Sanding is where the project stops being lumber and starts being furniture. Clamps are the currency of the shop, and this build cost four of them simultaneously.

Clamps are the currency of the shop, and this build cost four of them simultaneously. The wiring is simple, labeled, and photographed before the panel went on. The dowel jig took a weekend, minus the two evenings spent looking for the 4mm bit. Sanding is where the project stops being lumber and starts being furniture. Finished at 9 p.m. on Sunday, photographed badly, used daily since. Clamps are the currency of the shop, and this build cost four of them simultaneously.

The workbench took a weekend, minus the two evenings spent looking for the 4mm bit. I built a jig for one cut and used it eleven times; jigs are promises to your future self. The balcony version survives wind because of one extra bracket nobody will ever see. Measure twice is fine; the real skill is noticing the tape measure's hook has play. Finished at 9 p.m. on Sunday, photographed badly, used daily since.

The wiring is simple, labeled, and photographed before the panel went on. The first version was ordinary; the second taught the lesson; the third is standing in the corner now. Every fix that involves a multimeter starts with 'let's see what we actually have'. Every fix that involves a multimeter starts with 'let's see what we actually have'. The wiring is simple, labeled, and photographed before the panel went on. Everything was cut from plywood offcuts, which kept the stakes pleasantly low.

A careful finish hides a multitude of honest joinery. I overdrilled exactly one hole, and it became a 'ventilation feature'. Clamps are the currency of the shop, and this build cost four of them simultaneously. I built a jig for one cut and used it eleven times; jigs are promises to your future self. Every fix that involves a multimeter starts with 'let's see what we actually have'.