Obsessive

J

John Yeackley

Joined
Oct 13, 1999
Messages
175
Since this is the shop talk forum, I had to get this off my chest.

Every year between Christmas and the new year my business slows down enough to plan a couple shop improvement projects. One project that I'm in the middle of as I type, is a simple 3' x 7' work bench. Really straight forward-- a few sheets of 3/4" mdf a few stacks of drawers, some shelves, some doors, just something practical and workable right?

BUT NOOOO !!!!!!!
Every time I start a project like this (I'm not sure when it hits me) it turns in to a work of art.

I had to stop and re-think this thing, so here I am. This is theropy for me. Someone please tell me it will pass. I'm sure I'm not the only one with this obsession.

Well, I neeeeeeed to go work on it some more. Please help!!!

John Yeackley


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http://www.toptexknives.com/yeackley.htm My contribution to the world of knife fanatics.

"Evolution of a Maker"
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=216199
 
John, how about some nice inlays in the top.
biggrin.gif
:lol

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Sola Fide
 
Okay, I give -- where's the photo? Checked the links in John's signature with extreme pleasure, but didn't find the bench. And I want to!

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Dave Larsen
--
Love is said to be blind, but I know lots of fellows who can see twice as much in their sweethearts as I can.
-Josh Billings
 
John,

Don't worry, you are NOT alone in your O.C. (Obssessive Compulsive) behavior.
smile.gif


There are two ways to look at it; one viewpoint is that you are merely taking your time and you want EVERY project (including the Bench) to be the best it can be. That CAN be a positive thing. But it can also be an avenue that leads you back to the Drawing Board again and again to make it "just a little better"! You rationalize this by saying "I'm already doing THIS so if I took just a little more time and did THAT it would be just about perfect". Well, unfortunately projects that fall into this category are never as perfect as what we had hoped they would be.

The other way to view this project is to say that your bench will not be Sold to anyone else, so you alone will be looking at it and using it. The Bench only really needs to perform one or two functions. You're initial design would be completed faster allowing you to move on and be Obssessive about a NEW project! I think that is the ticket, find a new project and start thinking and planning on it and you will feel a greater calm about going ahead with the original bench design.

The sad fact is that people like us, when we take that extra time on each and every project, are doomed to be dissappointed. For example, a buddy of yours might come over and the first thing you want to do is show him your new Ultra-Mega Work Bench. You whip out the Blueprints, you point out the intricate inlay of exotic wood on the countertop, you show him the dovetailed drawers, you reveal the Hidden Pigeonhole areas you made for your valuable tools, all this and he says..............."Yeah, that looks great".."Hey did you see that Game last night"?
smile.gif



So take heart, you are not alone. But on the bright side, if I ever need a knife display I KNOW I will be calling on you, because together I bet we can revise and revise a design until it's "just about perfect". LOL




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Marine Sniper Motto:
There's no use Running, you'll only Die Tired!
 
Don't fight it. It just has to run it's course. I was carpenter before going full time in knifemaking and I specialized in custom interior trim and cabinets. Now my shop is just functional heavy duty stuff. I think I got all the gingerbread work out of my system finally.
smile.gif


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http://www.livelyknives.com
 
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