Expert: Jamie Yocono - 2/17/2006

Question
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi

I am retired and have a small workshop. My skill level is reasonable having been a toolmaker during my working life.

What sort of constructions do you think I should attempt to undertake and could you suggest a source for working drawings.

regards


james wright
Answer -
Hi James,

I am not sure what you are asking- are you trying to build things to learn about building them? Or for money? Or for a hobby?  If you can give me a bit more information, I will try to help. What are your interests?

Feel free to write back with your questions after reading this. I just couldn't understand what you wanted.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
www.wooditis.com
Las Vegas, NV


Hi

Thank's for the reply.

It's purely a hobby:  I have quite a few working drawings of garden furniture and have made some nice pieces. However I would really like to
scale down so that my expediture on wood is a little less. I have a good table saw a routing machine and  a mortice machine: I am looking for working drawing for smaller pieces and wondered if you could point me in the right direction. I have seen many examples of what can be achieved but i am not too clever when it comes to design.

Regards

James


Answer
Hi James,

Glad you wrote back. I totally understand what you mean about building smaller projects because they're easier on the pocketbook. I moved from Ohio, where the Amish sold wood at very reasonable prices, to Las Vegas, where wood is outrageously expensive. It's forced me to not only raise the prices for the furniture I build, but also try to find more economical ways to make the wood stretch. It's been a challenge.

I have found that I still make a better profit at building bigger items. For example, I can still make more at building a coffee table than, for example, a jewelry box. Small items often take just as much time as larger items, but people are willing to pay more for the bigger pieces.

Anyway, below are some of the better sites I've found for locating plans. I used to teach woodworking and students would ask where to find free plans, so I put together a list of some of the better places. I urge you so check these plans before you cut your wood, as most plans usually contain an error or two. Also- if you're skilled enough, try to embellish these plans a little bit, with a small bit of carving, or a tiny inlay, or something to make it "your own" plan. Put your own small bit of personality in what you build. And later, as your skills grow, try coming up with designs on your own. You'll feel much better about your woodworking if it's something that you've worked on to develop your own "signature".

http://absolutelyfreeplans.com
http://www.am-wood.com/index.html (amateur woodworkers plans)
http://www.woodworkingplanfinder.com
http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com
http://www.woodzone.com
http://www.womeninwoodworking.com

Don't be put off by that last site- Women in Woodworking.com. They offer some very good tips and advice, as well as plans. And many men post there, as well as write columns for them. I tend to think it's misnamed, as it's not only for women.

Good luck, I hope this helps. Feel free to write back with any other questions you might have after reading this.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
www.wooditis.com
Las Vegas, NV