My Journey in Writing, Ranting, and Woodworking

I was hanging out in a forum the other night.  It was suggested, when I asked about the Festool system vs. a table saw, that I should stick to hand tools, because they thought it would be better for my type of woodworking.  This got me thinking…So I responded and decided it would be worth putting up on the blog.

I am not sure I can say exactly what type of woodworker I will be.  Do most woodworkers know this after only 8 months?  I certainly don’t.

I have been practicing hand cut dovetails, flattening a twisted board with an antique Jack plane, and done some mortise and tenons by hand.  I am still new enough that I don’t do any of these thing well, but I am not done practicing either.

I made my living, for 3 years, designing spaces in virtual worlds and as such have hundreds of pieces of furniture already designed.  My works range from decorative vases, to room screens, leather couches, a chair based upon a 1930′s Chinese Art Deco design.  I am a photographer and believe I have a reasonable eye for color, composition and design.

I am fascinated by the works of many.  From the Pietro Piffetti and Lacca Povera in early 18th century Venice, to Thomas Shearer and George Hepplewhite’s designs.  I attended a show on Greene and Greene, last year at the Renwick in DC, six times.  I like Stickley, though I would never make it with quarter sawn oak.  The genius of Siegfried Bing is almost as exciting for me as that of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.  Perhaps my favorite is the furniture created by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, though Krenov, Maloof and Tage Frid all fill me with wonder too.

I like to think about the day when I am ready to make furniture.  What will the first pieces be like?  It seems prudent to, like a painter, copy the works of others, before trying my own.  Would a Windsor chair be the style that would work with my motif?  Probably not.  Actually I don’t really have a motive at this juncture, but I will someday.  Though I lean towards the more modern and a Windsor would look out of place, learning the skills to make one, would be very valuable.  I just might take a class.

I like wood.  I like art.  I have wanted to take up this hobby for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I was 42 that I lived in a house, where I had the space to have the tools, to start the journey.

I want to learn to use most hand tools.  I want to learn to use most power tools.  I think there is value in machines too.  I find every task I perform, whether I screw it up or not, to be interesting.  Each day fills me with wonder and joy.  I want to build.  I want to turn.  Mostly though, I just want to try to learn something every single day for as long as I am able.

So I appreciate your advice and I am already trying to learn some.  I have a Stanley 4 1/2, a Bailey 5, Stanley 45, 50, 78 and a 51 and 80.  I have only really learned to use the 4 1/2 and 5 thus far.  I just got a Lie Nielson 3/4 chisel and a fishtail.

That being said, I am leaning towards Laguna for a bandsaw, but I change my mind on the subject frequently.  (Lots of bad stuff about their customer service)

So that was my response. The photo is one of my virtual world designs.  I am not sure that I would use marble for the legs in real life.