I am a 45 year old male and up until this point in my life I never owned anything more than a circular saw and a jig saw. My Dad recently handed down to me an older Craftsman 10″ tilting arbor table saw. I also recently purchased 12″ compound miter saw with stand. Yesterday I went out and purchased a router with router table and a Wet/dry vac that I will use to hook up to my tools when using.
My neighbor helped me put up 3-8′ flurescent lights in my shop as I didn’t have any good lighting in there up to this point. I am in the process of painting the walls white and organizing the shop (12′ X18′) in a way that the space is managed as well as possible.
All I can think of is woodworking and I was wondering whether this is something that others who get into this hobby feel as well. I am building a prototype of an L-shaped booth that I will eventually re-build (in a larger scale) in my kitchen. I wanted to build a smaller scale prototype just to learn from the experience before I try to do this in my kitchen. I stay up late every night working in my shop and reading anything I can find on woodworking.
I really think I have found a hobby that will last me forever even though I’m just starting out. All of you readers are much more experienced than I am and I just want to know is this how you felt when you started out? I used to make beer for years as a hobby and enjoyed it but woodworking is so practical that it can help out in any project around the house. Also, if you’ve been woodworking for years do you still feel the same way?
I’m trying not to spend too much money up front in case my passion for this hobby wanes. Am I a typical novice to woodworking? Your opinions are welcome…
Regards,
Buzzsaw
Replies
Do you have a subscription to Fine Woodworking that you eagerly await for every issue? Is this web-site your opening page on your computer?
The fact you're rearranging your garage and take part in this message board are pretty positive signs you're hooked! There are much worse things you could do with your time and money - BUT DON'T IGNORE YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS! Other than that I believe every one should have a hobby or interest that they're enthusiastic about - I think that's very healthy. Try to find a woodworker's club in your vicinity. It's great to discuss design, methods and safety issues with others. See if there are any leisure learning classes around.
I've always built and designed things my whole life. As I kid I would constantly draw and build models. I'm an architect by profession so wood working is a natural extension of that. My father gave me my first power tool about 7 years ago as a gift - a bench top table saw. That was probably one of the best gifts I've ever gotten. My enthusiasm continues to GROW not diminish with each project. I'm 39 and hope to do this the rest of my life. I sell a few pieces and that pays for the tools and wood. This is a craft and the more you do, the more you learn, the more you can do. I love that! Take time in selecting your tools - you don't have to buy everything at once. Take the time to learn how to use the ones you do have. I think you'll find woodworking more rewarding than watching TV but hopefully it doesn't replace the people in your life.
Have Fun!
From a guy named "Crazy". :-)
Crazy Ray,
I usually wait until my kids go to bed before I head down to the shop. I agree with you. There is only so long that they will be with us and I am doing my best to enjoy them and spend time with them. Thanks for all of the advice. I think it's interesting that you didn't start until you were in your 30s..
Regards,
Buzzsaw
You'll know for sure if you have the bug when you look at the big maple in the backyard and begin to calculate how many bd.ft of figured wood you might be able to get out of it, or when your wife asks what happened to all the hair on your forearms (it has all been shaved off as you have repeatedly tested how sharp your chisels and plane irons are), or when all that is on your christmas list is clamps. The trick for you now is to learn the phrase "Oh, I can build that for you sweetheart" everytime your wife shows you a new piece of furniture, and then use that as a justification for buying the new __________ (planer, jointer, lathe, etc.).
Enjoy the addiction,
Tris
LOL, i was at a Christmas party this past weekend when someone asked me why i have a bald spot on the back of my hand.
Custom Cabinetry and Furniture
http://www.BartlettWoodworking.com
I remember when I was a child, maybe 6 or so, asking my dad everyday if he needed me to help him in the shop, or building the house. I was always so excited to help him.
now I'm 24 and own my own professional cabinet shop that I work in every day. when I go to bed at the end of the day I don't watch TV. I read woodworking books, studying what other people have mastered. when I wake up I come online and read a few posts here that catch my interest, then go to the shop for the day. I've been doing this for years and don't see a change coming anytime soon.
So, to answer your question: the excitement of woodworking hasn't worn off yet and its been 18 years.
As far as spending money on machinery, what I usually tell people is to work for it. Ie spend some time cutting dovetails with a saw and chisel before you buy that expensive jig for the router.
