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Tinker Tuesday for November 18, 2025

This thread is for anyone working on personal projects to share their progress, and hold themselves somewhat accountable to a group of peers.

Post your project, your progress from last week, and what you hope to accomplish this week.

If you want to be pinged with a reminder asking about your project, let me know, and I'll harass you each week until you cancel the service

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I'm curious - what drives you to build something elaborate like that from scratch?

A lot of my shop furniture isn't that different from your OSB shelving. Lots of stands thrown together with 2x4's and half-lap joints, glue and brad nails. A chest of drawers that are just 1/2" cheapo plywood, not even cabinet grade, with pocket screws, rabbet joints, glue and brad nails. All naked and unfinished. Quick and easy can be remarkably satisfying.

For the more labor intensive projects, I donno what to say. It's like when a Dwarf craftsman in Dwarf Fortress goes insane and simply has no choice but to build the masterpiece that's been plaguing his dreams. Often I get an idea that simply won't get out of my head, no matter what. The only way to get it out is to make the damned thing, no matter how extravagant and useless. That's what happened with my wooden 486. Although I think it went better than that with my walnut gaming table and dining chair set.

My daughter is a huge encouragement too. She's always so amazed every time I make something beautiful. And we've been making lots of memories sitting around the table I made, in the chairs I made, playing The Hobbit: There and Back Again which I got her for her birthday. And how do you put a price on making beautiful things to make memories around with your family?

And how do you put a price on making beautiful things to make memories around with your family?

Perhaps that's the key there. I find that the things I do or make for myself are very spartan, but for my family it has to be polished. I have a child that's too young to know the difference, but perhaps someday they'll be the reason why I put in the extra effort. We make things beautiful for other people I suppose.