Comments on: The Woodworker Within http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/ Education and Entertainment for the modern woodworker. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:43:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Karell Ste-Marie http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/#comment-109698 Karell Ste-Marie Mon, 12 Sep 2011 01:36:30 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=1470#comment-109698 I'm not saying that I even consider myself a woodworker at this point. A wannabe perhaps, but not a wood worker yet. I met my own wife at her birthday party, her hairdresser introduced me to her. Aftervan entire evening of laughing at my lame attempts of humor, she showed at equally impressive extreme at calling me back on the next day and never letting go of me since. While some people may argue that for a person of my own background I lead a comfortable lifestyle I can't help the fact that I want to create my own environment. Against my wife's firm protests I consistently continue to built something that will be use around or in the house. To this day, my wife dreads and looks forwards to the day where we own our own home... I’m not saying that I even consider myself a woodworker at this point. A wannabe perhaps, but not a wood worker yet. I met my own wife at her birthday party, her hairdresser introduced me to her. Aftervan entire evening of laughing at my lame attempts of humor, she showed at equally impressive extreme at calling me back on the next day and never letting go of me since.

While some people may argue that for a person of my own background I lead a comfortable lifestyle I can’t help the fact that I want to create my own environment. Against my wife’s firm protests I consistently continue to built something that will be use around or in the house.

To this day, my wife dreads and looks forwards to the day where we own our own home…

]]> By: mark http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/#comment-51718 mark Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:34:34 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=1470#comment-51718 Well I guess I started liking wood working in high school. I Have not done much wood working for a few years sold my old shop smith a few years ago. But I missed it and just bought a grizzly saw and cant wait to get back with it. My Friend at work told me about your site and I started reading all the cool stuff that you are helping us with, thanks Mark Well I guess I started liking wood working in high school. I Have not done much wood working for a few years sold my old shop smith a few years ago. But I missed it and just bought a grizzly saw and cant wait to get back with it. My Friend at work told me about your site and I started reading all the cool stuff that you are helping us with, thanks

Mark

]]> By: tufbnme http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/#comment-33430 tufbnme Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:39:30 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=1470#comment-33430 I grew up as a son of a DIYer. My father fixed everything. I never really got the woodworking bug until I bought my first house, as a matter of fact I thought I stunk at woodworking. When I was in the 7th grade I took a woodshop class and had trouble building a birdhouse, I had to take the project home and have my dad help me finish it. When I took it back to school everyone in my class couldn't believe that I finished it. I believed from that point that I never could do woodworking. With my house I began to do simple little projects such as baseboards and such. I did my first woodworking project only about 6 months ago when we were expecting our first Grandson and I made the comment that I could build the crib for him and everyone expected it so there was no turning back. I sold of my vintage motorcycle collection and bought some tools and made space in the garage. The crib turned out beautiful and am going to build all of my furniture and cabinetry in our home which is being designed in the arts and crafts style. I found the woodworking bug out of necessity but it is a bug worth being bitten by. I grew up as a son of a DIYer. My father fixed everything. I never really got the woodworking bug until I bought my first house, as a matter of fact I thought I stunk at woodworking. When I was in the 7th grade I took a woodshop class and had trouble building a birdhouse, I had to take the project home and have my dad help me finish it. When I took it back to school everyone in my class couldn’t believe that I finished it. I believed from that point that I never could do woodworking. With my house I began to do simple little projects such as baseboards and such. I did my first woodworking project only about 6 months ago when we were expecting our first Grandson and I made the comment that I could build the crib for him and everyone expected it so there was no turning back. I sold of my vintage motorcycle collection and bought some tools and made space in the garage. The crib turned out beautiful and am going to build all of my furniture and cabinetry in our home which is being designed in the arts and crafts style. I found the woodworking bug out of necessity but it is a bug worth being bitten by.

