feel ya on that. I absolutely love my old Davis and wells bandsaw. A lot of the old equipment can be a pain to find parts for or the dust collection might be obsolete. I agree with you for certain tools but the message remains the same. Buy the best you can.

[@WolfgangR75]

first, i am a Master Cabinetmaker here in Germany. second, The chair looks awesome third, u are the first one that i see from over the pond who do it so right, it was a plesure to look ur video. mistakes in writing are for free, its my second language... Grüße Wolfgang

[@jeddadiahemanuel1975]

Danke friend

[@RdnyLan]

Ouch! Thanks for stepping on my toes. Definitely guilty of #3 and #4 and learned tips on #5 as well. Been doing #2 as I'm really getting started and hate throwing things out if I don't have to. #1 I took notes on as I've been working mainly with hand tools due to a very small 1 car garage to work out of with very limited funds. The comments on the end do make sense as When I buy a tool it has to last. Keep up the good work.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Hey thank you for watching! I’m happy to hear that the tips helped. Keep an eye out for future vids!

[@carlpoulin6407]

did learn 1 thing or two, perhaps 3 , thanks so much !

[@tooljunkie555]

Great tips and advice. yes stickering is very important. And i think People with the most experience make the most mistakes because they are stuck in their ways throughout the years & don't take the time to go through all the PROPER steps.. like the sanding step for example.. Just subscribed look fwd to seeing more of what you've done and do in future!!

[@jaredpreston3815]

I assume those with the most experience making the most mistakes is due to rushing through the different steps. At least that is what always messes me up. I basically make the same thing over and over so I can do it quite fast. When I am doing something new I tend to try to go at the same speed and end up not thinking the process through.

[@halkester9368]

Hals Wood Shop...Glendale...Thank you, just another reason I subscribe to a professional is for great ideas and reminders. Keep up the good work. Best Wlshes.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thank you so much for the support !

[@austincummings94]

i loved that patagonian rosewood on that mallet

[@matthewwright57]

I almost never use 80 grit sandpaper. My planer knives and jointer knives are in good shape and I don't need to sand out surface imperfections. 120 is my most used grit.

[@michaelkaye4998]

I really suck at measuring accurately! I’d love to see this topic in a future video.

[@lilmax38]

Some really great tips!! Greatly appreciate it. I have a few guesses why the ones with thee greatest experience make the most mistakes. One I think their know how, experience may lead to a level of confidence that at times they maybe be moving along a little faster then they should. Two they’ve reached a level of experience that creates a confidence that they are more likely to venture outside their comfort zone & try new things. And three some may have an ego or arrogance that needs to be checked. I can honestly say I’ve been guilty of all 3 a time or two.

[@robertopuig7862]

Good advice, I find that most utube post are made by ppl that are much better at promoting themselves and camera skills than woodworking. I cringe at their lack of fundamentals. The only thing I may add , is to water pop the wood before the final sanding. This will a damp cloth will give you a better surface before applying the finish.

[@ChristianCMC]

Totally agree about buying high quality tools. I want to buy something once and have it forever, or at least a very long time. Sure you can get a cordless drill or miter saw at Harbor Freight, but it's crap and you'll be lucky to get more than a few uses out of it before it quits on you.

[@stephenmills-hughes1097]

Great video. Love your presentation style. And fantastic advice. Cheers.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@jwar2163]

My Good Man at William Douglas Co I want to point something very important out to You. I am not calling you out just highlighting something that you are doing that needs explaining more to the inexperienced tablesaw users that also applies to router tables, jointer/planer, spindle shapers, etc. At the 1:05 you bring out a push block it is always important to note the angled direction of the handle. The angle should always point to the fence( when using a fence) and or away from the blade ( when not using a fence) that is believe it or not a safety feature built into the handle. BTW nice safety pointers in your video.

[@mlbreel]

Thanks for the tips

[@DIYDuBItYourself]

Your friend Howie, no biggie haha so cool! Would be pretty cool to see him turn a bat, sign it and display it at your store

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

You know what really interesting is he had no interest whatsoever in turning a bat. I showed him a sweet walnut and ash bat I turned a while back and he was like.. that’s cool. And walked back to his workbench 😂

[@DIYDuBItYourself]

@@WilliamDouglasCo hahah that’s too funny, maybe next time!

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

@@DIYDuBItYourself maybe next time!

[@jaredmartin6164]

Great video as always. Love the build hoodie. Great quality.

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thanks! I love mine too!

[@ddbeats632]

Totally agree with the “expensive tool” tip.

[@TWC6724]

Thanks for the tips! Good video

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to drop a comment!

[@djVania08]

Maybe this is a stupid question. But how does one do rounded tenons and mortises?

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

The lathe for the tenon and a forstner bit for the mortise

[@djVania08]

@@WilliamDouglasCo Lathe would be the problem. :D thanks though

[@timbaumgartner8068]

That's one badass chair inlay! 😉

[@WilliamDouglasCo]

I know right! Accidents are often an opportunity

[@carloantoniomartinelli5418]

This is all very well, but where is the riving knife, mr woodworking teacher ?

[@2Wheelin4Life]

Speed, quality, or price. As craftsman, I believe we ourselves, and customers only get to choose one. And why do the most experienced make the most mistakes? Interesting question...I liken this to riding a motorcycle. I hear many say I have been riding for 20 years, but their slow bike maneuvers and cornering are terrible. Just because one has done something for a long time does not mean they have done it correctly for a long time or put in the personal investment of training oneself by mentorships, coursework, challenges, and life lessons.