Being Messy

Chaos

“noun

a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order.”

From time to time folks ask about my dust collection. I tell them I have about 6 months’ worth. A key component is a leaf blower, an 18” broom and a #10 scoop shovel. For safety’s sake I work as clean as possible and tidy up after myself as I go. I keep the hand tools I’m using in one area (read pile) until I shift gears for the next phase or until I change kinds of projects. I put things away at the end of each segment, usually. In between is a very different story.

I use different tools when I’m working on the big lathe to make Acorn lidded boxes out of walnut and maple, than when I’m working on the CNC to make Universal Setting Gauges out of sheet plastic. But, it gets messy in between. I often tease that in my shop sawdust isn’t a breathing hazard so much as a tripping hazard. I’m only half kidding. I know folks whose shop looks like they just built it but haven’t ever cut anything yet. Those shops are spotless without a speck of dust anywhere. I respect those efforts. We all have different levels of tolerance for chaos or seeming disorder. There really is a method to my madness.

The pilot organization system.

I worked for a fellow in business, before computers were everywhere, who introduced me to this system. The word isn’t “pilot” it is “pile it” for his system. He literally put certain types of paperwork in different piles ranging from “important and needs attention” to “I’m never going to look at this, it’s going into the trash shortly”. It actually works! In my world, I use small piles (drawers, boxes, bins) instead of having everything in its exact space. Part of this stems from an overabundance of material blessings and not having a space large enough to contain all of it. (Malachi 3:10) As long as I have a relatively small area to search for something, I seem to be able to find it efficiently. There is never enough shop time for meticulous organization in my world.

There is a delicate balance between messy but efficient and being slovenly. Our spouses sometimes abhor the dust, dirt and other messes we make with our hobby. Pray for tolerance and understanding from those we love. Woodworking and especially woodturning is a dusty messy hobby during certain phases. It isn’t for everybody, but I love it and am grateful for every particle. By the way just in case you really want to know: 2hp dust collector, cyclone, shop vacs (2), large ambient air cleaner, compressed air, leaf blowers (3), various brooms and dust pans plus #10 grain scoop shovel and three 90 gal trash cans. Because wherever you go, there you are.

Here is my inspiration for this week’s message:

Proverbs 14:4 JUB

4 Without oxen, the storehouse is clean, but by the strength of the ox there is abundance of bread.

Prov 24:30–34 KJV

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.