When I first started woodworking, I thought dovetails were really important… I thought if you wanted to build boxes and furniture, you needed to learn how to cut dovetails. More than 30 years later, I’ve never cut a dovetail. And I’ve built a lot of things. That’s one of the things I’ve learned about woodworking. Some of the things you think are essential when you’re starting out aren’t nearly as important as you think they are. Learn how to measure. Mark. Cut. Join. Glue. Finish. Build things. The fancy stuff can wait… #FabricatorsFieldGuide #grownostr #woodworking #DIY

I haven’t posted much lately… I’ve been pretty focused on writing and testing the first hands-on project for Fabricator’s Field Guide. It’s a curated build for beginners to learn real shop skills by doing the work. I’m working through the manual and the short videos that go with it, going back through the build and asking, “Would this make sense if I’d never done this before?” That led me to change how I’m teaching the mitered cleats. It’s a slower process, but the fit is better and the process is easier to understand. I’m trying to take 30-plus years of hands-on experience and put the lessons that matter into one build, so a beginner has a place to start and doesn’t have to figure it all out alone… #FabricatorsFieldGuide #grownostr #woodworking #DIY #proofofwork