Lack of the knack

How good are you at doing something? Let’s find out.

How good are you at doing something? Let’s find out.

There are three ways to judge the quality of how you do something:

• Have a natural talent for a skill from the start

• Have no natural talent for a skill, but through education and practice become good at it

• Have no ability whatsoever for something, no matter how much you try

The first is rare, but we all know someone who can just pick up a pencil and draw a perfect sketch without really even trying, or someone with such perfect spatial awareness that with a single glance at a room they can design a perfect décor. I have a couple innate talents, some related to woodworking, some not. I’ve just always had a knack for doing these things, and with use and practice over the years have gotten even better.

The second is extremely common; in fact, it’s the normal way we all learn. I’ve also accomplished a number of these, but like everyone else I have to use these skills regularly to stay good at them.

The third isn’t quite as common, but it’s unfortunate when a particular skill is a necessary part of what you want to do, either as a vocation or a desirable pursuit. Yeah, I have a couple of these, too.

I’ve mentioned hand-cutting dovetails before, and how I’m terrible at it. No matter how much I learn or practice, I’ll never be comfortable or proficient doing it. I can make acceptable dovetails, but it takes me 10 times longer than it does someone else. (It also takes lots of sanding and cosmetic attention, too.)

As I wrap up my new workshop, I reluctantly add drywall plastering to the list of things I’ll never be proficient at. It’s simpler than dovetails, but no matter how many years I’ve been doing it I just don’t have the knack. Sure, if I take long enough and do enough sanding, the final project will look almost professional.

But, like hand-cut dovetails, I could never do it without a lot of time, and even more sandpaper.

A.J.

 A.J. Hamler is the former editor of Woodshop News and Woodcraft Magazine. He's currently a freelance woodworking writer/editor, which is another way of stating self-employed. When he's not writing or in the shop, he enjoys science fiction, gourmet cooking and Civil War reenacting, but not at the same time.