OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

100074 "YARROW, GARY" <GARY_YARROW@SDSTATE.EDU> 2001‑11‑26 Bio Redo!
In the spirit of updating Bios!

I really can't remember when I started working wood, as my father was a
part-time cabinet maker (gun cabinets his specialty), and I always had a
drawer in his bench that was mine, with my tools which my older brothers
(three of them) were not allowed to touch.  When moving him to a nursing
home a few years ago (Alzheimer's), and cleaning out his shop, I found most
of those old, cheap tools in a box, thus it must have meant something to him
also. In addition to my father's planes, I found a couple of planes of my
grandfathers (I let my brothers argue over the power tools.)

I've built quite a few things, some of the ones that I remembered to take
pictures of are on my web page at http://www.twoherbs.com.  Twoherbs is the
name of a very small woodworking company that still exists, however, since
becoming the father of twin girls 26 months ago, most of that has fallen on
the way side.  

I have a relatively complete shop (is any shop really "complete"), where
hand and powered tools are used, much preferring the hand tools, but I'm not
a zealot.  I really enjoy using and storing shoulder planes, have a couple
that I especially enjoy, particularly some of the Record (essentially copies
of Preston's) and Prestons.  In addition, I'm trying to complete a set of
skewed hollow and rounds from the Ohio Tool Company.  Ohio is a common
maker, but when you live in an area that it is hard to find good hand tools
at all, a common maker makes sense.  Not all of them are skewed, and I am
not biased towards them.  Number 3 bench planes also make their way into my
storage shelves.  In addition, have almost a complete set of dado planes
(what is it about them that is so intriguing?).

My current (11/2001) projects are to complete a wagon for the girls (just in
time for the first blizzard), new tool cabinets over my workbench (plywood
will play an important role there), and a couple of other projects.
Projects take much, much longer now that two year olds are in my life (THE
JOY of my life!).  I enjoy working with black walnut (usually cut from my
FIL's farm), cherry and alder, with a little of Doug fir tossed in (or
anything else that seems right at the moment).  Most of my projects probably
could be classified in the Arts & Crafts/Shaker/Danish mode.

My real life is the department head (Environmental Health and Safety Office)
and Radiation Safety Officer at South Dakota State University.   My office
takes care of hazardous materials/waste, radioactive materials/waste,
laboratory safety and training, indoor air quality issues, etc., etc.
Actually I like my job.  In addition, I teach a class on the use of
Radioactive materials in research.  I was the director of biotechnology (my
Ph.D. is in Plant Biochemistry/Physiology) at a major food company, but
through a series of moves I surfaced as the above, only 60 miles from my
"boyhood home".

Gary L. Yarrow
Two Herbs Workshop
819 Harvey Dunn St.
Brookings, SD  57006-1346
www.twoherbs.com 



Recent Bios FAQ