Greetings!
My name is Dan. I’m new here and wanted to say hello to everyone. I have been reading some of the subjects being posted and I must say I’m rather looking forward to joining in occaisionally. I especially noted the discussion about buying American-made products. Clearly, that subject provoked some strong reactions. As it should be when one is discussing one’s livelihood.
I’ve been a carpenter for about seventeen years now, and I am currently a remodeling contractor in my home town of Bluefield, WV. I’m very much interested in hearing all of your comments, sharing experiences, and maybe a few old-fashioned fish tales too! LOL
I look forward to interacting with you fine people.
–Dan
Replies
Hi Dan,
Sit right down and join in.
Sorry, I haven't met any old-fashioned fish to tell tales about . . .
(see how it is here?)
Rich
LOL. Yes, I am beginning to see it! Cool, as my kids would say!
Dan
Greetings Dan,
I am fairly new as well to Knots forum. @ weeks as new.
Thank you for your interst in the plywood raised panels. Good advice is always welcome.
Not only new to knots, but to all forms of internet communication. Other then e-mail. I find the discussions rather interesting in the time it takes to get points of veiws out there. One post pops, then after digesting that one an hour or so later another pop. New thought, new idea to digest. Then just take the thoughts you need and go. Everyone has been extremely nice as far as I have read.
I look forward to a new (to Me) form of coversing with people you really want to converse with.
Dan
Welcome to the Knots! We will all look forward to your future input. You've come to a good place.
Jeff
Welcome to Knots, love to see new faces!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Not to be overly personal, but may I say it is good to see a woman in the woodworking field. You really don't see too many and I have always wondered why. After all, a woman can press the button on a table saw as well as any man.
If you don't mind, I'd like to let my daughters read your posts. They have both expressed an interest in woodworking and I would like to see them cultivate that interest. I think it would help them to know that there are other women out there who are respected woodworkers and that it's not just another male-dominated industry. It would be nice to see them take up a craft that they can enjoy and make money at without feeling that they are stepping into a "man-only" world. Not to mention it would be nice to work with them some as I already do with my son and my wife.
Dan
Thanks for the kind words, Dan, and yes your daughters are more than welcome to read (and critique) my posts. I've been fascinated by tools my whole life, but grew up with no dad or brother in the house, so didn't get to "mess around" with them until I got older. I do remember, though, being about 4 years old and sitting in the driveway with a long board, a can of nails, and a hammer -- pounding them in, pulling them out. ROFL! This was before my dad and mom split up, and he was quite handy around the house.
PS: There is a woman cabinetmaker active at the WWA forum (you have to register to post, but you can read as a guest). Name is Gail. There's also the Women in Woodworking site. This post will undoubtedly stir up some controversy about a site or program specific to women. Oh, well.
I don't know how old your daughters are, but one thing to expose them to and encourage them about (if they need it) is developing their spatial abilities. Females are, on average, less inclined that way than males, and I personally am very "challenged" in that respect. It's a constant annoyance. Because of that, I really support strong development of spatial abilities in children of both sexes. It's too easy to not do that with the girls.
Have fun!!!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 4/6/2007 5:20 pm by forestgirl
forestgirl,
This post will undoubtedly stir up some controversy about a site or program specific to women. Oh, well.
You betcha, but only if you haven't suggested they visit with us!
Not sure about the spatial thing but I think I understand what you mean.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
"Not sure about the spatial thing but I think I understand what you mean." I'm pretty sure it's been researched and reliably shown that (again, on average) boys seem to have more inate spatial abilities than girls. Top that off with the fact that parents and teachers tend not to challenge girls with spatial problems, and the boys tend to stay way ahead. Talking about visualizing 3D objects, manipulating them mentally -- think SAT test.
Individually, I could have skewed that curve something fierce! And certainly, there are females at the other end of the curve -- I had a student back in the days when I taught riding, who was a geology professor at a California university. She had a great 3-D mind, and when we'd walk cross-country courses together, she saw a map in her head afterwards. I could only go from Jump #1 to #2 to #3, never could tell you where they were in relation to each other.
