Getting Started

This is my first post outside of a few motorcycle related forums and I don't really know what I'm doing. Maybe this is the first of many, maybe it's the only one I'll ever do... I don't really have a plan, this is just supposed to be fun.

Staying in our bubble this past summer during COVID has meant finding some new things to try, and turned out to be a great time to get started on a new hobby. We were enjoying occasional outdoor gatherings with Amy's parents and sister & brother-in-law which was typically sitting in a large circle on the driveway, sometimes around a fire pit. Amy suggested I make a cornhole board set in her father's workshop, something to do as a safe outdoor activity.

He had some rough walnut from a friend in Iowa and some maple from a tree that came down in their yard so off I went without really a clue what I was doing.

In the end I'm happy with how they came out and it was a great summer project. I learned a lot and would do a tons differently if I were to do it again. I'd make them a lot lighter, spend more time on the joinery, do the legs differently, cut the hole differently, yada yada yada.

So there you go, my first woodworking project. Added bonus, Ainsley and I worked on these together.

Since then I've found a lot of great resources, particularly on YouTube. (I don't know how people got started before YouTube. I guess you could read, but reading is hard for me, or you could join a guild or something but that's not really an option in 2020.) I especially like:

• Tamar at 3x3 Customs (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC39z4_U8Kls0llAij3RRZAQ). She makes great stuff and explains her thought process, you feel like you're learning along with her.

• Jonathan Katz-Moses (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXBNF-A7QlYT3tT-B9N4ElA). He explains things incredibly well and is fun to watch.

• Rob Cosman (https://www.youtube.com/user/robc45). If you want to see a project in great detail, nearly in real-time, Rob's your guy. He has an unreal level of precision.

• Chris at Third Coast Craftsman (https://www.youtube.com/c/ThirdCoastCraftsman/featured). He makes beautiful things using traditional methods. I think few will ever reach his level.

• Steve Ramsey at Woodworking for Mere Mortals (https://www.youtube.com/user/stevinmarin). He presents really attainable tips and projects.

So that's it for now. I have a few more things I want to talk about so stay tuned. Thanks for reading.