Stumbling at the Finish Line
“A race well run is almost done. With legs shaking and energy all but spent he stumbled at the finish line.” Two of the most important things most of us struggle with at the end of any lengthy project are patience and perseverance. You want to be done because you are tired and ready to move on. It seems like the project has dragged on forever and you just want it to be over. Take a deep breath, at least mentally, and realize that “Nobody will remember how fast you did the job, but everybody will remember how well you did the job.”
It is at this critical juncture when you are almost finished that the ultimate success of a project will be determined. You must take time to do the little finishing details which will lift your project out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary. In our instant microwave world where everything happens so quickly, it is easy to rush through the final steps of a project or just skip them all together.
Let’s take a large hollow form for example. You shaped the outside, you hollowed the inside and now the walls are painstakingly thin. It is sometimes difficult to understand that you are only just past the halfway mark. Proper sanding inside and out at slower speeds not skipping a grit is anything but exciting. Yet removing all of the sanding scratches at each step will make a huge difference in how this item is perceived. You must check and re-check using the brightest of lights so you don’t miss anything.
Will you slap on a few coats of oil after all of this hard work, or have you decided to apply a film finish of lacquer or poly? Even oil needs to be seasoned and multiple coats applied before giving it a gentle buffing. Did you miss sanding some areas which only show up when you apply the oil? Now you must go back and re-sand through the oil soaked wood and pay closer attention next time. Or, God forbid you didn’t see the scratches until you applied the first coat of polyurethane! You will be there all day sanding through the poly to get rid of scratches you missed earlier. With film finishes, they must be given time to cure before they can be rubbed out and buffed to the luster you need. To properly apply a lacquer finish often requires twenty or more coats with drying time between each new coat. Waiting for weeks while the lacquer cures is not an easy thing.
Paying attention to the little details at the finish line will go a long way toward setting your project apart from one rushed through the process only to appear as the coarse unfinished work of an amateur. Don’t stumble so close to the finish line because wherever you go, there you are.
Here is my inspiration for this message:
Psalm 90:4 MSG Patience! You've got all the time in the world - whether a thousand years or a day, it's all the same to you.
Acts 20:24 NIV However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Phil 3:14 NIV I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
This Week's Sale
CBN Grinding Wheels
Save $60 Per Wheel
Your choice 80 grit or 180 grit
New Video
Brand New Items - Platform
Set Up Blocks
Ever wonder how you could set up the platform to grind a perfect 50, 55 or 60 degree nose angle on your new bowl gouge? Setup blocks make it fast and easy. I've posted free downloadable plans on my website or get a set ready made from me for cheap. They are laser cut from ABS and are practically indestructible.
This Brand New 6 piece set is priced at $15.99 and will be listed later today (8-1-17) for sale at www.ronbrownsbest.com
Other Setup aids for your OneWay Wolverine Sharpening System
If you already own a Wolverine Sharpening System, I have just posted a short video on YouTube discussing various setup aids which make using your OneWay Wolverine sharpening jig, including the VariGrind 1 attachment easier and much faster to set up and use. These are exclusive designs from Ron Brown's Best, LLC. They will help to supercharge you sharpening and remove much of the mystery to sharpening your HSS turning tools.
https://youtu.be/Abif6M5t8wA
We will have a limited number of Amazing Doughnut Chucks™ for immediate delivery at SWAT Aug 25-27, 2017 so see us early. We sold out quickly at AAW in KC.
If you would like to pre-order your Amazing Doughnut Chuck™, or Amazing Off-Center Chuck™ for delivery at SWAT, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I'll have it waiting for you.
Click Here for more info on Amazing Doughnut Chuck™
Don't forget about. . .
Including Platform Setup Blocks. Free PDF.
Amazing Doughnut Chuck™ Instructions
ProGrind Instructions
We have bundled several of the most popular documents into one downloadable zip file for your convenience. Still no charge.