Woodworking is one of the most relaxing and rewarding hobbies around, but like any other avocation, it comes with its share of drudgery. Things we must deal with in order to have fun and create stuff.
1. Changing saw blades. I admit it. I use saw blades past their lives because its a pain to change them. This applies to almost any kind of blade. Rarely have I changed a tablesaw blade without skinning my knuckles. I really cant count how often I use a fine-tooth blade to make rough rips rather than take the time to change it out. Guilty. Miter saw? Well, I use its blades until they barely cut butter. In fact, I have to get out the manual every time, because I forget the changing procedure. But tops on this list is my bandsaw. I loath changing these guys. At least on my saw, I have to practically disassemble the entire unit in order to change a blade. Which leads me into my second most dreaded chore:
2. Tensioning my bandsaw. If you havent figured it out yet, I love my bandsaw, but it is an endless source of frustration. I am never really sure whether the blade is at the right tension and even if it is, then I have to fuss with the alignment and tracking. Changing a blade and getting set for a new cut takes upwards of thirty minutes.
3. Changing adhesive-backed sandpaper on my disc sander. The glue on these discs is just a nightmare. Again, I have to disassemble a bit of the machine, then try to peel off the used paper. It never comes off in one peel. Then it leaves gooey chunks of adhesive all over the metal disc. I have tried all sorts of solvents and never found one that really does a good job. As a result...I dont buy a lot of sandpaper. I use every little spot of it until I am essentially sanding on plain paper: about a 50,000 grit.
4. Vacuuming. Its just one of the chores that never seems to end. Sure, I sweep up as much sawdust as I can with a broom, but it has a way of getting everywhere imaginable. My ShopVac does a great job, but it takes a long time to get everything swept up even passingly acceptable. Then I almost dont want to saw any more wood since the shop is so clean. A couple of things that also bug me: it almost sucks too hard. When I use it with the wide floor attachment it actually tries to suck up my garage floor. It becomes a suction cup. Secondly, I wish they would design tools like these for people over five feet tall. Even with the extension tube, I get a backache from hunching over to sweep. Have you ever swept up perfectly good screws just because its easier than actually taking the time to bend over and pick them up? Well, okay thats my fault, not the vac.
5. Cleaning brushes. I dont think it is humanly possible to ever completely clean a brush. After applying coats of say, brushing lacquer, I am really not in a cleaning frame of mind. I dutifully get out the thinner and clean and clean. Then I get fresh thinner and clean some more, getting between every bristle. Then I get more fresh thinner and clean some more. Then I wash it out with soapy water. And Ill be damned if that brush isnt hard the next time I go to use it. I think the key is to use about a gallon of thinner after every brush use. Then go buy another gallon. Admittedly, these are minor peeves, and in the scope of things, not so bad. They pale in comparison to the fun I have building things. What do you dread in the shop?
3. Changing adhesive-backed sandpaper on my disc sander. The glue on these discs is just a nightmare. Again, I have to disassemble a bit of the machine, then try to peel off the used paper. It never comes off in one peel. Then it leaves gooey chunks of adhesive all over the metal disc. I have tried all sorts of solvents and never found one that really does a good job. As a result...I dont buy a lot of sandpaper. I use every little spot of it until I am essentially sanding on plain paper: about a 50,000 grit.
