Pallet Repurposing Failure Celebration

1) Tell us about a time this past semester that you failed

2) Tell us what you learned from it.  

3) Reflect, in general, on what you think about failure. 

After the last Spring semester ended, I started collecting pristine pallets from work to build furniture and potentially make art from. I have experienced a LOT of failures surrounding the 3 completed projects I did. The first was a wine rack. The second was a shelf with hooks for my parent's outdoor shower, and the final was string art on a stained piece of pallet. 

One of the hardest parts of these projects was actually taking apart the pallets. Thankfully I had my boyfriend's shop and shop tools to use... but I still struggled with every method I tried- A) Using a hammer and the back of a framing (large) hammer to pry off pieces from the pallet B) a skill saw C) a reciprocating saw. They were all WAYYYY out of my strength league, but I would slowly get the pieces apart, ruining some along the way and gaining lots of sore muscles.

Once I'd pick a project and have the pieces I needed to use, I also learned how easy I is to 1) nail almost every nail in straight and then bend one so much it makes the hole ugly 2) ruin a few tiny (3/64ths? 1/8th? I forget) drill bits when trying to pre-drill holes for nails so they'll go in straight. 

THEN there was the struggle with mosquitos the whole time. I don't know why I didn't just embrace the bug spray every time I went in the shop, but I should have because nothing would make me call it quits quicker than getting >2 mosquito bites. The shop fan isn't enough to keep those 'squitos away from MY O- blood!

Finally, I had a lot of fun with the wood stain and polyurethane coats, but once again, I just never learned to wear those gloves in the first place. I'd always end up with the stuff all over my hands and fingernails. My boyfriend offered the gloves multiple times, but I guess I just didn't like them even though they would have saved me so much trouble. Sometimes, I'd only wear one, then get the other hand dirty. Other times, I'd take them off and keep working and get dirty. 

I learned a LOT. I obviously learned some basics about working with power tools, what to do and a lot of corrections about what not to do. Unfortunately, I did also learn that I get upset and hard headed extremely easily when Chad would try to correct me. I don't usually have that issue at work, but I remember being that way when I lived with my parents, and apparently now with Chad. I need to take a chill pill and listened to him since he is experienced and knows what he's talking about. I ruined some reciprocating saw blades - but at least they were free- but I would make excuses about why I had bent the blade, when really I just wasn't being conscious enough of the angles I was pushing it. I learned that I have a LONG way to go before I am confident, efficient, or even at all good at making furniture from wood. I did also see that once I have a direction with my project, I will see it through... SLOWLY. 

I also learned that not being able to talk while working in the shop was very obnoxious to me. When Chad would put on the radio I would feel upset and restricted because he couldn't hear me if I wanted to say something. I have the same issue at work with my coworker who listens to a podcast and I get annoyed because I always have to repeat what I say to him.

I chalk most failures up to the learning curve of life. I think it enables me to check my heart at times, because otherwise I wouldn't be so abruptly called to question myself. Failing means I'm doing something wrong, and it's honestly good to be humbled in that way. While it can be frustrating when you realize something isn't as easy as you thought, it doesn't mean it cant be done-- It means you'll be that much more impressed when someone you know is able to help you and show you the right way. I respect the hell out of my boyfriend for knowing what he knows, and being so competent with his hands.

Failure can also sometimes be a closed door. Sometimes you AREN'T meant to keep pushing for something. Maybe soon I'll be doing something else with my time, and this pallet thing will be something that I don't return to; that's totally fine. I already thought that way before this class, and my thinking hasn't really changed.