Do you keep a record of past Projects?

[peter halle]

Frank Pellow has shown us time and time again here the benefits of keeping a detailed journal of his woodworking and projects.  Personally I find them fascinating.  I was wondering if others do something similar either on paper or electronically.

Do you document what you do and the processes involved?  How?  Paper or electronic?

Peter

 

[Tinker]

My problem has always been that when a project has been completed, I get to thinking, "Now why didn't I take some pics and write down how i did that?"  I am not in the habit of keeping records in my Wood shop.  By the time I am thru with my week, i am so sick of keeping all the records necessary to keep my LS biz going, I just don't want to see any more bookkeeping. 

I almost never make the same project twice, so each one becomes a learning experience.  I should keep records of especially the new jobs and techniques. 
Tinker

 

[Frank Pellow]

Thanks for comment Peter. 

At times I really really do not want to spend time recording my activities, but I force myself to do so, even at the expense of not tending to other tasks.  I have a few project records going back to 1975 and I have very good records going back 10 years. 

They have, indeed, proved to be very helpful.

 

[Theshipstore]

Peter    I have been filling looseleaf binders for quite some time now , with matrial bills, rough drawings of my project with dimensions. Very few photo's though.

It was only since becoming a member of FOG that I started to actually photo document my projects  [thumbs up]

Sal

 

[CharlesWilson]

I keep a photo log of my projects. By the time I finish most of my projects, the drawings are often hopelessly out of date, and photos of the final object are necessary to accurately describe the work done.

Now that I have grandsons to build for, I will be following in Frank's footsteps, and building many of the things he has documented over the years, (Thanks, Frank!).

All of my woodworking photos are uploaded to Flickr, and are available to the public. Some of the projects are organized as sets.

 

[Tinker]

Charles, i have seen some of your projects close up.  There is a lot of very fine detail to be considered and if you keep a photo and comment record of them, i am sure it will take a pretty hefty shelf to store all of that.
Tinker

 

[Jesse Cloud]

If its a project I think I might build again, I will keep the drawings with dimensions, the cut lists, finishing schedule sample, and if there were any unusual jigs, either the jig itself or a pic.  I try to document the jig by making notes right on the jig.  I generally save templates and patterns - drill a hole in it and hang it on a nail in the wall with the others.  Might make some notes if there was anything tricky in the process.  So the "documentation" is a jumble of paper, electronic stuff, and physical objects.  Not very efficient...

And I will confess that there are a few jigs in the dark corners of the shop that I have no idea what they were for. [embarassed]

Interestingly enough, the documentation that I go back to most often is the finishing stuff, either for repairs or to use the schedule again on a different project.

 

[davee]

I keep sketches for almost all of the items I build.  I've started taking pictures, but too often forget - I usually get the final product but frequently not in progress.  I find that I use old designs for future projects pretty frequently. 

 

[pugilato]

Sketchup. All repetitive drawings are updated as I find improvements to the process. Photos as well. Oh, and most importantly, cut lists.

 

[JPF Woodworking]

I keep the requisite journal that tracks costs of material and labor. Occasionally I will add a sketch or two of something interesting that might be of use later. It is interesting to go back ow and again to see what has been accomplished. But like I said, pretty typical.

However, after recently going over to a Mac I have added a "photo" journal. Simply put, I have a very inexpensive digital camera (what else?) and I diligently will take photos of any project I am working on (I actually will take multiple photos while estimating). I then turn each project into a short slide show which i email to the customers. To a number each has commented on how enjoyable it has been to watch their project unfold on their screen. But most importantly, showing them their project "unfolding" makes a BIG difference in their understanding of what went into their project and why the cost is what it is....we often spend a lot of time trying to educate the customer. Just one more idea that seems to be working for me.

The slide shows are nothing special and taking the pictures really is no big deal- at this point it doesn't interrupt the work-flow at all (makes a good excuse to pause and step back for a few minutes which is always a good habit). It does take a few projects before taking the pictures is a habit.

I'd be happy to post one of the recent slide shows if anyone is interested.

 

[tvgordon]

I make some sketches with measurements of the project. Sometimes I will take some photos and some of the photos of the details will also include a ruler in the photo. Then I'll list what finish I used and what hardware I used (knobs, slides, hinges). And if I kept track of them, I'll include the number of hours I spent on it and my costs and, if I sold it, what I charged and who I sold it to. And the dates I started it and finished it. It's all on a spreadsheet on the computer.

Tom

 

[flair woodworks]

I sure do - my blog.  I've been documenting projects step-by-step in my Tweet-Alongs too with photos and captions.