The Side Table

I really got the bug at this point, and knew that woodworking was something I would be able to really pick up as a regular hobby. What I needed at this point was guidance. I needed a bit of training so that I could not only follow build plans, but use equipment correctly.

I saw an advertisement on Facebook for Steve Ramsey's Weekend Woodworker online course. It was a bit pricey and the conversion to Canadian Dollars didn't help, but it included access to a lot of other build plans that I was interested in. So I asked the boss and we agreed I should do it. She has always let me buy things for my hobbies. For woodworking, she has encouraged me to buy any tools I needed. I signed up and watched the videos I had access to (released one week at a time).

The first project was the Basic Mobile Workbench, which I didn't need. The next on the project list was the California Casual Side table. I didn't need it inside the house, so the intention was to make it for my wife to have in the backyard. She often would sit back there, staring at her flower garden and watching the visiting birds. She needed a table by her side.

To help me complete this, I bought a mitre saw. The Maximum 10" sliding compound mitre saw from Lowes. It allowed me to cut multiple boards the same length - which was a necessity for this project. I also bought a Milwaukee cordless drill. I never thought I would like a cordless drill because of the battery dying frequently, as was the case with a crappy Black and Decker drill/driver I had in the past. This was not the case for this Milwaukee. It is excellent.

I have to say, the online course is excellent. All the teaching is clear and well paced. Steve is an excellent teacher and knows wood working well. I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of starting this hobby. The online Facebook group for the people who have signed up for his courses is excellent. Very helpful group of people.

As for the table, it introduced some interesting concepts and techniques. I finished it with some exterior grade paint, with the colours chosen by my wife. She wanted a splash of colour in the backyard, so she chose very bold colours. Very. Bold. Colours.

Completed in September, 2020.