What motivates you to do a new project?

[peter halle]

A friendly and fun thread I hope.  All of us are different and I am sure that there have to be motivating factors that move all of you towards making a project happen.  Especially if you have been on the fence or have moth balled an idea.

What are they?

Peter

 

[tjbnwi]

My customers deposit check [big grin]

For myself, it is the need to get things done that I've put off way to long.

Tom

 

[peter halle]

Fair enough, who's next.

 

[NHSP759]

Right now it's the chance to learn. But I'm not a pro, so it's really a fun thing.

 

[AlexThePalex]

If it's for myself, what motivates me is the fact that it looks bad now, or is inefficient or broken.

If it's for somebody else, what motivates me is that they ask and I don't really have anything better to do.  [smile]

 

[NL-mikkla]

Easy for a DIY guy, I have no plans for a new project, recent projects  are not finished and I have absolutley no need for a new coathanger. Than all of a sudden I see this picture..

[attachthumb=1]

And here I go,  let's get rid of the old coathanger, where shall I put the new one, shall I make it bigger, browsing the internet to find some old C clamps, hey here's a small piece of wood I have left that I can use
etc etc...

Apart from the projects I was asked to do as a favour, this is the usual process.
I see something to my liking, haven't build it before, think long enough about so I can justify it and than do it!

 

[SittingElf]

My immediate motivation is to do a number of projects and repairs that will be in full view of my spouse.  That way, she won't give me any more of "those" looks whenever she sees the stacks of boxes with the green thingamajigs on the front of each one! [big grin]

Currently:
New Fence Gate
Fence repairs
Raised bed garden plus a raised Veg Trug
Patio Stairs  Etc Etc.... [tongue]

Cheers,
Frank

 

[Vondawg]

When someone comes to you and asks..."can you make this happen...no one seems to want to take it on" or " everyone I contact says this can't be done". Or as simple as running across a outstanding slab of figured wood...

 

[John Beauchamp]

Projects take money, so I need the money from projects for others to do the improvements I want in the shop. One thing that doesn't take money is I'm trying to learn sketchup. I finally have a house drawn that looks like it should but still have many layers of things to learn. I also spend time watching you tube for various projects which gives me ideas. Motivation is not my problem money and age is.

 

[rmwarren]

My wife.

RMW

 

[rmwarren]

My immediate motivation is to do a number of projects and repairs that will be in full view of my spouse.  That way, she won't give me any more of "those" looks whenever she sees the stacks of boxes with the green thingamajigs on the front of each one! [big grin]

Currently:
New Fence Gate
Fence repairs
Raised bed garden plus a raised Veg Trug
Patio Stairs  Etc Etc.... [tongue]

Cheers,
Frank

[member=20326]SittingElf[/member]  - my next honey-do is raised beds or a VegTrug type planter. Are you DIY'ing the plans or have you found a source for plans?

Thanks,

RMW

 

[SittingElf]

Man.... I used about 10 different search phrases trying to find some plans for the Medium Veg Trug. No luck.

So, I'm pretty much eyeballing it from various pictures online from different angles. It seems pretty simple, and I bought all the lumber I think I'll need yesterday.  Pretty much all 1x1,2,4,and 6's, plus the 2X4 legs.  I also bought a can of black spray Plasti-Dip to protect the bottom of the legs. The actual Veg Trug has plastic feet.

Finally, not knowing what fabric they use for the liner, I just ordered the replacement for the size on Amazon for about $15.  My total cost will be less than Half of what they are selling the medium units for online, and will be a Mother's Day gift for wifey, and will be assisted in the build by my 7 year old son! [smile]

This is what I'm basing it on:
[attachimg=1]

Cheers,
Frank

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Money. 

You should see my house, no money there.

 

[Cheese]

[member=20326]SittingElf[/member]
I wonder if you contacted the manufacturer of Veg Trug, if they'd be willing to sell you the plastic feet as an accessory/replacement part?

 

[clark_fork]

"Will work for food."

I am recreational woodworker, intent on keeping my sanity from my day -job, working only on weekends and evenings. Friends have projects and apparently see a sandwich board on my back noting that dinner is sufficient recompense. Currently working on the learning curve of my Domino 500. I count this new tool among some of my greatest past tool breakthroughs  that improved my work significantly such as the early Wood Smith router table and my first Biesemeyer fence.  I did not have to obey the caul of the wild on my first glue-up. My cauls, I think, are going to gather dust.

My projects ahead are:

Writing desk
Hall bench
Fly-tying table
Kids table and two chairs
Mirror frame
Toy Box
Shaker style bench (s)
Krenov style stand for bark edge desk top

My personal projects involve the shift to the MFT process and a hall bench. Late summer, after I paint the rear deck, I will build a dining room table and six chairs.

I appraise real estate as my day job.

 

[SittingElf]

[member=20326]SittingElf[/member]
I wonder if you contacted the manufacturer of Veg Trug, if they'd be willing to sell you the plastic feet as an accessory/replacement part?

The unit is made in China, so I'm assuming the feet would be cheap plastic. I think the Plasti-Dip Spray will be better and last longer. I've used it for a number of hand tools, and it is awesome stuff! [tongue]

Cheers,
Frank

 

[Locks14]

How many of us use our tools as motivation? And hence our interest and sometimes obsession with premium tools from Festool, Mafell, Fein, etc?

Do some of us use the tools as a crutch if we have lost interest in the work itself? I guess an analogy would be if we were asked to drive 1000 miles in a beat up old car we'd see it as a chore, though if someone gave you a Ferrari, Bugatti Veyron, etc we'd see it as a pleasure?

 

[sancho57]

I really enjoy building cabinets etc.... Since I moved over to the UK, I quit building furniture for myself. I started collecting antiques and old furniture that needs some love and restoration.

But to keep my woodworking jones going, I've been building some American country style things mainly for friends which people seem to like.

They like them so much, I'm considering putting them on the UK version of CL just to see if they sell or if there is a interest in them.

I attached a couple of photos of the type of things I build. 

Nothing fancy but fun.

Which reminds me, time to search the classifieds  to see if there is anything I want

 

[#Tee]

using tools motivates me to build and create things. any money friends and fam gives me is a plus which goes back into more tools.

 

[AndyG]

Sometimes what motivates me is a check. Sometimes a lot of bills. Sometimes the need to create. Its also really fun to use my trailer Ron Paulk inspired. Having everything you need,fast access and convenience make it fun.