Day 6 of our M-term was focused on making the first key cuts for our personal projects. I started out with the familiar routine of sizing down a long board of wood and creating miter cuts to join corners. Although this process closely mirrored our early steps in the box project (once we had obtained the S4S wood), I learned that even small changes can make a big difference in the woodworking method and product. For example, this time I was working with dense maple wood instead of smooth mahogany; this switch made a noticeable difference in the ease of my cuts, from which I had many more resulting burn marks. While I triumphantly surpassed this challenge, when pairing up the boards to ensure equal length, I noticed that my maple also had a slight warp. This lack of flushness against the table saw created additional imperfections in my cuts. While I do not inherently mind minuscule and benign disalignments, the nature of my project requires structure and stability (...although a wobbly stool could be a fun April 1st present :).
This dilemma was discovered near the end of the day, leaving little time to come up with a counter solution in the classroom. Although this discovery was not ideal, I can truthfully say I am looking forward to returning tomorrow morning to tackle the new obstacle. While this challenge might be less straightforward, I have learned that problem-solving is a common and, luckily, one of my favorite aspects of woodworking. Coming up with creative solutions to unusual circumstances has required us to think outside the box, learn many new skills, and ultimately, build meaning into my projects. The box I completed last week, and the stool-to-be I am working on now, are so much more than their future function; they also hold the story of every trial, trip, and triumph of this M-term!
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