]]> By: Claude Stewart http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/#comment-33057 Claude Stewart Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:41:04 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=1470#comment-33057 Hello; I've been doing a lot of thinking about this topic. It's brought back quite a few memories. I started using my dads craftsmen table saw when I was about 13. I built him a stand for two smoking pipes and a humidor. I don't remember getting any instruction in its use. I really never realized how dangerous these tools are until I was an adult. I just used them. I remember making a box out of mahogany in wood shop. I stored my shotgun shells in it. Then that was it until I started watching New Yankee workshop and then I started to want to start woodworking again. That was 25 years ago I think. So I just slowly acquired my tools and started working on the house and building different things. I have a few of my grandfathers woodworking tools. My dad never was interested in woodworking. I did get that smoking pipe stand back 3 years ago when my dad passed away. I made that out of cherry that my dad had in his attic. I still have some of that wood. Great question Marc. Claude Hello;
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this topic. It’s brought back quite a few memories. I started using my dads craftsmen table saw when I was about 13. I built him a stand for two smoking pipes and a humidor. I don’t remember getting any instruction in its use. I really never realized how dangerous these tools are until I was an adult. I just used them. I remember making a box out of mahogany in wood shop. I stored my shotgun shells in it. Then that was it until I started watching New Yankee workshop and then I started to want to start woodworking again. That was 25 years ago I think. So I just slowly acquired my tools and started working on the house and building different things. I have a few of my grandfathers woodworking tools. My dad never was interested in woodworking. I did get that smoking pipe stand back 3 years ago when my dad passed away. I made that out of cherry that my dad had in his attic. I still have some of that wood. Great question Marc. Claude

]]> By: chris http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/#comment-33009 chris Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:33:44 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=1470#comment-33009 Great discussion question... My love for building things began when I was in High school. School had finshed for the year, my idea of a summer consisted of hanging out with friends but my parents plan was for me to work, guess who won? So on a Monday at 6am I was forced to work for my uncle who was a contractor. I found myself learning the trade and using my hands to build something. He believed to learn I had to jump right in and use tools. I dreaded heading back to school in the fall but continued to work every summer until I left for college learning new skills i.e. building cabinets, hanging custom doors and other mill work. To me it sure beat flipping burgers! I headed off to college to study Industrial design because I loved to draw and use my hands, building models of my design was the exciting part. Forward 10 years, I have a home and the ability to have a make shift garage shop. After sitting in front of a computer/drawing table all day I enjoy working with my hands to build furniture for the house, toy boxes and a side business fabricating architecural sigange. great topic Marc... keep up the good work it inspires all of us! Great discussion question…
My love for building things began when I was in High school. School had finshed for the year, my idea of a summer consisted of hanging out with friends but my parents plan was for me to work, guess who won?

So on a Monday at 6am I was forced to work for my uncle who was a contractor. I found myself learning the trade and using my hands to build something. He believed to learn I had to jump right in and use tools. I dreaded heading back to school in the fall but continued to work every summer until I left for college learning new skills i.e. building cabinets, hanging custom doors and other mill work. To me it sure beat flipping burgers!

I headed off to college to study Industrial design because I loved to draw and use my hands, building models of my design was the exciting part.

Forward 10 years, I have a home and the ability to have a make shift garage shop. After sitting in front of a computer/drawing table all day I enjoy working with my hands to build furniture for the house, toy boxes and a side business fabricating architecural sigange.
great topic Marc…
keep up the good work it inspires all of us!

