OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

28280 John P. O'Connor <jpoc@w...> 1997‑10‑12 Bio was Re: Jappanning?
On Tue, Oct 7, 1997 2:25 PM, Patrick Olguin Hey john,
>I'll trade you a japanning story for a boi to the list. 
>:-)
>
>Paddy

He asked for it, so you all get it.

When I was a young pup (relatively speaking that is, as I still am a young
pup at 30 compared to some on the list 8-) my dad had a "shop" in the
basement, full with a RAS and other hand tailed apprentices and some
handtools.  I had a tendency to break things at this point and was
discouraged from being in the shop.

During my senior year in high school I decided I wanted to be an Architect,
and so off to college I went. In my 1.5 years in Architecture I was able to
let my creative juices flow. Unfortunately, they didn't flow freely enough
and I transferred to Economics. After graduating I eventually got a job in
commercial factoring (a financing thing). After doing that for a while I
decided I wanted to be a Resource Economist when I grew up, so I
matriculated in Graduate school. (I've always wanted to use that term,
matriculated, in a conversation). Spent 2 years in Orono Maine getting a
Masters degree and now I am on the tail end of what should be 4 years in
PullmanWA working on a Ph.D.

While visiting my brother in NH, we built a window sash in his Normite shop
so that I could point my new Satellite dish receiver out the bedroom
window. Need the satellite dish so I can watch soccer on TV but thats
another story. Anyway, making the sash piqued my interest in woodworking. I
began to remember how much I liked messing around in dad's shop,  wood shop
class from school, and designing things in Architecture school. Then I got
to thinking that I could make some crude furniture out of wood as a
replacement for our coffee can (and duct tape) furniture. Soon I was
obsessed. I started reading Rec.WW and eventually posted a question about a
handsaw for ripping boards. Someone (Paddy maybe) suggested OldTools and I
have been lurking for a little over one month.

SWMBO got me a Dozuki and a marking gauge for my birthday and I was on my
way. My first project was a bookshelf. (All I will say is that it is
functional). I have since gotten myself a what I think is a hanyman series
block plane and a set of craftsman chisles (actually bought these  before I
knew anything about planes and chisels) a Stanley/Bailey #5, Ryobe saw some
C-Clamps,  and a Black and Decker Workmate workbench. Voila, the living
room of our  small one bedroom apt is magically transformed into a
woodshop. SWMBO is VERY understanding, and is expecting some more of the
coffee can furniture to be replaced.

The current project which I think I am in over my head with, is a
bureau/satellite dish stand.  The plan is for it to be 4 posts with panel
and frame sides and drawers for the front. Still haven't decided what to do
for the back but I'm currently leaning towards plywood. Just finished up
milling most of  the carcass boards today. (still not all perfectly flat
and square but as close as I think I will be able to get) I'll post with an
URL to a picture if and when it is completed.

By the way I entered the galoot age data from John G.'s query into a
spreadsheet. Didn't include subjective entries such as graduated from HS x
years ago, and just younger than 30. (there were two in each of those) only
those who answered in real numbers. ( I don't know hex or whatever that was
a few of you answered in.) If anyone wants their age added feel free to
email me, just use the original subject or put galoot age in the subject.

John O'Connor
 



Recent Bios FAQ