Custom Cabinetry and Furniture
http://www.BartlettWoodworking.com
Buzzsaw,
My guess is you've got the sniffles...take two asprin and call Woodcraft in the morning....you'll be fine and enjoy a normal life.
A DNA altering flu will befall you if you build a solid workbench....no cure! beware....
BG,
I don't think I want a cure...thanks for the post...Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzzsaw wrote:
"I used to make beer for years as a hobby and enjoyed it but woodworking is so practical that it can help out in any project around the house. "
This is simply heresey. Beer enhances any project around the house more than a shop full of tools could ever hope to. Beer is supremely practical. It is the highest form of grain storage known to man. Man can not live by bread alone. Man need's water too. What's more practical than bread in a bottle?
Crazy Ray wrote:
"Do you have a subscription to Fine Woodworking that you eagerly await for every issue?"
Do you have 5' of shelf space dedicated to a complete set of FWW that you have read cover to cover, an Excell spreadsheet showing a grid of the 9 issues you still need and harbor hopes of finding Issue #1 in mint condition at garage sale?
I got serious in my 30's as well. Buzzsaw is in the active acquisition phase. For me it took 2-3 years and about $20k to acquire the mere "basics". Next he will come to a major fork in the road which will determine his entire future as woodworker. As an amature Buzz will fall into one of two camps. Either the FWW or Woodwork magazine camp and will make beautiful, useful and practical items of quality which he would otherwise not be able to afford or he will fall into the AWW or Wood magazine camp and make beautiful, useful and practical items of quality which he would otherwise not be able to afford.
The difference is that former camp's stuff ends up in the living room and the latter's output stays in the shop.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Ah, now there you go John, mentioning a real hobby---- beer. That's what nights and weekends are for, perhaps before and after the other hobby, rugby, or even during rugby if the game deserves it.
What's all this crazy talk of making things out of wood and stuff during your free time? That'll surely never catch on---- will it? I think I need a drink to get over that heresy, ha, ha-- ha, ha, ha. Woodworking is for Monday to Friday, although having recently given up the trade for teaching it, I'm getting odd wee hankerings to set up a wee place to potter in during the spare moments.
Hmm? Maybe I ought to see if there's a gallery or two interested in showing some of my stuff again now that I've moved to a new location-- might get a few orders to keep me off the beer(s) at night. Slainte.Website
Sgian,
If I recall correctly, didn't you bring your routers back with you? ....and given your teacher now..your penmanship is probably improved too...
You could get some slabs of wood and with your router make " Merry Christmas" signs in cursive...a little poly-stain ...not bad huh? (ha,ha)
Yeah, that's true BG. All my US configured tools work fine here in the UK with my recently purchased transformer, but as I don't really 'do', and haven't really 'done' Christmas for, well, a couple of decades at least, I can't quite see me knocking out twee cursive Christmas signs with a bit of poly-stain slapped over them.
Maybe I could knock out a few plywood nesting boxes at about £20 a pop instead for the returning swallow spring market, ha, ha? Slainte.Website
Monday to Friday........ sheesh.... don't I wish.........Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Mike, you sound like you're a self employed woodworker. I know the feeling-- been there, done that, got the T shirt, switched out the black vinyl for the CD, etc.. The job can take over all ones waking moments if you let it.
After about twenty years of whacking wood for a living, and letting it rather infest my private life, I made it a golden rule that weekends and nights are for other things, like useful mind enriching hobbies-- such as the aforementioned drinking and rugby.
Life's too short to allow your job to take over every waking moment. I can see the benefit of eating and breathing wood whacking at nights and weekends if you're job is something else during the week, but as my job is whacking wood in one way or another, I ain't lifting a finger to hang a shelf at the weekend unless I really have to. Forums like this for instance are just a wee bit of fun during idle moments. Slainte.Website
Sgian... I hear ya... Monday to Friday I'm paid to do fancy stuff with bits o copper string.... <shrugs>.... it pays the bills... barely..I have to admit to a growing desire to get good enough at making sawdust to consider it for a living.....
A guy can dream..... right...???Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
By all means during the match. Back in the day we used to have combination softball game/keggers. Occaisionally there'd be 2 kegs, the second at 2nd base for convenience of course. It added a whole new element to the game. If you had a man on first the batter was compelled to hit a single or walk to make sure the man at first had an opportunity to get a refill. Home runs, triples and doubles with men on base were frowned upon, but with 1st open a double was acceptable.
