Waiting for the Glue to Dry

This morning I was putting a frame together for one of you good folks. This particular style of frame required that I glue and nail the corners together as opposed to using the underpinner which is quicker. In either case, I use glue, which actually provides a more secure bond than just nailing or using the underpinner without glue, but that’s more information than most of you really need.


In any case, when I do it the old fashioned way, with glue and nails, I join one corner at a time and I like to let the glue dry a bit and set up before I switch to the next corner. This amounts to about 15 minutes per corner. Do the math. Four corners at 15 minutes each leaves me with an hour, or so, before I can move on. Usually during this time I have other things to do so it isn’t actually “wasted” time as such.

This morning however, I needed the workbench that the vise and frame were occupying, for another project, so I decided to go to the computer and start this column while I waited. That idea was short lived, however as Vinnie, you folks know Vinnie, was curled up in my chair sound asleep. I didn’t have the heart to disturb him so I decided that I would perch myself on the director’s chair behind my framing design counter and engage in some quality “thinking” time. That chair is at the right height for me to prop my feet up on the counter and assume the “thinking” position.

I’ve got a number of things on my mind these days and I decided I would spend some time mulling it all over. One can never get enough time to just sit and think. I know folks who are just ramming and jamming all the time, constantly on the move and busy with something. I used to be that way. That’s all and good, but these days I’ve found that giving something a little thought results in a better outcome. It doesn’t make any difference whether it’s a painting, or business or personal relationship matters.

Sure enough, while I was busy thinking about stuff, wouldn’t you know it, someone came in and caught me “thinking”. Of course, I have to admit that it looked like I was merely daydreaming and watching the traffic on the street and folks walking by the front windows. My best efforts at explaining that I was actually “working” fell on deaf ears I’m afraid.

So, if by chance you find me just sitting there, doing what appears to be nothing, I am actually working. I’m probably waiting for the glue to dry. Then again…maybe not.