L-R: Offerman Woodshop's Mike Flores and Lee Rh standing amid a stack of canoes.
Like many of you, I caught the woodworking bug as a kid–in large part as a result of genetics. My grandfather was a roofer, my great-grandfather was a shipbuilder, my great uncle was a furniture maker…you get the idea. That said, I should confess to feelings of “weirdness” as a kid. None of my other friends had a pint-sized (working) bench like mine. None of my classmates were able to sink a 10d nail in four blows without massacring at least one finger. In short, I always felt like I was “built” for this line of work.
Looking back, I feel as though woodworkers like me (or “us”) were viewed as simple “gear heads” who knew how to use tools, and didn’t mind a bit of dark grease under their fingernails. I however, thought of myself as more of an artist, able to transform a rough-sawn plank of wood into just about anything. Over the past few years, I’ve seen that sentiment, that ability to consider woodworkers as “artists” grow. Enter Nick Offerman’s team of woodworking elves.
 Tour the workshop of the man who put the “must have” back in “mustache.” |
We’ve covered Nick before here at FWW.com, so I don’t feel the need to re-hash the obvious. That said, Rainn Wilson, a comedic colleague of Nick’s, recently posted a profile on Nick’s shop via his YouTube channel, Soul Pancake. It’s the kind of video that just fills your soul with the urge to go out and handplane a board. If you’re in search of a bit of woodworking inspiration, look no further. Sit back and take in the aroma of sapele, maple, and cherry lumber being put through their paces by the capable shop dogs at Offerman Woodshop. You’ll be glad you did.
Subcultures: Inside the World of Woodworkers!
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L-R: Offerman Woodshop's Mike Flores and Lee Rh standing amid a stack of canoes.
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The Offerman crew are rather partial to working with beautiful, beefy slabs.
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Delicate lines are just as easy to handle for Offerman Woodshop.
Comments
This video is awesome.... What these craftspeople feel is exactly how I feel. The feeling is amazing. Thank you for sharing.
FR
As a long time HS Woodworking Teacher I can tell you that there is nothing that can match seeing this kind of passion germinate and grow in my students. Bravo!!!
To hear the passion and the respect these people have for wood and the craft of woodworking is refreshing to my spirit.
Folks, you are lucky to have the true spirit in you.
Carry on! Fill your hearts!
This is fantastic....
Into the autumn of my life, I am so envious of these young people that have this opportunity to creat there future, whether it be a hobby or career in woodworking or any craft. Stay with it!!
Very inspiring video. Thank you for sharing about your passion.
This video more than anything else lately is what has gotten me started working with wood. So, be nice to the new guy, I'm sure I'll have some dumb questions you can steer me right on soon enough.
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