Folks, From what I've been reading lately on the wreck, I guess this is the time of year to reflect back on my first 6 months of woodworking and try to impart some hard-learned lessons for future "newbies." So, without further ado, my collection of disjointed woodworking aphorisms--
Measure twice, cut once, let wood twist and warp. Measure twice again, cut once, let wood twist and warp, etc..
To the old adage "You can never have enough clamps," I would add, "You can never have enough lights."
By the time you figure out which tools you can do without, you'll already own them.
Yes, by all means, save a few bucks buying the cheaper chisels. The money you save will be well spent on sharpening equipment and Band-Aids.
Have you ever noticed that Norm Abrams looks like Bizzaro Superman with glasses? Hmm...
Draw your own conclusion from this one: I went to Home Depot a few moths ago and naively asked the guy in the lumber isle if they had any quarter sawn white oak. He replied that Home Depot didn't carry that brand. When I asked what "brands" of white oak they carried, he said "red."
I purchased several old Stanley planes on eBay over the past few months. They are, defects and all, magnificent tools. I especially like the "ghosts" that came with them.
--again, thanks for the indulgence.
Happy Holidays,
Kevin