Woodworking presents great challenges, as you can well imagine. And being no spring chicken, it's an uphill battle to compensate. Oh well, good thing I don't have to make a living at it!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 4/6/2007 11:04 pm by forestgirl
You're absolutely right about the gender disparity you mentioned. Males do, in general, have better spacial acuity than females. That's why you will see them excell in areas such as math, science, and so on more than women.
However, on the flip side, women are, in general, much better endowed in the more abstract, artistic side of things. This can be seen in their mastery of colors, textures, and other things that make up the more decorative aspect of woodworking.
The fact is, the two different sets of skills are complimentary, not competitive, so they work better together than separately (the sum is greater than the parts). Both are necessary, and both are found, to a greater or lesser degree, in both sexes. I feel very blessed to work well with my wife in this regard. I design and build, she finishes, and we come out with some work we can both be proud of.
Thanks for the encouragement for my daughters, (they are nine and twelve years old). Of course, at that age, this week's interests may fall by the wayside by next week. But I plan to enjoy it while it lasts and hope it sticks around for a while.
Welcome, Dan. This is a great place to shoot the breeze, get passionate about what makes you tick, and learn a lot in the process. I don't talk too much, only when I have something to say. Some of us talk a whole lot more. And that's what makes this fun.
Good to have you here.
Jerry
Hi Dan,
I've only been here a few years, but I've learned a lot about woodworking. The search engine works pretty well, and you'll find a plethora or two of knowledge. With only four exceptions (three if you don't count me) folks are knowledgeable and friendly. (Not to be confused with F'n K.)
Since no one has yet mentioned it, you have to wander down a back alley in Knots to get to the Cafe, if you really want opinions. The "Buy USA?" discussion was a bit too tame, so it just stayed in the General area. To find the Cafe, you have to email the SYSOP to request access.
Welcome aboard.
Edited 4/11/2007 1:30 pm ET by BobMc
Dan,
Welcome to Knots. Not all of us are professionals, as you are. I am a longtime hobbyist. Most of the hobbyists here are pretty serious. Join in all of the discussions that interest you, and start ones when you feel like it. I recommend jumping in slowly and sort of learning how things work, but that doesn't take long. Pretty soon you will see the same names again and again, and after reading their posts, you will get a feel for each.
Whatever you do,
Have fun,
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Thanks for calling me (inaccurately, I'm afraid) a professional. I try to turn out the best work I can, but that's about all I can say. I look forward to all the advice I can get, so please don't hold back!
Dan
Dan,
You have been a carpenter for 17 years, so you are a professional in my book. You'll get plenty of feedback here. You should also give it. People don't stay shy long. When you have an opinion, state it! I am always poking at ideas, but never at people. Occassionally someone will take offense when it was not intended. That is usually easy to fix. Different people handle it differently. I write a quick apology. It doesn't matter to me who was at fault, if someone gets upset at something I wrote, then I just make an apology. Life is too short to go around making people mad. Besides, there is nothing in the field of woodwork worth getting upset about. So have fun.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Welcome, Dan. Stop over at Breaktime, for carpentry and building related topics, too.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Welcome Dan,
By joining the folks in here you have just availed yourself of the Finest WoodWorking tool that you'll ever experience. You'll get the best advice based on vast experience, eager people with a passionate sense of helping.
And, there undoubtedly will be a healthy helping of humor along the way!
Enjoy,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Hello.
John
Sit down, enjoy and pass me the remote.
I haven't been here long either but this board definitely helps me.
Dan,
Welcome! I've only been here a short while, but find the forum interesting, and at times amusing. As an aspiring woman woodworker, I find it curious that more women aren't involved in it. I know many women who love nice furniture.
Good luck getting your girls involved. My daughter is about as interested in woodworking as she is in watching paint peel. I agree with FG's comments about spatial abilities in women in general, but it is not a problem for me. What is of "constant annoyance" to me is lack of ability in setting up woodworking machines properly. I don't enjoy that part, and seem to be missing the innate ability many men have in this area. I do love the design process or just making it up as I go (and resolving those unforeseen problems). Your girls are young, so if they start now, perhaps they will not have either of these problems.
Oh yea, and some things are so *#%* heavy.
Best of luck
rabbet
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