I’ve been working on something I’ve wanted to build for a long time: a way for people to develop practical skills and learn to make things with their own hands. Fabricator’s Field Guide is about learning by doing. Each project is designed to help you build real skills, understand the process, and gain the confidence to take on more ambitious projects. You don’t need prior woodworking experience or your own tools. Module 1 provides the materials and essential tools, along with detailed instructions and instructional videos to guide you through building a simple cedar box from start to finish. I’m putting the finishing touches on the first project now. If you’d like to be among the first to purchase it when it’s ready, you can join the waitlist below… https://fabricatorsfieldguide.com/guided-fabrication-program/ #FabricatorsFieldGuide #grownostr

One of the most useful things a child can learn from building something… Is that problems are often solvable. A piece doesn’t fit. A measurement is wrong. Something isn’t straight. You don’t necessarily have to abandon the project. You can investigate, adjust, and try again. That experience builds practical problem-solving skills, but it also teaches a broader lesson… That a mistake doesn’t have to be the end of the story. #FabricatorsFieldGuide #grownostr #education

Craftsmanship is rarely fast… This is something that I am alway having to relearn.

I finished the first prototype of my beginner woodworking learning module, a project that teaches measuring, sawing, fitting, sanding, and assembly by building a small cedar box. Now I’m back at the bench with the completed project beside me, working through the manual one operation at a time. It’s amazing how many little improvements you find once you can compare the written instructions to an actual build. The prototype teaches you how to build the project. Going back through the manual teaches me how to teach it.

Good glue-ups don't come from cranking down on the clamps... Clamps are there for control, alignment, and holding the joint together, not brute force. In this video, I walk through the basics of choosing the right clamp, using the right amount of pressure, and avoiding a few common beginner mistakes. #grownostr #woodworking #DIY

Quality work takes the time it takes…

Happy Friday!!! I have just received the first part of the linseed oil/pine tar treatment for the shop cedar siding… I will hopefully apply it to one or two sides this weekend. It is 1:1:1 parts boiled linseed oil, pine tar, and mineral spirits. I will end up applying two coats. Should last longer and look better than paint. What do you have planned this weekend? #asknostr #grownostr #diy

I’ve been working on a hands-on shop class… Focused on building real skills with tools, measurement, and fabrication. It’s still coming together, but if you want to follow along or get in early, here’s the waitlist. https://fabricatorsfieldguide.com/guided-fabrication-program/

Had a conversation with a CNC repair technician working on one of our very specialized machines. I mentioned I’ve been building a class around basic shop skills… tools, measurement, and problem solving. He said the older experienced guys are leaving his company, and there’s no one there to teach this kind of work anymore. It made me realize there is a real shortage of places where you can learn the practical skills this kind of work depends on. Curious how many people have run into that in their field? #asknostr #grownostr

So, if capital gains tax is a tax on your fiat currency gains on your investment… And inflation causes all prices to rise… including your investment… Then, our government is taxing us on their devaluation of the currency… Sounds about right…

I am working on an essential tools list for beginners… One of the tools I suggest is a pair of groove joint pliers. However, I really think the Knipex Cobra Plier looks to be superior. Does anyone have experience with this brand? I may have to test one! #asknostr #grownostr #tools

A tape measure works well for rough measurements, but it’s limited by the divisions printed on the tape. Most tapes only go down to a thirty second of an inch, which means anything smaller requires estimating between the lines. Calipers remove that guesswork by giving you a direct reading of the measurement.

A simple shop tool that’s easy to overlook… but once you start using it, it changes how you measure things. This week’s video is a beginner’s introduction to calipers and the different ways they can measure parts in the shop. How to Use Calipers (Beginner’s Guide)

Been heads-down the past few weeks building something… I’ve been teaching maker skills on YouTube for 2 years now… 80+ videos, 1200+ subscribers, but it’s all been scattered. So I’m creating a structured curriculum. Hand tools → woodworking → metalworking → CAD → designing for manufacturing. The full path from zero to making real things... More soon. Cheers!

TOOL TIP TUESDAY: The combination disc/belt sander is one of those tools you don’t think about much until you really need it. Then it becomes the hero of the shop! It handles quick miter touch-ups, rough sharpening on knives or chisels, and freehand shaping on wood handles. Not flashy, rarely talked about, but incredibly handy when the moment hits. #Woodworking #DIY #ToolTipTuesday #FabricatorsFieldGuide #grownostr

I’ve been slowly building an e-book since the summer, and I made some great progress on it this weekend. It’s now sitting at about 40 pages. It’s a beginner-friendly guide to the main woodworking machines I use in my own shop, written from my real experience. Every tool in the book is one I actually own and use, and the photos are all from my shop. The goal is to help new woodworkers figure out which machines really matter and how to build a capable home shop without wasting money. Getting close to wrapping up the draft. More updates soon… #woodworking #diy #grownostr

A lot of people never got the chance to take a real shop class. To learn how to use tools, work with wood, or fix things confidently. I would like to put together some small, hands-on Zoom classes to bring that kind of learning back. The idea is to help people feel capable again, whether that’s an adult who wants to build something real or a homeschool parent who wants their kids to learn practical skills alongside academics. Here are the three ideas I’m testing: A) Adult shop class: learn tools, materials, and small projects that build skill and confidence. B) Homeschool shop curriculum: a hands-on series that covers woodworking and tool use safely at home. C) Pre-engineering STEM class: practical skills that connect to science and design thinking. (The stuff they don’t teach you in engineering school) Which one would you or your family be most interested in? Reply A, B, or C, or share your thoughts below. 👇 #grownostr #asknostr

Got a great reply on my last post… someone said their kids are carving wood and totally stoked about it. That’s what learning should feel like. Somewhere along the way, we replaced curiosity with worksheets. What’s one project or skill you think every kid should experience before they graduate? What do you think? Comment below.👇 #asknostr #grownostr #diy

Lasers on woodworking tools? It’s a gimmick, to upsell the tool. I have yet to see a laser on a tool that really helps… Then they go out a year later. Do you like lasers on tools? Comment below 👇 #woodworking #grownostr