Practical answers, built from actual work.
Every piece here starts with a real question and ends with something you can use. No filler. Read the essays, then decide what comes next.
WHAT YOU'LL FIND HERE
Learn From the Decisions Behind the Work
PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT
Learning to assess what is really in front of you, recognize risk, weigh the options, and decide what the situation actually requires.
WORKSHOP PRINCIPLES
Simple principles drawn from real experience—ideas that help guide preparation, observation, communication, judgment, and responsibility on the job.
WHAT I USE & WHY
A practical look at the products, materials, tools, and methods Dave chooses—and, more importantly, the reasoning behind those choices.
WHAT I DON'T DO & WHY
Professional judgment also means knowing your limits—when a task belongs to another trade, when a method is inappropriate, and when the right decision is to step away.
ADAPTING TO THE SITUATION
Good work is rarely about repeating one fixed method. It means adjusting your approach to the material, environment, risk, equipment, and circumstances in front of you.
LESSONS EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME
Some lessons come from success. Others come from mistakes, close calls, unexpected problems, and situations that force you to think differently the next time.
