in the realm of woodworking, adopting a preexploratory approach to new techniques and materials can often refresh our standard methodologies, yielding innovative designs and solutions. for instance, when a woodworker decides to give the cold shoulder to conventional wisdom and embrace the unannounced arrival of a novel wood treatment or tool, this openness can lead to groundbreaking work. this process underscores the importance of being receptive rather than dismissive towards unexpected developments in our field, encouraging a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.