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Doesn't sound very well organised to me, John. Surely it would make more sense to have a barrel on every base? And a barrel on the pitcher's mound, and one in each teams dugout, and one in front of the umpire? Slainte.Website
Hello . welcome to the brotherhood (and sisterhood) of woodies.I am 56 and have spent most of my life working wood, reading about others working wood, watching woodworkers,I now have my own workshop making purpose made furniture and joinery,this is next to a small car park and people going past the door often stop and say they can remember the smell of the wood from way back.I still get a high when I split a board of oak and think I am the first person to see the wonderful grain inside.If you can earn a living at your hobby you never have to go to work .
Welcome.
OK,
Now I am jealous. I am just hoping to be able to build some unique furniture for my house and fix things around the house rather than pay someone to do it. Being paid to do woodworking would be the ultimate...You are a fortunate human being...Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz, I'm afraid you have an incurable sickness. Soon you'll be perusing woodworking suppliers catalogs and checking out the flea markets for old usable tools. Next you'll be 'Eye balling' that knarly old lump of burl growing out of your neighbor's tree.
With all the ersatz substitutions for REAL wood sold as 'Fine Furniture' or, Solid Pine, you'll appreciate all the more, a fine figured length of black walnut/quarter sawn(Mission) oak or bird's eye maple (I grab up old rolling pins for turning tool handles)
Your imagination will show no bounds, once you've designed/crafted/ finished and polished your first labor of love.
It helps too, if it pleases your wife and may pay dividends as well. (More tools/ gadgets/ clamps/ fine marking and measuring tools/clamps and mountains of sawdust.)
The second stage of your malady comes much later, when you can't live without watching Norm Abram or Ask This Old House,or those two canuks on the Router Workshop.
Trying to spot some of their mistakes, is the final stage and when the wife misses the garage space for her car she once had and sues for divorce is a real bummer.
Fortunately, you'll live to a ripe old age , but remember to keep away from the children and grandchildren in your life as they will catch it and when you're gone they'll fight over all those clamps. Stein.
Edited 12/22/2003 4:29:59 PM ET by steinmetz
Steinmetz,
Where can I find the 2 canuks on the Router Workshop? I've never heard of it.. Thanks for the post..
Regards,
Buzzsaw
Buzz, They are a father and son team from Canada and they make great stuff with mostly only a router table set up. I believe their new series starts in January2004
Last names are Bob and Rick Rosendahl. Google up 'The Router Workshop' to find cable station directory. Also subscribe to their monthly letter (Free). If you're a router junkie, you'll like these guys .I use the term Canuks in the most respectful way. Stein.
Edited 12/22/2003 4:56:13 PM ET by steinmetz
"I use the term Canuks in the most respectful way."
Hopefully so. After all Canada leads the world in being located North of the USA.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
John I always though we were a step above the USA.Scott C. Frankland
Scott's WOODWORKING Website"This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"
Well yeah hoser (with all due respect to the McKensie Bros.) if you're standing on the border eh?John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Buzzsaw,
My wife said to me in the car the other day. "Even if we win the Lottery you can't retire. You'll spend too much time alone in the shop"
I'm a weekend woodworker and spend most of my spare thought time working out detail in my head.
Welcome to the obsession
ASK
Buzzsaw all this forum is a international self support group for tool hungry, wood savvy, finish sniffing group of guys and girls. We all have different addictions to this hobby but when you boil it down it is better than drugs, alcohol and other addictions that one could indulge in. I keep telling the wife that and I think it is loseing some of its pull though.
Scott C. Frankland
Scott's WOODWORKING Website
"This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"
The "bug" doesnt get any better when you do it for a living either..I think it may just get worse...the only difference is ...you get a more severe strain of "toolfluenza"....
JC
Buzz
I go involved with WW'ing 31 years ago. I really don't care for it that much, but it's something to do till I can afford a TV.
Got to run, that new hand-plane needs a touch of honing. It's razor sharp now, but another .0001 improvement could possibly be attained with a little extra effort. ha.. ha...
Enjoy yourself and hope you find WW'ing a keeper...
sarge..jt
Proud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
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