]]> By: Shannon http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/#comment-32923 Shannon Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:15:16 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=1470#comment-32923 I started woodworking almost as an obligation to live up to the legacy of my wife's grandfather. My wife by the way also started out as my roommate turned girlfriend turned wife. Her grandfather was a carpenter and built many of the old beautiful homes in historic Baltimore. While we were closing on our first single family home, he was in hospice dying of cancer. He was lucid and conversational to the end and when he wasn't watching the Orioles on TV he was quizzing me about our new home. How sound is the roof, what kind of heatin system does it have, are the doors solid wood or "that cheap hollow kind". And so on and so on. More than anything he wanted to know what improvement we had in mind and how was I going to take care of them. Basically he wanted to know that I was going to take good care of his granddaughter. A few days before he died, he added a small paragraph to his will leaving me all of his tools so that I "could build a beautiful home". 'Nuff said, I had to learn to use all of these crazy tools that suddently belonged to me. I have even rehab'd all his old planes. It is merely divine coincidence that I feel now that I was made for this stuff from day one. Too bad we didn't have a shop program in my high school or I could have gotten into this a long time ago. Off topic, I had a roommate in college that bought a snake thinking that "chicks would think it was cool" Yeah, we all know how that worked out. I would come home and open the front door too loud and the snake would would be asleep coiled around is arm would wake up startled and begin to constrict until my roommate couldn't feel his fingers. Rule number one to pet ownership: if the pet can kill you, you might want to rethink it. Shannon "The Renaissance Woodworker" I started woodworking almost as an obligation to live up to the legacy of my wife’s grandfather. My wife by the way also started out as my roommate turned girlfriend turned wife. Her grandfather was a carpenter and built many of the old beautiful homes in historic Baltimore. While we were closing on our first single family home, he was in hospice dying of cancer. He was lucid and conversational to the end and when he wasn’t watching the Orioles on TV he was quizzing me about our new home. How sound is the roof, what kind of heatin system does it have, are the doors solid wood or “that cheap hollow kind”. And so on and so on. More than anything he wanted to know what improvement we had in mind and how was I going to take care of them. Basically he wanted to know that I was going to take good care of his granddaughter. A few days before he died, he added a small paragraph to his will leaving me all of his tools so that I “could build a beautiful home”. ‘Nuff said, I had to learn to use all of these crazy tools that suddently belonged to me. I have even rehab’d all his old planes. It is merely divine coincidence that I feel now that I was made for this stuff from day one. Too bad we didn’t have a shop program in my high school or I could have gotten into this a long time ago.

Off topic, I had a roommate in college that bought a snake thinking that “chicks would think it was cool” Yeah, we all know how that worked out. I would come home and open the front door too loud and the snake would would be asleep coiled around is arm would wake up startled and begin to constrict until my roommate couldn’t feel his fingers. Rule number one to pet ownership: if the pet can kill you, you might want to rethink it.

Shannon
“The Renaissance Woodworker”

]]> By: Germain http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/#comment-32886 Germain Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:21:44 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=1470#comment-32886 I have wanted to be a woodworker as long as I can remember. When I was in the 4th grade, a friend and I tried to make a model boat from some scrap lumber we found in my garage. We cut 45 degree angles on each end of two 1" x 10" planks. I nailed the "keel" together with panelling nails along one side, then pulled the other side apart to form a V-shaped hull. I sealed the keel with duct tape. That's as far as we got. My dad had no tools beyond a framing hammer and no interest in hobbies of any kind. I had wood shop in middle school. The teacher was a cranky tyrant who wouldn't let anyone touch anything. Our first project was a construction paper folder. It took all semester. Our second project was a 12" plank which we were supposed to square; without touching any tools. I took Home-Ec the following year. When "This Old House" premiered on PBS, I was a Norm fan from the start. I wanted to do all the things he could do. Come to think of it, I even wore a lot of plaid, flannel shirts... When "New Yankee Workshop" premiered, I was again a fan from the get-go. My wife bought me the first NYW book, in hardcover, when it was first released. I used some of the techniques I learned from Norm to build a child's bed for my daughter. It was made of sugar pine and it actually turned out very well. I didn't have any tools and used the Wood Hobby Shop at the Air Force Base near my house. (I was in the Navy.) After leaving the Navy, I was very excited when I bought my first table saw. Unfortunately, it was a Craftsman. I was an early user of the Internet and found the rec.woodworking newsgroup. I soon learned my table saw was a poor choice, but I kept at it. I later bought a router and palm sander just like Norm's. Using a delapidated shed in my yard as a shop, I was able to build a bookcase, again from pine. It had many flaws, but my daughter still uses it. After that, I became a travelling computer tech and had no time for woodworking. Two years ago I found myself an empty-nester. My wife asked me what I was going to do with myself. "Woodworking!" was my answer. I went to the Rockler in Denver and bought a planer, dust collector, dovetail jig and a new fence for my old table saw. I later bought an 8" jointer and a 17" bandsaw. No more Craftsman tools! Then I found The Wood Whisperer on a recommendation from the SawMill Creek forum. Last Christmas I was able to make some very nice cutting boards for gifts. Those were the best Christmas gifts I ever gave. Thanks, Marc! Just a few months ago my dad mentioned it was funny I was a woodworker. He explained his dad, who died when I was 4, was a woodworker. Well, whattaya know? Unfortunately, nobody knows what happened to my grandfather's tools. I have wanted to be a woodworker as long as I can remember. When I was in the 4th grade, a friend and I tried to make a model boat from some scrap lumber we found in my garage. We cut 45 degree angles on each end of two 1″ x 10″ planks. I nailed the “keel” together with panelling nails along one side, then pulled the other side apart to form a V-shaped hull. I sealed the keel with duct tape. That’s as far as we got. My dad had no tools beyond a framing hammer and no interest in hobbies of any kind.

