I worked from home today and had a few free minutes so I painted the other side of the door. Yay. Paint is done. Then I demoed the old door and buck and started to hang the new Buck in place. Galdern hinge mortises are on the wrong side of the frame. I guess is not the end of the world. I have a right swing door to replace so I can keep this leg, but I have to make a new one. I was hoping to really get ahead of schedule, but it looks like I will simply be on schedule, which is to install tomorrow. Tonight I’ll make a new hinge side leg. No problem getting it painted. Fortunately I have a 1by left over.
Losing fingers since 1969
If it makes you feel better:
I cut the drawers for the buffet I am building. and recut tem 2 " shorter the following weekend out of the blue. Lost 3 drawer and some expensive veneer:)
I am still kicking myself you know were. My wife had a great laugh.
Abbas, Castro Valley, CA
I usually mess up when there are right and left pieces . I get done cutting and I have 2 rights or 2 lefts . Man I get so mad at myself .
Wheaties
My woodworking mentor rarely made these kinds of mistakes. He was able to focus very clearly on this kind of spatial object thinking. Me, sometimes I measure twice on a completely different number. 60-13/16 becomes 61-13/16. I get so focused on getting the 16ths accurate that I completely overlook the fact I’m an inch off. That actually happens so often that I remeasure 3 times to make sure I’m in the right location and I still mess up sometimes. The worst is when I’m rushing things, of course.
Losing fingers since 1969
Don’t feel bad Brian, I suspect most of us have done the same right/left mistakes many times. I think it’s partly because we get enthused with the idea that we are making a duplicate and forget that it is a mirror image.
Mike, an American living in Norway
I have done it so many times that now I don’t even write the numbers down any more. I simply mark on the tape measure, when it has to many pencil marks on it, I simply throw it away and get a new tape. If I have to use a measurement out of the workshop, ie, go buy stock, I make a note on my phone along with the current project buying list. My phone is never to far away, including pics of things that may need a better description once I get to the hardware store. if I’m not sure of the proper name of an item, the pic saves me a lot of time describing something to a box store kid what I’m after. I have even taken a pic of the tape measure to eliminate my second guessing.
CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!
Thorreain – very good ideas
Wheaties
Yes, the mobil phones with cameras are really handy. I am trying to get into the habit of using it more for my woodworking needs.
Mike, an American living in Norway