Obsessive Accuracy...

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:55 pm

It really doesn't matter if I just nail something together or, with great care and purpose, measure and mark and remeasure and remark - I always end up with something that I wish I had done differently.

I can say, however, that when I set out to align my Mark V, I know how to do that and I hardly ever leave it in the state of "good enough". It meets my criteria for being aligned or I don't call it a day.

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 3:56 pm

heathicus wrote:For me, it's a mix. If I have a clear picture in my head, then I tend to not work with paper plans and detailed, measured drawings. Much like the dice tower I built the other day. I saw a picture of one, grabbed some wood scraps, and was able to build it to my liking on the fly. No plans, no measurements ever taken.

But, just as often, I do not have a clear picture in my head. And in those cases, I find that "building" it virtually in SketchUp, or reviewing printed plans, and drawing and measuring everything out is necessary so I can get hat mental picture. Like the table saw stand and outfeed table I also built recently. I had a goal for the functionality, but didn't know how to best get there. So, SketchUp and drawings and asking questions was necessary. This probably comes from lack of experience and as I gain experience I'll do more of the building in my head and can rely on SketchUp a little less.

Heath,
Don't feel bad buddie I use Sketchup all the time and have found it to be an absolute godsend for me as my math skills are very poor due to my own ignorance when I was younger and the school system allowing me to ditch math in favor of other easier classes. A mistake I will never live down and my own fault but anywho I have used Sketchup so many times I am actually getting pretty good with it and it has actually helped my math considerably by jogging those long ago forgotten math basics etc.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:27 pm

I have watched craftsman fit two boards together so you almost can't see the seam, yet when I try I either cut too much or too crooked or produce some other flaw.

Therefore I obsess with accuracy on the belief if everything is cut exactly 100% correct there will be no fitting and my finished project will be as good as the craftsman.

When in truth I have found in work working you still have to finesse it in, and that, is often is my short coming. Although I have gotten a lot better, I still lack patience and in some cases skill.

Also through the years I have learned to cover a lot of my mistakes but I still envy the craftsman that take two boards that have a seam you can drive a truck through and produce with a utility knife, a piece of sand paper and perhaps a block plane something that light won't pass through. They finesse it and having the skill to do that, makes all the difference in the world. Until I develop that finesse I will continue to obsess over accuracy.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:52 pm

Ed in Tampa wrote:I have watched craftsman fit two boards together so you almost can't see the seam, yet when I try I either cut too much or too crooked or produce some other flaw.

Therefore I obsess with accuracy on the belief if everything is cut exactly 100% correct there will be no fitting and my finished project will be as good as the craftsman.

When in truth I have found in work working you still have to finesse it in, and that, is often is my short coming. Although I have gotten a lot better, I still lack patience and in some cases skill.

Also through the years I have learned to cover a lot of my mistakes but I still envy the craftsman that take two boards that have a seam you can drive a truck through and produce with a utility knife, a piece of sand paper and perhaps a block plane something that light won't pass through. They finesse it and having the skill to do that, makes all the difference in the world. Until I develop that finesse I will continue to obsess over accuracy.

OKAY, bring me up to date here.

If we were discussing the Mark V Main Table Alignment Procedure would you be for or against using a dial gauge and attempting to align the table to within .001"-.002".

If we were attempting to set table tilt to 0° +- 0.1°, using a Wixey, would we be obsessing with a need for accuracy.

holsgo · Post by **holsgo** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:56 pm

I used to look at plans. I remember getting them off the Internet in 95. Barely an Internet at that point. I tried to follow them. Measured everything. Almost 20 years later I never use a plan. Barely ever draw them out. Surely never read them except for overall measurements. But, I build all custom stuff and normally it's free for me to build as I like. Call me lucky I guess. Or an idiot. But it works for me. Now my new metalworking hobby doesn't seem to tolerate "about this much" at all.

shipwright · Post by **shipwright** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:57 pm

This will be my last comment on this topic, OK.

"Good enough" does not mean "not great but good enough". It means that whatever you are doing or fitting or setting up is, in fact, good enough to do the job required of it and do it well. If it wasn't... right, it wouldn't be good enough.

I have no quarrel with those who for there own satisfaction fine tune beyond "good enough". It just won't improve the final product. If it does, then the previous setup wasn't in fact "good enough".

Sorry, it just bugs me a bit that people speak of "good enough" as if it meant something else. A true craftsman in my mind is one who knows when he's reached good enough and that going further will not improve his product.

Rant, rant, rant.

I will remain silent.

Paul M

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:06 pm

holsgo wrote: Now my new metalworking hobby doesn't seem to tolerate "about this much" at all.

Take up blacksmithing for a metal working hobby...

.

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:43 pm

shipwright wrote:This will be my last comment on this topic, OK.

"Good enough" does not mean "not great but good enough". It means that whatever you are doing or fitting or setting up is, in fact, good enough to do the job required of it and do it well. If it wasn't... right, it wouldn't be good enough.

I have no quarrel with those who for there own satisfaction fine tune beyond "good enough". It just won't improve the final product. If it does, then the previous setup wasn't in fact "good enough".

Sorry, it just bugs me a bit that people speak of "good enough" as if it meant something else. A true craftsman in my mind is one who knows when he's reached good enough and that going further will not improve his product.

Rant, rant, rant.

I will remain silent.

Paul M

So in other words "Good Enough" means "within allowable/acceptable/defined tolerances"

I believe the trouble with many hobbyist wood workers (myself included at times) determining "allowable tolerance" is the real problem. In a production environment you go to a design specification or quality control document and the tolerances are in black and white. I don't have a QC document or design spec. Therefore "Allowable Tolerance" is strictly up to me. I am learning when to say enough is enough and get on with life.

holsgo · Post by **holsgo** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:46 pm

I'm enjoying the accuracy of machining. Pushes me a bit. This ia a hobby When good enough simply won't do. The parts just don't seem to want to gain or lose .001 of an inch the way wood does. Wonder why?

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:58 pm

I discover with every wood project the bar for accuracy moves daily. I enjoy feeling my projects first serve a specific use and secondly allow me to express what I view as my artistic license. Perfect projects, never. Tolerable, usually. Now my bride would likely say I fall short of perfection yet some days am tolerable:D Jim