I had wood shop in middle school. The teacher was a cranky tyrant who wouldn’t let anyone touch anything. Our first project was a construction paper folder. It took all semester. Our second project was a 12″ plank which we were supposed to square; without touching any tools. I took Home-Ec the following year.

When “This Old House” premiered on PBS, I was a Norm fan from the start. I wanted to do all the things he could do. Come to think of it, I even wore a lot of plaid, flannel shirts…

When “New Yankee Workshop” premiered, I was again a fan from the get-go. My wife bought me the first NYW book, in hardcover, when it was first released.

I used some of the techniques I learned from Norm to build a child’s bed for my daughter. It was made of sugar pine and it actually turned out very well. I didn’t have any tools and used the Wood Hobby Shop at the Air Force Base near my house. (I was in the Navy.)

After leaving the Navy, I was very excited when I bought my first table saw. Unfortunately, it was a Craftsman. I was an early user of the Internet and found the rec.woodworking newsgroup. I soon learned my table saw was a poor choice, but I kept at it.

I later bought a router and palm sander just like Norm’s. Using a delapidated shed in my yard as a shop, I was able to build a bookcase, again from pine. It had many flaws, but my daughter still uses it. After that, I became a travelling computer tech and had no time for woodworking.

Two years ago I found myself an empty-nester. My wife asked me what I was going to do with myself. “Woodworking!” was my answer. I went to the Rockler in Denver and bought a planer, dust collector, dovetail jig and a new fence for my old table saw. I later bought an 8″ jointer and a 17″ bandsaw. No more Craftsman tools!

Then I found The Wood Whisperer on a recommendation from the SawMill Creek forum. Last Christmas I was able to make some very nice cutting boards for gifts. Those were the best Christmas gifts I ever gave. Thanks, Marc!

Just a few months ago my dad mentioned it was funny I was a woodworker. He explained his dad, who died when I was 4, was a woodworker. Well, whattaya know? Unfortunately, nobody knows what happened to my grandfather’s tools.

]]> By: Gugnheim http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/#comment-32865 Gugnheim Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:27:33 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=1470#comment-32865 Marc- I'm with you on the audio. I went the other extreme. I poured concrete enclosures for bookshelf sized units. As for woodworking, I was more into electronics and computers. My Dad was a part time contractor and did everything by hand around the house, but I never touched a fine furniture project until I was 30. After Mom died, Dad and I had a lot of time together, and got hooked on David Marks, (I think I've mailed this to you before Marc), and it brought us together to pass the time and heal. My first wood project ever was a set of 8 bandsawn jewelery boxes for the girls in our wedding and for my wife. After a few years now and several classes at MASW including instruction from DM and The Schwarz.. I'm still learning everything I can and taking in all. The wife is actually pushing me to make the move Marc has. Thanks all. Gug Marc-
I’m with you on the audio. I went the other extreme. I poured concrete enclosures for bookshelf sized units.

