What makes a good project come to life? Endless tools? The latest gadgets? Or is it perhaps the tradesmen with vast experience and knowledge?
At times I find myself glancing at “fun fancy” tools online or browsing at the local stores. Occasionally I think to myself “oh that’s cool” or “that’d be awesome to have that in the workshop”. I’m sure many craftsman, tradesman and other skill workers find themselves doing something similar. “Window shopping” as I believe it’s called.
Is it really the tools though that make for epic projects or amazing creations? Well…sometimes…but I more often find it’s the person using the tools that comes up with those killer creations.
There’s a simple saying that goes something like this – “you’re not paying me for the time it took to do a job, you’re paying me for the experience I have”. Applying this to tools can give you some fresh perspective. What does it matter if you have a $50, $150 or $750 jigsaw if you don’t know how to use one? If you’re generic table saw cuts perfectly straight edges that are square – what difference does the brand name of it matter?
I think my point with this shorter and simple entry is that focusing too much on things you might not have obtained yet (tool wise) can distract you from honing your skills as a craftsman. We at times loose sight of what’s important in an industry like this. Tools can be stolen, lost, destroyed or damaged. Your learned and engrained skills and craftsmanship can’t be.
Invest in yourself, your knowledge and your experience first and the ‘fancy’ tools, gadgets and gizmos will come along the way for you.