Never give up!

@TheHorse (218891)

Walnut Creek, California

February 21, 2016 3:12pm CST

A few posts ago, I talked about a vintage loudspeaker bottom that I thought might be beyond my capabilities as a woodworker. A bunch of veneer was missing, most of what was still there was peeling, and there water water damage to all of the veneer, making me wonder if I could get to the pretty wood underneath. Anna (@LadyDuck) and others said "Never give up," and so I kept plugging. I glued down the peeling veneer, replaced the missing veneer, and kept sanding until I found wood without water damage in the old veneer. It was a delicate balancing act, because the veneer is actually only about 1/32" thick. Too much sanding, and I'm through to the particle board beneath. I'll attach a picture of the end result. It's not perfect, but it should be good enough. If you have a project that might be "bigger than you," do you back off? Ir do you give it a go"?

23 people like this

20 responses

@LadyDuck (471547)

• Switzerland

22 Feb 16

You did a great job, it looks good enough to me. I usually do not back off, I give the job a go anyway. At worst, I fail.

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@LadyDuck (471547)

• Switzerland

22 Feb 16

@TheHorse You are so right, even a failure can be useful if this helps to learn.

@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Feb 16

I try to use failures as a "learning experience."

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@celticeagle (167025)

• Boise, Idaho

21 Feb 16

It depends on my mood. If I am feeling down and not strong I let it go, but, if I am feeling pretty good I will usually give it a go.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Feb 16

I kind of ebbs and flows. Sometimes I'll get very little done and then suddenly I turn into a fairly confident "monster."

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@celticeagle (167025)

• Boise, Idaho

22 Feb 16

@TheHorse ....So, sort of a bi-polar either end of the spectrum sort of thing.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Feb 16

@celticeagle Something like that, though I'm not bi-polar. Not sure why my motivation ebbs and flows so much, though. Sometimes, once I start something, I get really into it.

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@inertia4 (27960)

• United States

22 Feb 16

I hear that. Giving up will just put it on the back burner and chances are it will never get done. But, sometimes we have to take a break from it before we get frustrated with it. So taking your time will be the right move.

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@inertia4 (27960)

• United States

22 Feb 16

@TheHorse Cool. That is great. We need to take our time with things sometimes. Rushing will get us nowhere. I am sure you will get it done and it will look awesome.

@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Feb 16

I got the hardest surface done first, so I go into "meditation" mode after that. But I DID take my time on that difficult surface.

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@DWDavis (25805)

• United States

21 Feb 16

Since my projects consist of stories or books I'm writing, when they get bigger than me I just write them down to size,

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@DWDavis (25805)

• United States

21 Feb 16

@TheHorse Sometimes the story gets shortened, and sometimes I simplify the story line when it becomes too complex and I worry the reader will grow frustrated with trying to follow too may threads.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Feb 16

Do you mean you make the project smaller than it was going to be? Hemingway rather than Tolstoy?

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Feb 16

@DWDavis Got it. I've never tried to write anything longer than a short story. They're (for me) easier to manage.

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ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12074)

• United States

22 Feb 16

I cannot remember ever giving up. I'm too stubborn.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Feb 16

@ElizabethWallace "Let's call the calling off off..." --Louis and Ella

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Feb 16

I've never considered myself stubborn. But I think "persistent" would describe me.

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ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12074)

• United States

23 Feb 16

@TheHorse Tomato, tomahto.

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@Scindhia (1906)

• India

22 Feb 16

Its better to have tried and lost than never to have tried it at all. This is Tennyson's love quote tweaked to suit my motto. I don't like having regrets.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Feb 16

I recognized the "birrowed" quotation, but didn't know it was from Tennyson.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Feb 16

@Scindhia I'll have to check it out. I don't think I've read that poem.

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@Scindhia (1906)

• India

22 Feb 16

@TheHorse Its from the famous poem 'In memoriam'.

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@vandana7 (100288)

• India

23 Feb 16

Oh good. :) As to me giving up...I defer my plans...quite often I have no control and fighting for control is not ok with me.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

6 Apr 16

I like working on speakers because my success is dependent on me alone.

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@aju007 (1460)

• Thiruvananthapuram, India

25 Feb 16

Thats great news. I saw your other post about it and Im glad youvare succesful with it. I like taking risks so yes, I'll give it a shot

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Feb 16

The worst that can happen is you fail, learn something and start from scratch, picking up a new skill along the way. Unless it's an experimental parachute or something.

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39509)

• United States

22 Feb 16

kudos to ya fer stickin' with it! i think it turned out quite well. i'm a give it all i got sorta gal myself. i've'n ol' buffet that suffered a similar fate. is sufferin' from water damage 'n lost veneer 'cross its front 'n sides. i'm hopin' to be able to tackle such this summer. still can't handle the fumes 'n dust't the moment 'n i know that glue'd make me sicker'n anythin' so've refrained from tacklin' it.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

23 Feb 16

Yeah, the sawdust does tend to give me a headache when I work inside. Hope you get to it this Summer.

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@sueznewz2 (10409)

• Alicante, Spain

22 Feb 16

looks like its working...

I bet you're glad you persisted....

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Feb 16

I really am. That surface took a few days to complete, but it was worth it, even if it's not perfect

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@PainsOnSlate (21852)

• Canada

22 Feb 16

I love working with wood so I would give it a try, if I failed to improve it I would just get rid of it by donating it to Good Will.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Feb 16

This pair of speakers belongs to someone else, so donating it to Goodwill woundn't be such a good idea (smiley face emoticon). But that would be the way to go in some cases!

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@shshiju (10342)

• Cochin, India

22 Feb 16

If I am there Never give up is OK but I will take enough breaks Lol

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

22 Feb 16

Oh, I take breaks. They're necessary.

@Ladypeace (2028)

• Singapore

22 Feb 16

I'm glad you didn't give up on the vintage speaker despite the challenges. It's turning out well. I'll definitely face the challenge head on if it's worthwhile.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

6 Apr 16

I'm glad I accepted the challenge. The result was better than anyone expected.

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@teamfreak16 (43418)

• Denver, Colorado

21 Feb 16

I'm sure I'd get frustrated and quit. I'm not exactly handy.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Feb 16

This was a bit of a challenge. But I'm glad I gave it a shot.

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@marsha32 (6631)

• United States

31 May 16

procrastination will get me every time....I should just do it

@Teep11 (7673)

• United States

21 Feb 16

Keep going. Even if there's a setback with the project. It deserves to be pursued so given up isn't an option.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Feb 16

It's easy going from here.

@amadeo (111938)

• United States

21 Feb 16

stopping by to see what your up to.You got the spirit.Never give up.I gave up a long time ago.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Feb 16

Well then, fire up! Sometimes I'm a sloth, or want to be a sloth. But then I get fired up again.

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

21 Feb 16

yay, glad it was saved!

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Feb 16

It's far from perfect, but it's good enough for a bottom.

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@JudyEv (340087)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Feb 16

Looks like you've done a neat job on this considering how it started out.

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Feb 16

Thanks. I just couldn't get near "perfection" with this surface, but it's a bottom, so I'll be satisfied with it. Had it been a top. I might have started researching how to do a whole surface.

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•

21 Feb 16

Looks great! We plan to sand down and paint our fire place next weekend! I am not looking forward to it! We shall give it a go though and if it doesn't work out, we can always hire a professional!

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@TheHorse (218891)

• Walnut Creek, California

21 Feb 16

I hope it works out well. What grit of sandpaper will you be using for the sanding part? Will you be using a power sander?