When I first set up my workshop in Cowgill in the UK, I was experimenting with steam bending wood - too often unsuccessfully:  the wood was too thick; the steam box too leaky; the grain not straight.  After so many failures, I decided to celebrate broken wood.  I took a wide plank to a neighboring farmer and asked if he could used his tractor to break my piece of wood in half.  The whole valley thought I was nuts.