As for woodworking, I was more into electronics and computers. My Dad was a part time contractor and did everything by hand around the house, but I never touched a fine furniture project until I was 30. After Mom died, Dad and I had a lot of time together, and got hooked on David Marks, (I think I’ve mailed this to you before Marc), and it brought us together to pass the time and heal. My first wood project ever was a set of 8 bandsawn jewelery boxes for the girls in our wedding and for my wife. After a few years now and several classes at MASW including instruction from DM and The Schwarz.. I’m still learning everything I can and taking in all. The wife is actually pushing me to make the move Marc has.
Thanks all.
Gug

]]> By: Rob Bois http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/#comment-32855 Rob Bois Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:36:50 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=1470#comment-32855 I think my dad was my greatest influence, but not in the way you'd think. He always bought the cheapest tool that could get the job done, and would promptly then lose said tool in a drawer forever. I would try to build stuff using a cheap crosscut saw and a hammer and nails, with limited success. I loved going to hardware stores and looking at all the tools we DIDN't have. So as soon as I got out of college and started making my own money, I began accumulating the "right tool for the job", and have never looked back. Turns out my great great grandfather was a woodworker, so it's been in my blood all along, I just never had the basic tools to get started until later in life. Of course now the "right tool" is usually a $400 specialized hand plane that I will probaly use once a year. But I guess that's my dad's influence! I think my dad was my greatest influence, but not in the way you’d think. He always bought the cheapest tool that could get the job done, and would promptly then lose said tool in a drawer forever. I would try to build stuff using a cheap crosscut saw and a hammer and nails, with limited success. I loved going to hardware stores and looking at all the tools we DIDN’t have. So as soon as I got out of college and started making my own money, I began accumulating the “right tool for the job”, and have never looked back. Turns out my great great grandfather was a woodworker, so it’s been in my blood all along, I just never had the basic tools to get started until later in life. Of course now the “right tool” is usually a $400 specialized hand plane that I will probaly use once a year. But I guess that’s my dad’s influence!

]]> By: Greg http://thewoodwhisperer.com/the-woodworker-within/#comment-32838 Greg Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:18:36 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=1470#comment-32838 Oddly enough this is a question I ponder over a great deal. Although I had a granfather who enjoyed making things out of wood I never showed any interest in that area. At school I was a complete flop at woodwork and got my second lowest marks in this area other than food and nutrition. As an adult the handyman bug never bit and my shed was void of tools for a great many years. Now in my forties I had to knock together a stand for some plants out the back. Another great interst of mine like King Minus they call me King Roundup. I digress for this stand I decided to purchase a drop saw, much to the displeasure of "she who must be obeyed". I remember saying I might take up woodwork as a hobby (toungue in cheek). That was a little over 18months ago and I now have a 20' by 30' shed filled with machines and a variety of tools and regualarly use the internet to learn the vast variety of skills needed for my hobby. I look back now and still have no idea how this obsession began and cannot pin point any factors contributing to this obsession. But I can blame The Wood Whisperer and those like him for the masses of money I have spent on this. My wife loves it too, recently I took her on a romantic weekend too a wood show and said I think it was time we got her a new router table. My project now is an upgrade to the dog kennel as he is getting grumpy since I moved in with him. Not really my choice and not the dogs either but I still enjoy my weekends in the shed. Oddly enough this is a question I ponder over a great deal. Although I had a granfather who enjoyed making things out of wood I never showed any interest in that area.

At school I was a complete flop at woodwork and got my second lowest marks in this area other than food and nutrition. As an adult the handyman bug never bit and my shed was void of tools for a great many years.

Now in my forties I had to knock together a stand for some plants out the back. Another great interst of mine like King Minus they call me King Roundup. I digress for this stand I decided to purchase a drop saw, much to the displeasure of “she who must be obeyed”. I remember saying I might take up woodwork as a hobby (toungue in cheek).

That was a little over 18months ago and I now have a 20′ by 30′ shed filled with machines and a variety of tools and regualarly use the internet to learn the vast variety of skills needed for my hobby. I look back now and still have no idea how this obsession began and cannot pin point any factors contributing to this obsession. But I can blame The Wood Whisperer and those like him for the masses of money I have spent on this.

My wife loves it too, recently I took her on a romantic weekend too a wood show and said I think it was time we got her a new router table. My project now is an upgrade to the dog kennel as he is getting grumpy since I moved in with him. Not really my choice and not the dogs either but I still enjoy my weekends in the shed.

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