GG's
Greetings. I have turned off the lurk mode and would like to introduce
myself.
Married, mid 30's, two boys (5 and 1), and I support my woodworking
addiction through employment as a chemistry professor.
My path towards this site and traditional woodworking was pretty
straghtforward. As a chemistry prof, I'm quite familiar with the power of
an electron, and saw nothing wrong with shamelessly exploiting that power
to satisfy personal woodworking ambitions. I started down the slippery
slope with a curious interest in hand made hand planes. I made a few that
really worked well for a short time ('tempered' steel? whazzdat?). I
hit the point of no return when I broke the "10-in, 10-out" rule.
I was building a chest/changing table for the (at the time) embryonic GIT
when I decided (for reasons I cannot explain) to pick a fight with my
table saw (yep, it was on). The results were predictable. A strange calm
descended over me as I gathered my wits (and gathered my um...it doesn't
matter), hollering to Her Worshipfullness that I've lopped off a finger
and I need to go to the hospital. She got me there, only to nearly go
into premature labor (at six months pregnant). As I explained my injury
to the trauma staff, I was told to hush up, while they took care of my
wife. Normally, I'd have been a bit miffed, but by that time, I was on a
Demirol drip, my blood pressure was something like 80/40, and I was well
on my way to HappyHappy Land.
I have since healed, thanks to a wonderful medical staff here in the
Memphis area. During that recovery period, I reevaluated how I thought
about the craft, and reading Graham Blackburn's book on hand tools (which
I had purchased prior to this injury to learn more about hand planes), I
thought it might be possible (certainly less hazardous) to continue my
passion for woodworking without such a reliance on machinery.
I discovered the name Disston. I discovered an on-line auction site that
sells said items. The words "Daddy has a saw problem" have been uttered
in my home. My wife shakes her head when I get "another package of rust".
I bought so many saws I had to build a saw rack (not knowing there were
designs here for that very item); I broke the rule of clustering your tool
purchases too closely together....
Hand saws that are properly shaped, sharpened, and set are incredible. I
learned the care and feeding of your own handsaws is ridiculously simple.
I was startled at how easy it is to shape, sharpen and set some of the
handsaws I got from that online auction site (like the 4 tpi H Disston
and son sawblade a seller included in a lot that I purchased because 'it
didn't have a handle' and he 'didn't know what else to do with it'). When
that beast rips through wood, it makes a pleasant sound that resembles
'oink'. I politely thanked him.
I discovered Stanley planes. I read something called Blood and Gore. My
left arm is bald from taking test shavings.
I learned what a brace is, and how to use it.
I discovered OldTools, and learned there is a group that will support your
tool buying habits as long as those habits don't interfere with their OWN
buying habits (so I no longer bid when I see the user name of 'aperrault',
or some of the other easy-to-spot crossovers from this list).
I stalk flea markets, estate sales and garage sales like a criminal;
"Antique Store" is no longer a euphamism for "$#!+ to Dust Store".
I learned that Guinness is a magnificent beverage...........OK, I learned
that a long time ago
I learned that you can make beautiful things without electric tools....
I recently attended the weeklong Traditional Woodworking class (9-13 June)
at Marc Adams' School; Chris Gochnour was in charge. Strange thing about
this class was that I was on the waiting list for it, and received a
call from Marc on Saturday afternoon (around 6), informing me there was an
opening--would I like to attend. The class started on Monday morning at 8
(36 hours of notice). I did some quick thinking (...500 miles from
Memphis to Franklin is about 8 hours; expensive week long course, wife
left alone with two GIT's 5 and 1, I have to pilfer the cherry I had
earmarked for our headboard, cut list, tool list, pack, steal my car [in
the shop for repairs]). Um..........this was a really tough sell. I'm
pretty sure I cashed in every 'good husbanding' point I'd ever received.
She let me go. Here are the results
http://www.chem.memphis.edu/faculty/peters/toolchest.htm
As a scientist, I'm used to documenting things as I do them, and this was
no exception. I have actually transcribbled about 25-30 pages of notes
from this class, which was without a doubt a magnificent experience. As I
put what I've learned into practice, the notes section keeps getting
longer as I continue to remember things that I forgot to note initially.
I am now in the process of updating my workbench; my first effort was a
replication of the bench Norm built in the second-ever episode of the
show. Too small, limited vise/clamping mechanisms and the aesthetic
appeal of crabgrass. Thanks to Keith Rucker, as I will attempt to
duplicate your success, I'm sure I will lean heavily on your extensive
documentation.
I suppose I'll acquiesce to SWMBO's demands for that headboard (though
we're short on cherry), but the bench likely comes first. (I DID just
build her a walnut sewing table; my first project completed using only
hand
tools).
I've successfully shirked my work responsibilities for the day; it's
quitting time somewhere on the globe. Time to pop open a Guinness and
find a seat on the porch. Should your travels bring you to Memphis area,
know there's a Galoot with a large back porch, a fridge full of beer and
plenty of chairs.
Cheers.
Greg
--If woodworking is an addiction, I'm not interested in your 12 step
program
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