Productive
Work Habits
Michael operates a small,
labor-intensive workshop where handwork prevails. Over
the years, he's developed productive work habits to offset
the time-consuming nature of his work. Here are a few
that I observed.
Wear an Apron
Michael's shop was 3,800 square feet of pure heaven;
that is, until I couldn't remember where I left
my 6" ruler. His secret for keeping his essential
tools within easy reach was to wear an apron holding
a pencil, a marker, a knife, a ruler, squares, an eraser
and a tape measure tucked safely inside.
You Can Never Have Too Many Bandsaws
There were six bandsaws in Michael's shop, ranging in
size from 10"–36". The lowly 15" General
bandsaw was his favorite, and of all the machines in
his shop, it received the most use. A dedicated 14"
bandsaw was used to cut fabricated wood, since it contains
glue that's notoriously hard on saw blades. He used
a smaller 12" bandsaw for tight curves or small-scale
work that couldn't be cut on the other 1/2", 3 or 4 tpi
blades. If one bandsaw is
good, then two or more dedicated machines greatly increase
efficiency.
Work With Purpose
Michael always said, "Don't confuse being in the
shop with working in the shop." Making fine furniture
involves detailed handwork that is time consuming and
sometimes repetitive. It's easy to get distracted with
non-productive work, especially when the computer and
phone are close by. It is important to work with focused
determination and to treat furniture making as you would
a 9–5 job.
|
