THOU SHALT / THOU SHALT NOT

[paulw]

While consturcting a temporary greenhouse, I came up with a list of general commandments
1) Thou shlat draw out a plan prior to starting project.
2) Thou shalt have a materials list.
3) Thou shalt use a square and a level.
4) Thou must accept thine eyes are not calibrated in degrees, nor in 1/16th of an inch increments.
5) Thou cannot have to many clamps when working solo.
6) Thou needest more then one drill bit.
7) Thou shalt start with fully charged batteries for all cordless tools.
Thou shalt remember all things must have a triangle for strength.
9) Thou shalt not by twisted lumber because it's cheap.
10) Thou shalt have a clear flat area to work in.

The greenhouse built in violation of these commandments may be functional, but ugly. ( This project was required since the christmas pointsetta from 2 years ago is now a monster 6 feet high and four feet wide and won't fit through the door.)

Feel free to add commandments.

[HAC]

"Measure thrice, cut once"

Cheers
Harold

[Derranged-Gadgeteer]

If possible by the largest stretch of the imagination, thou shalt drill holes in pieces which must line up by stacking said pieces in their final position and drilling once through all.

On that note:
Thou shalt only attempt to drill precisely positioned holes with a drill press.

Thou shalt only use glue as a last resort, when all other metods of attachment are infeasable, or have failed.

that's all I have.  But I do object to the forbiddance of 1/16" calibration of the eyeball.  I can measure by eye 1/16, 1/8, and to a lesser extent, 1/4 and 1/2"  The larger the interval, the harder to measure.

[RowanAmeth]

Thou shalt not use an improper tool for the job that hath been laid out for thee.

In other words, just because the screwdriver bit CAN fit into the power drill, doesn't mean it'll necessarily function as such. Doesn't mean it WON'T, either, but I learned the hard way that they make the two separate tools for a reason. The screw bit into the wood, and went in about 1/4", but after that the drill didn't have the torque to finish the job. Though that could've been because it was a cordless drill, which I have an irrational hatred for. Give me a ridiculously long extension cord any day.

As an addendum to the aforementioned commandment: Thou mayest use an improper tool if thou art certain of its usefulness in such a task, and thou lackest the proper tool, and thou hast not the time nor the resources to procure such an item.

Don't have a leather punch to make a new hole for your dog's collar? Go ahead and use the Dremel, but be prepared to inhale leather dust and smell burned leather. Worked like a charm, though, and the same trick worked for making holes to fit grommets for the armor-grade leather waist cincher I made back in the spring (planning on making a new one, possibly with buckles and brass trim, which I'll hopefully have a camera for so I can make a post on it)

[Marrock]

Thou shalt not, ever, under any circumstances, loan out tools to anyone unless collateral is left to ensure their return.

I once made a friend leave his shoes behind when he wanted to borrow a ¼" drive socket wrench set... I got it back.

[Derranged-Gadgeteer]

In other words, just because the screwdriver bit CAN fit into the power drill, doesn't mean it'll necessarily function as such. Doesn't mean it WON'T, either, but I learned the hard way that they make the two separate tools for a reason.

Here, I'll take a line from my auto shop teacher and make it a commandment.

Thou shalt always remember: Power tools are for fabrication, not assembly.

[The_Marquis_De_Twizz]

Majority of the reason for making two seperate tools is so they can fool you in to buying more from them.

Alright, drill bits, sockets, screwdrivers that fit, etc.... do need to be the right one for the job.
Otherwise, a tool is as useful as you make it.
Knives for instance, useful for, cutting, carving, marking/scoring, if you're pushed they're a nice screwdriver, the list goes on.

Hand tools are the most versatile things on the planet.

[von Adler]

Thou shalt always use protective gear, especially when working with power tools, as shrapnel and fine dust often offend the unwary.

[helios]

Thou shalt not break for a cup of tea, and then not get back to it.

[Dessgeega]

Thou might educate by posting pictures of said greenhouse! 

[JingleJoe]

"Measure thrice, cut once"

Cheers
Harold

Brailliant!
Another corker Harold

[Dr. Oliver Cross]

Thou shalt always, ALWAYS, prepare for Murphy.

[Emmeline X]

Thou shalt not spend the whole day stroking your power tools in a sensual manner when you should be getting on with the job in hand 

[RowanAmeth]

Majority of the reason for making two seperate tools is so they can fool you in to buying more from them.

Alright, drill bits, sockets, screwdrivers that fit, etc.... do need to be the right one for the job.
Otherwise, a tool is as useful as you make it.
Knives for instance, useful for, cutting, carving, marking/scoring, if you're pushed they're a nice screwdriver, the list goes on.

Hand tools are the most versatile things on the planet.

Oh, believe me, I'm quite familiar with tool repurposing, hence why I even attempted the drilldriver maneuver in the first place. It just didn't work out in that case. My commandment still stands, though, as there are plenty of dangerous/unfeasible substitutions out there (many of which I've done, to mixed and often hilarious results).

[Pluto]

Thou shalt not spend the whole day stroking your power tools in a sensual manner when you should be getting on with the job in hand 

That mylady could be interpreted vey wrongly.

Thou shalt finish the job!

[SteamKit]

Thou shalt read the damned instructions.

Thou shalt count thine nuts, bolts, screws, lags, and washers before beginning.

-Kit

[RowanAmeth]

Thou shalt read the damned instructions.

Thou shalt count thine nuts, bolts, screws, lags, and washers before beginning.

-Kit

Amen. This doesn't apply to scratchbuilding, of course, though you should have an idea of what you're getting into either way. There's nothing worse than starting a project, only to stop halfway through when you realize you're missing a vital piece, or you did something in the wrong order and have to disassemble to put it right.

[Pluto]

Thou shalt read the damned instructions.

Thou shalt count thine nuts, bolts, screws, lags, and washers before beginning.

-Kit

And thou shalt sort out thine nuts, bolts, screws, lags, and washers before beginning.

[SteamKit]

What always seems to get me is when they short you a washer or something. It's always one part, and it's always then an hour looking through the spares bin to try and find something that'll be a good enough replacement.

-Kit

[JingleJoe]

Thou shalt not spend the whole day stroking your power tools in a sensual manner when you should be getting on with the job in hand 

Oh no I beg to differ, you can do that

[James Harrison]

Thou must keep in mind that shouting or swearing when thou is faced with difficulty will not get the job done quicker. 

[Emmeline X]

Thou shalt not spend the whole day stroking your power tools in a sensual manner when you should be getting on with the job in hand 

Oh no I beg to differ, you can do that

I have a power tool fetish that borders on the dangerous 

[Doc Rivets]

Thou shalt not spend the whole day stroking your power tools in a sensual manner when you should be getting on with the job in hand 

That depends on their attachments, surely?

Doc

[jringling]

If thou can do it thyself, thy must.... no contracting unto others.

[Sir Nikolas Vendigroth]

Thou shalt not loan thy knife unto one who doesn't understand that the blade you spent 30 minutes sharpening to the point at which it can shave hairs off ones legs, isn't to be used to scrape crusty chewing gum off the concrete flagstones.