FAQ - The Crafted Maker

Here are the answers to frequently asked questions here at The Crafted Maker. If you don’t see the question you want to ask, you can send me a message through the contact page or at email me at [email protected].

WHAT ARE THE TOOLS YOU WOULD RECOMMEND FOR BEGINNERS?

That is an easy one! The tools I use for every build are a miter saw, a drill/driver, and a sander. These tools will get you started and you can build up your tools as you need them.

WHAT PROGRAM DO YOU USE TO MAKE FURNITURE PLANS?

I use a program called Sketchup. It is a great free program to use when designing plans. It requires some learning, but it is a user-friendly program you can learn as you use it.

WHERE DO YOU WORK ON YOUR PROJECTS?

Currently I am working in my garage. It is a one car garage, so there is not a lot of room, but you have to work with what you have. I plan on enclosing a carport on my property and converting that into a workshop in the future. That will be an exciting project!

WHAT ARE SOME PROJECTS FOR A BEGINNER TO START WITH?

One of my most popular and simple projects for beginners is the $25 Console Table. This is built out of dimensional lumber with few cuts and simple pocket hole joinery. Another project would be any of the Scrappy Saturday projects. I keep those projects simple and use only a few tools on each.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY FORMAL TRAINING IN WOODWORKING OR HOME IMPROVEMENT?

The answer to both is no. I like to learn as I go and figure out what I don’t know. Sometimes that’s fun and other times it can be frustrating, but as long as it works out in the end, it’s fine. As weird as this may seem to some, when it comes to home improvement, I really enjoy the physical and dirty side of things, especially demolition. Many of the renovation jobs I have done were figured out as I went. Once you do something like install tile, for instance, a couple of times, you get the hang of it.

WHY WRITE A BLOG AND GIVE AWAY MOST OF THE PLANS FOR FREE?

I started writing a blog (Sawdust to Sequins at first) as a way to inspire people and show my readers that DIY and home improvement doesn’t have to be a scary thing. I purchased my first home when I was 21 years old and didn’t have extra money to furnish the house or even call an electrician to change out lights. It is many, many years later now and I want to pass on what I have learned so someone else can benefit from it. You don’t need a lot of money or a degree in home improvement to love the home you live in, just a few basics skills and the will to complete the project.