Do your Woodworking projects slow down

[Thompmd]

Once the Weather gets nicer outside? Last year mine certainly did and i would guess that would continue?

 

[ChuckM]

A little different here since winter is pretty cold, and given that my shop is not heated (unless portable heaters are switched on) woodworking gets done less between Dec. and March. I also tend to work longer in the shop (often with the garage door open) in the summer because the day is longer (sunset after 9pm?).

Sometimes. kids in the neighborhood will drop by because some of them are curious. Winter? It's dead quiet. [scared]

 

[nicholam77]

Same as [mention]ChuckM [/mention]for me. Winter is much slower. Then again I live in Minnesota with a detached garage I share with the cars as a “workshop”, so it often can get down to 20 degrees F or even lower (inside the garage).

 

[Coen]

Once the Weather gets nicer outside? Last year mine certainly did and i would guess that would continue?

Define nice?

It really depends on the project. I don't have a problem with most woodworking in the winter. In the summer it's often too hot in the garage. Except for the night hours... but don't want to rude to neighbours. For bicycle maintenance winter might be too cold, although I have better gloves now.

 

[Thompmd]

That’s interesting because it’s the exact opposite for me, winter is cold, I can’t get outside and when it gets nicer outside, days get longer and I like being outside.

I love my woodworking in the winter and I can’t imagine being cooped up in the house all winter

 

[Thompmd]

Example:  our weeks ago we had a foot of snow and windchills of -20! I loved putting up pine car siding on one wall.

It got to 50 today and we met friends for lunch, took dog for a couple walks etc.. we seem to always be doing something outside when the temps allow. Another thing is when it’s “nice” I feel like there’s always something I need/want to do outside

 

[DeformedTree]

Yeah, but to Coen's point, it in large part depends on what is "nice".  When it's hot outside, folks retreat inside to air conditioning too, the same as they retreat inside in winter for heat.

I think folks plan around seasons to some degree.  Summer is more distractions I think for most people outside of projects.  At the same time, there are projects you can't do in winter.  Stuff in the yard tends to have to be done when warm, but not to warm, and often is driven by plants, etc, not your schedule.  Other projects can't really be done in summer, like generally not the time to go working up in the attic.

Also as Coen mentions, even if the sun is up and it's nice out, if it's getting late in the day, nice neighbors tend to not go running powertools outside. You don't want to be the gal/guy running a planner at 11 at night.

If someone is working on stuff in a nice insulated/heated garage, the difference might just be if the door is open or not.

I just know projects planned for each season never get done before that season ends.

 

[ChuckM]

Last year was an exception. Because of the pandemic, so my family and I could venture out in our world famous national parks in warmer months -- with no tourists in sight. We try to avoid crowds, and so summer is when we stay home (and I have more time to woodwork). (Mid September, after the annual summer tourism is largely gone, is the sweet spot -- better traffic, ample parking, and better service.)

The "empty" waterfall spot (pic taken last June) would be sardined in a normal summer.

 

[Bob D.]

Slows down for me in the Winter since I also don't have heat in the detached garage shop. But that's why I made myself a small shop in the basement that I can use year round.

Basement is not heated either but never goes below 62F or above 75F in Summer. I carved out a 8x16 foot space with benches down each side and my MFT as my main workspace. Most of the tools used there are cordless or hand-powered except for a benchtop drill press and my old 12" bandsaw.

 

[DynaGlide]

I shut down from November until about March every year.

The holidays take over and I don't feel like getting into anything. By about March I get into it again and the stuff I'm working on requires painting, which requires nice weather since I spray my paint outdoors.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I do a lot more in the summer than in the winter. I don't like to work in the cold and I don't like to work when it is dark outside. Both things greatly improve in the summer. In the winter I tend to other hobbies.

 

[CeeJay]

I do more in winter. Temps here in Queensland are much more reasonable say 25 degrees rather than 35.

Also garden stops growing so less time in garden = more time in shop.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Thompmd]

I have to say that all really surprises me!  My shop is heated/window AC unit. I keep it cool when Im working with just a sweatshirt it I’m fine and along with music. I don’t work at night. My shop is about 1/4 mile from the cabin(we live back a long lane in the country).

I don’t have a good “reason” not to work much in the summer other than I just seem busy doing other things.

I’m taking a Marc Adams class at the s doc this month and I wonder about not doing much for several months?? I also have a new planer/jointer coming (jointer was due 3/1 and planer 4/19) and I doubt I use them much to fall.

I’ll be excited next winter to get going again.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I think I have a very nice set up. My shop is in a walk out basement with a full-size overhead door going out to a path around to the front of the house. I can stumble downstairs in my sweats and work for a couple hours any time I want. Neither snow nor scorch can be used as an excuse to procrastinate. The neighbors can't hear my equipment and it's always as comfortable as the upstairs (well...almost). Getting equipment and materials down to the shop is more hassle than a garage or outbuilding shop, but only a little and it's an excuse to fire up my little John Deere tractor. The only downside is I have to be very diligent about dust collection, which is a good idea anyway.

EDITED TO ADD: Forgot the important part to this thread...nope, I'm just as active in the shop summer, fall, winter and spring. The projects may be seasonly driven, but you can bet something is going on.

 

[Coen]

I do a lot more in the summer than in the winter. I don't like to work in the cold and I don't like to work when it is dark outside. Both things greatly improve in the summer. In the winter I tend to other hobbies.

Up to a point I like the cold. You can dress for cold, but not for heat. Everything dark can be solved by TL, LED, etc. Solving the heat in the summer is way harder.

That is why I am especially pissed at our lying prime minister and his bullsh*t curfew.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip. Everything dark can be solved by TL, LED, etc. Solving the heat in the summer is way harder.

Could Alex be implying about mood with darkness?

I, for one, seem to be having more motivation/ to be in a better mood, to work in the shop if it's bright and sunny outside. If it's a sunny winter day, even if it's brutally cold outside, I find it more likely to heat up my shop to 15C or higher and work there.

 

[Birdhunter]

I think my woodworking has accelerated over this last year as social activity was curtailed. My other two activities, Green Egg cooking and breaking ceramic disks, have picked up as they are outdoor activities.

 

[Coen]

Snip. Everything dark can be solved by TL, LED, etc. Solving the heat in the summer is way harder.

Could Alex be implying about mood with darkness?

I, for one, seem to be having more motivation/ to be in a better mood, to work in the shop if it's bright and sunny outside. If it's a sunny winter day, even if it's brutally cold outside, I find it more likely to heat up my shop to 15C or higher and work there.

Maybe. Some people are more affected than others by 'winter depression'. I like the winter. Less sweat, less hay fever, no oak processionary, no mosquitos, less humid.

 

[Peter_C]

Living in California I have been able to work in the garage year around, with it being uncomfortably hot or cold sometimes. A month ago I installed a mini split for the garage. So now I have heat and air conditioning that is so quiet the Milwaukee battery charger is twice as loud. Makes me super happy having a conditioned garage for the first time in my life

 

[Thompmd]

Good for you !! First time for me as well, great feeling. At this point I’m enjoying laying out the shop as much as working on projects.

Only bad thing is I don’t have a bathroom. I think I will add a small septic at some point(need to sell more live edge slabs first )