Hey everyone! I've been working on a pair of bedside tables for about three years now, but things have taken a bit of a downhill turn. My design features floating tables, an enclosed drawer above a shelf, minimal visible endgrain, and a waterfall grain effect on the surfaces. For the joints, I chose to go with blind box joints instead of the more complex blind mitred dovetails, but no matter how much I tweak them, they're still not fitting right, leaving me with 1mm gaps all around.
Now I've finally managed a dry fit of the carcass components, and guess what? I accidentally drilled visible dowel holes in the wrong side, and the shelf is so poorly positioned that even a child's hand wouldn't fit in there! I really thought I had everything under control after three years, but this is a serious setback, and I'm feeling pretty demoralized after investing lots of time and money in oak. Has anyone else ever hit rock bottom on a project like this? How did you bounce back?
6 Answers
It sounds like you've hit a classic woodworking snag! It's normal to feel frustrated, but remember that every mistake is a lesson. Instead of focusing on the end goal, try approaching it as a learning experience – like each project is just practice for the one you really want to create. You're likely not the only one who's thought, 'I wish I'd done this differently.' Use this as a chance to refine your process for the future!
Sounds rough! I usually do a mix of staring blankly at my mistake and quietly cursing, then, once I've calmed down, I find a way to fix it. Learning from each hiccup makes the next project smoother. You've put in a lot of work, so don't let this get you down! Every effort is a step toward improvement!
Honestly, just rebuild it. You're not using much material, and at the end of the day, every build will make you better. You'll get there!“
Oh man, I've been there before with big projects! My method is usually to face mistakes head-on and keep pushing through. Yes, it might mean replacing parts, and that can sting a bit financially. But on a project that spans three years, it can be hard to remember the details. The dowel issue could be fixed with a plug cutter, or hey, just hide that side next to the wall! For the shelf height, if you can work on cutting new grooves, it might not be too noticeable. Just remember, people often won’t notice the flaws as much as you do!
You'll bounce back quickly! Just take it step by step. Little tables like that don’t take too much material and can be knocked out in a weekend or two.
If you're enjoying the journey, remember that the money spent is just part of your learning experience – really not much in the grand scheme of things if you compare it to other hobbies. Try to salvage what you can and don't be too hard on yourself about some wasted oak; at least you're growing from the experience!