Comments on: Woodworking Gearheads & Geeks

By: Chester

Chester — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:27:25 +0000

I think about the “shop-heads.” A shop-head is one (like me sometimes) who might be very happy … just working on and tweaking his shop for the rest of his life. Maybe we all fall into this pattern at times, especially after complete shop overhaul projects. The temptation is to just keep fine-tuning the shop and refining various parts of the shop … especially storage.

I have just finished (mainly finished) a year-and-a-half total shop rebuild, retool and expansion. Even though I am basically done, I can see innumerable smaller projects that I could start in the shop to refine the storage of stuff.

I think that my solution might be that I will have two projects going at the same time. One project will be “actually building some furniture” while the second (and concurrent) project will be to do some further storage building and installation in the shop. One nice thing about building stuff for the shop is that it gives me a chance to practice some cabinetry skills that I had either, not tried before (like dovetails) or had not used in a while.

By: Bill AKins

Bill AKins — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:12:53 +0000

Although recently I have been increasing the quality of tools that I buy, I still have a lot of cheap stuff. Through the years part of the challenge has been “How do I do this with what I have?” So I come with a jig here and a trick there and usually get the results that I’m looking for. I am wondering though, would air conditioning be considered a shop tool? Hey, it would make my work easier and more enjoyable.

By: Hemant Singh

Hemant Singh — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:40:02 +0000

I love buying new tools, I also love using them. how else are you going to master it?

By: Justin Limoges

Justin Limoges — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:05:39 +0000

How about the guy who has so many projects and jigs in mind that he doesn’t know where to begin?

That would be me.

By: Johnathan Stover

Johnathan Stover — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:19:20 +0000

That was a very interesting column. And very educational I can now move onto the legs of my table that’s 2 years in the making. You just got me over my detail phobia thank you very much.

By: Vic

Vic — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 14:41:32 +0000

I KNOW, huh?! You just can’t trust anyone.

By: Ben H

Ben H — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:38:28 +0000

Preach the good word.

By: Quang Vu

Quang Vu — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:23:04 +0000

That is me right now. I have been buying few tools this year without building anything. My latest toy is the Rikon 10-325 band saw. I have been playing with it for 2 weeks, all I do is to slice few pieces of veneer (testing), adjusting, cleaning its table top, and stand back to see how shiny the table top is. No dust is allowed inside out of the band saw.
All I think for now is what I will buy next. I have to stop this madness somehow…Last year, I had way less tools and built tons of furniture.

By: Rob Drown

Rob Drown — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:54:25 +0000

I just have to find space to put all the tools away so I can finish a few projects. Refurbishing old tools, sharpening, building new tools and jigs, buying new tools, building things, l love it all. Cleaning up, not so much. The best part of the whole thing is the facinating people you meet in the process.

By: medfloat

medfloat — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:53:11 +0000

This article reminds me of a saying my dad had, every person has their place in this world just as every tool does.