Not just surgeons, we woodworkers are prone to making this kind of mistake too
- Thread starter ChuckM
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Almost every mistake I have made in woodworking has to do with mirror-imaging. That is, I transfer dimensions from the left, when I should be transferring from the right.
I especially struggle with with crown moldings. When I get home, I will show a photo of the results of that struggle. It is almost too funny.
It’s inherited. My dad cut a full inch off of the “bottom” of a door to clear the newly installed carpet. He then cut another inch off of the “real bottom” of the door. They replaced the door. I don’t remember who did it, but replacing doors was a major leap beyond my father’s skill set.
Every time I make that type of error, I mentally say “Thanks Dad” for passing on the mirroring gene set.
I have been managing much better as I now have a marking system (pencil lines) that tell me where to machine, where to cut, how much to cut, etc.
I especially struggle with with crown moldings. When I get home, I will show a photo of the results of that struggle. It is almost too funny.
It’s inherited. My dad cut a full inch off of the “bottom” of a door to clear the newly installed carpet. He then cut another inch off of the “real bottom” of the door. They replaced the door. I don’t remember who did it, but replacing doors was a major leap beyond my father’s skill set.
Every time I make that type of error, I mentally say “Thanks Dad” for passing on the mirroring gene set.
I have been managing much better as I now have a marking system (pencil lines) that tell me where to machine, where to cut, how much to cut, etc.
tjbnwi said:
I read about a man that was restoring his older Jaguar E-type. He ordered a “drivers’ side, side view mirror.”
He was an American, ordering for a USA destination Jaguar. So naturally they sent the “right part” for the “wrong side” of the car.
So “drivers’ side” / “passengers’ side” is still not a perfect solution.
Doing as I do, using matching letters noted on the part I am making to the part it attaches to, solves that issue.
I saw a hack on the internet that suggested you save the clips for closing plastic bags and use them for identifying both ends of busy electrical plug-ins.
They suggested you write on the clip “Printer” or “modem” or “computer”. Instead, I used two (2) clips per electrical line and marked pairs of these clips “A”/“A” or “B”/“B”. So instead of nearly illegible tiny writing for “printer”, “modem” etc. I had a nice large letter to match up.
It is the same idea: Match end “A” with end “A”, etc.
These are the clips:
Despite all the counting and accounting, the mistakes of leaving cottons, gloves and surgical instruments inside a patient still happen to date. Rushed operations are found to be one of the reasons why those mistakes can occur. In a recent two-year period, over 550 objects were recovered from medical and surgical patients in the Canadian setting.Packard said:
woodbutcherbower
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When I custom-build doors and frames for customers, I always rout all the hinge recesses, plus fit the locks & hardware etc. in advance in the shop. I'll then test-hang the door in the frame and just make sure that I have even 3mm gaps all round and that everything's snug and tight. I then dismantle everything for transport to the job and (usually) a quick, easy installation into the masonry aperture.
When surveying and costing the job - I ask the customer which side they want it hung from. Right side or left side? I then ask them whether right or left is as viewed from the outside of the building, or from the inside. Not asking that question is a mistake I only made once - many, many years ago.
When I look at you - your right eye is on my left ............
When surveying and costing the job - I ask the customer which side they want it hung from. Right side or left side? I then ask them whether right or left is as viewed from the outside of the building, or from the inside. Not asking that question is a mistake I only made once - many, many years ago.
When I look at you - your right eye is on my left ............
Another example of a left and right mistake made:
I had a new deck built with an aluminum fence, longer on one side and two feet foot shorter on the other to match the house structure. When the new fence arrived, the builder found that the fence maker had the short and long sides mixed up. The custom welded fence went back at the cost of the maker. And the team of three installers wasted several hours that day.
I had a new deck built with an aluminum fence, longer on one side and two feet foot shorter on the other to match the house structure. When the new fence arrived, the builder found that the fence maker had the short and long sides mixed up. The custom welded fence went back at the cost of the maker. And the team of three installers wasted several hours that day.
Michael Kellough
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ChuckS said:
I can’t even get to the “other front” on my table saw. To much stuff in the way.
Here is my dyslexic crown molding installation. I like to give a finished look to molding by making a miter return.
In this case, the crown molding was on two different planes, one on the plaster wall, and the other raised about 3/8” on the tiled section. So I terminated both with a miter return. (And no, I was not self-medicated at the time.
In this case, the crown molding was on two different planes, one on the plaster wall, and the other raised about 3/8” on the tiled section. So I terminated both with a miter return. (And no, I was not self-medicated at the time.
Crazyraceguy
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This is one of the first things that "shakes" new guys in the countertop department. They are all built upside down, which puts the leg of an L-shaped top on the "wrong" side as viewed that way. Even a straight top, with only one finished end, will catch them.
I've been doing this for so long that I don't even have to think about it anymore, but it is a bit of a challenge to try to get newbies to understand.
I've been doing this for so long that I don't even have to think about it anymore, but it is a bit of a challenge to try to get newbies to understand.
Crazyraceguy
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ChuckS said:
Another thing I do with "notes", whether they are for me as I do the job, or the installers later, is to always make he markings right-side-up as viewed when being assembled.
If you have something that I built, with the letters upside down, you have something wrong.
Also arrows are always pointing up.
Crazyraceguy
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4nthony said:Crazyraceguy said:
Did someone say wrong side? Ha.
Fortunately, Domino mortises are easily filled and redone.
Dude, I have done that with the mortice for aprons on a table leg. That was the first time I ever had to make an edge-grain Domino. Fortunately, it got a dark stain, so I got by with it.
As far as handedness on doors. I always heard that it was done from the side where you can see the hinges. I think the confusion comes from the fact that you open the door with your right hand, on a left-handed door. (When the door swings toward you)
Michael Kellough
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Right hand swing, swings on the right side pivots on the left?