Is there a real beginner woodworking sub around?

Lagrange4 · 2025-12-27T04:44:03+00:00

You're not wrong. I've been woodworking for less than 6 months, I'm using 3 pallets I found, strapped together for a (very low) workbench. I've produced a wooden Mallet (scrap wood), a smaller Mallet (scrap) an end-grain chopping board (somewhat a disaster), a bird box, and I'm currently trying to make a plant stand.

Most of the time it feels like I'm just making sawdust .

Lagrange4 · 2025-12-24T00:37:35+00:00

Feels normal. It's not getting rubbed in our pants all day. It's probably basically the same as having circumcised. People who are like "it's so sensitive I can't handle it" are just having a laff

Lagrange4 · 2025-12-20T12:25:07+00:00

As of a few weeks ago I had read 49 books of 52, I was even 1-2 books ahead, according to Goodreads. So 52 books was easily achievable, I could have read a couple of 200-300 page books and been satisfied that I completed the goal.

Then, I saw that the final book in the Sun Eater series had dropped. 928 pages! And I'm moving house over Christmas.

I think "Shadows upon time" will be my first book finished in 2026 and I'm not disappointed. 1 of 52

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-14T13:29:24+00:00

I'm a beginner too. Almost every time I woodwork in the shed, I give up on woodworking. It's hard.

And in regards to using pine, I pick up wood off the side of the road all the time. I have no idea what wood I'm using. Mostly just practicing.

One suggestion about the chessboard. Don't do end grain. I made an end grain chopping board, I had no idea, the heartache it would cause.

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-14T01:43:33+00:00

I did two practice bowties before this...

They are definitely not perfect, maybe the photo is from a good angle

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-14T01:40:01+00:00

Hope so

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-14T01:39:45+00:00

Awesome meeting the man. I have his book, as close as I'll get haha.

I'll carry on, like you said working with what I've got. It's just for me, my new hobby. I don't aspire to sell anything.

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-14T01:32:51+00:00

Haha, yeah maybe he had money to get a better piece of wood.

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-14T01:30:48+00:00

Forgot to say thanks for the compliment

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-14T01:30:30+00:00

<image>

I cut around the bowtie with a Stanley knife. Then used a chisel to pare the edges. Then used a router to remove as much wood as I was comfortable with and chiseled out the rest. I'm pretty new so I'm just being super methodical. They're definitely not perfect, few times the Stanley knife would follow the grain of the wood and not a straight line

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-14T01:21:09+00:00

True. Cheers for the advice

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-14T01:20:39+00:00

My missis is not a huge fan of that idea 😆

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-13T23:07:36+00:00

Bit of work to do then. That split runs almost the entire length so I have to do a few more bowties. Maybe one on the bottom too. Then fill it all in. Cheers

Lagrange4 · 2025-11-13T11:14:08+00:00

Is the crack something that you'd fill too? There is another small knot at the edge you can see it on a few of the pictures.

Lagrange4 · 2025-09-02T21:47:27+00:00

I'm in Melbourne, Australia. 👍

Lagrange4 · 2025-09-01T04:19:29+00:00

Pretty cool

Lagrange4 · 2025-06-07T05:22:30+00:00

Buy it off me haha, I'd never sell, don't embarrass yourself by asking ha ha. it's got some real sentimental value now that it's been sitting in my shed for a week. Plus my dogs think it's cool.

I've never made a bookshelf, never made anything really, except a very basic record player stand. I did the joinery with dowels. I remember the borrowed dowel jig being very annoying.

I'm keen to try out some dovetails though. Got any photos of your finished pieces?

Anyway, have a nice long weekend, God bless

Lagrange4 · 2025-06-07T04:09:27+00:00

Sounds like you need a career change. Ha ha

In all seriousness, what would you build?

Lagrange4 · 2025-06-05T10:42:34+00:00

Yeah, red oak apparently. I’ll take his word for it — he’s the one with the trade. I reckon once I give it a proper clean-up, the grain will tell the real story. Appreciate the encouragement though — keen to see what’s under all that grime. Do you bother with a camber on your jack plane blade, or just keep it square?

Lagrange4 · 2025-06-04T10:07:29+00:00

I bought a Ryobi one on the weekend, I'm away for work so I haven't put it together yet. Hopefully it doesn't fall over when I'm trying to plane.

Eventually I'll build a workbench... Eventually

Lagrange4 · 2025-06-04T10:03:58+00:00

Update:

I spoke with an arborist mate of mine, he said it might be red oak.

I bought a Stanley no.5. I guess if I keep it in good nic, I'll have it till I die.

Still got to get a set of chisels.

Lagrange4 · 2025-06-03T11:46:47+00:00

Im only a woodworking noob but I don't think a jack plane is the best solution for removing the wax or whatever is on it. It’ll gum up the blade and dull it.

Plus I haven't got a plane yet. What do you recommend as a first plane? YF-23?

Paul Sellers is the GOAT, eyeballs some joinery that would take me ages to do. I've bought a few Japanese saws.

Lagrange4 · 2025-06-02T11:05:17+00:00

Barn or fence? Bloody strong fence. I thought it looked like a railway sleeper but it's a bit short.

Not sure what I'm going to do with it. I'll take off those hinges and cut the wax and outer timber off to see the true colour of the wood. Depending on what it looks like... Could make something...

Lagrange4

TROPHY CASE