On the woodworking side I am launching the first of a continuing series on related topics entitled Does It Matter? This was a constant question put to us by Anselm Fraser at the Chippendale International School of Furniture.
Does it matter is a question I am constantly asking myself and students here at the school. It's easy to get caught up in the complexities of a project once you get started. Then before you know it those blinders start sneaking around the side of your head until you become fixated. That's the perfect time to take a break and ask the question, does it matter? Are you sweating over some complicated joinery work that will never be seen when the piece is done? What are the other possibilities for attachments? Or, have you ever got caught up making a free standing piece of furniture and the size changes because a stretcher, apron or leg was cut a half inch shorter than the rest? It happened to me once when making a hall table from expensive wood. Do you scrap the whole thing or is it time to ask the question, does it matter?
Earlier this summer I was purchasing materials for an up coming class. While I was selecting timber I came across two beautifully grained cherry boards 20 inches wide. They were perfect for a bed frame I had to make. When I got them back to the shop and began cleaning them up the boards were uniquely beautiful. I had a design and set about milling the legs and rails. However, as I worked away I knew full well the future head and foot boards would never fit through some of the machines we have. This is a woodworker's lament. We'll never have every tool to do the job.
What to do? Do I rip the boards down, 4 square them and glue the up? The boards were flat sawn. Do I re-size them and reverse the boards for stability? What about matching the grain after milling? Does It Matter? With consistent straight grained wood you can rip it down on the table saw and do a good job matching grain. But think again when it come it inconsistent graining where it twists and turns at every degree and angle. The saw kerf from the table saw or even a band saw make it nearly impossible to re-align the grain.
So, does it matter? Well, sometime yes and sometimes no. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. What you want the piece to show. I the case above I asked my self, does it matter and then reached for the hand planes.
What do you think? Does it Matter?
Kip Christie
