Box Building Follow Up

Explanation

This page is intended for people who attended the Woodworking: Box Building Techniques with Austin. The opinions expressed within are exclusively those of the author and may not reflect that of asmbly makerspace.

Intro

Thank you for attending box class. I hope this class gives you confidence to continue woodcraft and refine your skills. The syllabus reviews most of the things we discussed. [Box Building: Basic Techniques (Public)] What should you do next? This class is intended to be a jumping off point for your own journey into woodcraft. You have the basic skills to build a wide array of projects. I hope this email gives some additional pointers and helps you find a project you are excited about.

Projects and Videos

Youtube is a great place to get additional instruction, inspiration, or find project plans. YouTube is also a great place to get unrealistic expectations. Many creators are artists with decades of experience. Below is a curated list of skill-appropriate channels to start with. (And one very skill inappropriate channel.) Social media is a great place for inspiration, less so for instruction. Don't do things you see on social media; they may be dangerous.

Woodworking Project plans typically run less than $10 and are worth every penny. Good design is hard and frustrating, let someone else do that. Don't forget about the library or book stores. woodworking books are common and typically have plans inside. Wood Magazine, Fine Woodworking and other periodicals are also a great place to look for plans.

• Woodworking for Mere Mortals is a YouTube channel focused at a beginner to intermediate level. Start here! I think the host does a fabulous job setting realistic expectations (As indicated by the channel name). He doesn't post much anymore but he has nearly a decade of back content for your viewing pleasure. Most of his plans are free. https://www.youtube.com/@SteveRamsey This stool project is a great starting point. https://shopwwmm.com/products/basic-built-shop-stool

• Stumpy Nubs is a channel primarily targeted at intermediate woodworkers. It's less project-based and more technical. He has a huge swath of safety based content. if you're going to continue, especially on a non-flesh-sensing table saw please watch them. Be cautioned, that he primarily makes an income by selling tools. The sponsorships are transparent and he does a good job setting expectations. Don't get sucked in, you don't need the tools (unless you really want them) https://www.youtube.com/@StumpyNubs

• Lastly, woodshop companion. It's kind of hard to describe this channel. it's like your granddad was a Master Level woodworker and sitting in his shop and he's sharing his wisdom. Usually the techniques are old school and undercovered in the YouTube space. I absolutely adore the host and I hope to just like him when I'm an old man. This recommendation is with reservations. Some of the things he does are risky and he doesn't fully cover the safety risks. https://www.youtube.com/@WorkshopCompanion

• OK fine, one more. Four Eyes. I love his design aesthetic and have built several pieces loosely based on his design. I much prefer the content from about 2 years ago. It has gotten a little clickbaity lately. This one is for fun, don't try to start here. https://www.youtube.com/@Foureyes.Furniture

Where do I buy wood:

• Lowes or Home Depot - Highly available, reasonable prices, good hours, limited selection of wood types.
• Woodcraft (near Asmbly on I35) or Rockler (in Round Rock) - these stores are specifically for woodworkers. They have much higher quality and more interesting selection of woods. The prices are ok and are clearly marked. Wood is typically flat on 3 sides and rough on the last side. (This means that you do not have to do the milling (planer/jointer) yourself.)
• Fells Hardwood Supply in hutto - Good hours. Open weekend. Actively supportive of the asmbly community and growing the hobby
• Fine Lumber and Plywoods - Only open weekdays9-5, very close to asmbly, rough sawn lumber, good price. The set-up is intimidating; Nothing is marked by price or size, there are professionals shopping for huge projects, there are a million options. I promise the staff is friendly, ask for some help. As a point of reference a single 4/4 (four quarter=nominally 1 inch thick) 10foot X 5inch board of cherry costs about $40. This is a good price.

Other Asmbly content you might enjoy:

• How to join Asmbly:

This class is part of asmbly makerspace, a non for profit workshop space and community of makers. The best place to learn more about our community is at an “Orientation and Facility Tour” that runs every wednesday and saturday. It's free and you can sign up Asmbly’s class page. https://classes.asmbly.org

• The shop forum is https://yo.asmbly.org/latest. There are literally 100+ people who want to help you with your project. Its open to the public, come see what people are talking about or ask a question. I am @kasper, feel free to @ me. or DM me Austin.kasper@asmbly.org
• Attend any of our public events, even without a membership. https://asmbly.org/events/
• The wiki has some helpful articles All Things Wood
• The groovy cutting board class with Drew Hynes (pictured below). This class focuses on the bandsaw, and has almost 0 overlap with box building. it looks super fun. He is a great instructor.
• Router table TV tray class. Build a box... but on the router table. Runs very infrequently. Add yourself to the wait list ,we do actually listen to the wait list.

I would love to chat with you in the shop! Don't let the big ear muffs discourage you from saying hi.

Austin