What’s new:
Nothing! This, in itself, is not new. 2008 has been a real bust as far as woodworking is concerned at Camp Hafwit. So much so that it is starting to concern me. More and more, I wonder if I can even call myself a woodworker. Instead, I should call myself a ‘woodworking tool upgrader’ because that is the majority of any woodworking related activity I have performed. Sure, there were a couple of seminars I attended (Gary Rogowski’s visit to my local Woodcraft was awesome!) and I haven’t missed an episode of “The Woodwright’s Shop” but for the most part, all I have done is gather more tools and read about and watch things about woodworking. I am a woodworker! I mean it, I am!
Without going into too much detail, I’ve just been too darn busy. I wish I could say my lack of shop time has been due to burn-out, but I think it is burn-out on things outside the shop that are preventing me from going inside. Work is going great, but I spent the majority of the year working anywhere from 50-70 hours a week which left precious little time for anything else. It’s starting to slow down now that the summer and the election is over and the economy is grinding to a halt. The result should be more time for the shop, right? Not so fast. Now we are moving into the holiday season. Again, more commitments and responsibilities.
“Well you have enough time to blog about it. Why don’t you spend that time in the shop!” you say. You’re right. I should. That is, if I had a shop…
For those of you who don’t know, my shop is actually my father-in-law’s shop. I have full 24/7 access to it but its 10 miles from my house.
“So?”
Well, it’s 10 miles from my wife and kids. After being away at work for 10-12 hours a day, the family needs to see Dad once in a while and I need to see them. Plus, I don’t want to have to plan or schedule my time in the shop. I want to be able to get up from the couch and walk into the garage and start doing something whenever the urge hits, not just when it’s convenient. That way the kids could come in and ‘help’ if they want (Our 4 year old, Sam loves to pound nails and use the Yankee drill) and I could be there, at home, which is where I want to be in the first place.
Again you ask “So? Do something about it!” Well, I intend to but I can’t leave my father-in-law with an empty shop. So here’s my plan; a hand-tool only shop. What do you think about that?
Give up power tools and become a Neanderthal? Not on your life! However, I do think I have become far too dependent on the table saw, band saw, chop saw, router, drill press, jointer, and planer. I have all the necessary tools and ability (sans expertise) to get the same results by hand that these corded tools get. Plus Lie-Nielsen and Veritas have made a small fortune from me this year. It’s time I start justifying my hand-tool collection’s existence.
There you have it. I will become the “Home Hand Tool Woodworker”. I welcome any thoughts or comments. Am I an idiot, or genius? Let me know.
Meanwhile, I’ll be in traffic listening to a woodworking podcast or going through the TIVO looking for Roy Underhill.
The Splintered Board.
Last week, Rick Waters of “The Splintered Board Podcast” had some pretty wonderful things to say about an ugly old Stanley plane I sent him in episode 25 “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise”.
Thank you, Rick! You are too kind and I hope you get some use out of the boat anchor!
“The Splintered Board Podcast” is one of the regular podcasts I refuse to miss. Rick’s insight and fresh perspective on woodworking are extremely timely and valuable. Well worth a listen!
You can also find Rick co-hosting “The Sawdust Chronicles” podcast with his good friend Erik Pearson. Recently these men have been featuring conversations with both amateur and professional woodworkers who are active in the Digital Woodworking arenas. Check it out on iTunes or here.
Your first project should be building a nice workbench. Keep in mind that your first bench will not be your last. Read “The Schwartz’s” book and start designing.
I would also suggest that you don’t let go of power tools all together. They have their place as do your hand tools. Plan out your projects with a cut list. Then take that cut list to your F-I-L and do the rough cutting. Then you can bring home the parts and do the joinery and finish with your hand tools. I like both my hand tools and power tools and they work well together.
TTFN
Michael
I agree with your notion that too many of us have become wed to the idea that we’ve got to have lots of power tools to do anything. More and more I find myself doing it “by hand” either because it’s faster or because I can get better results.
And since you’re talking about it, if I could trade my table saw for a good-size bandsaw, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
Cheers — Larry
Thanks for the comments, guys! Please understand, I would never give up my power tools – I love the tablesaw, bandsaw, drill press, etc. I simply don’t have the room for them at home and look at this as an opportunity to better my skills at hand work.
More than that, I want to do more woodworking at home so I can be near my family. My children are young and I want to spend as much time with them as possible. Maybe one of them will pick it up. If not, at least they will understand the importance of a hobby and being active and being potentially productive. Staying at work 10 hours a day then away another 4-6 at the shop isn’t the expample I want to set for them.
If the urge does hit me, I have a very (read VERY) old Shopsmith I could drag home from my in-laws, but hand work has become my passion and I want to be able to say that I can do (and have done) anything by hand that I ever did with a power tool. Moldings, ripping, routing, you name it.
You have started down the slippery slope into hand tools. I applaud your efforts but can’t follow you as far down. Personally I need the power tools to do things I wouldn’t dare to attempt with hand tools, cutting veneers for example.
I also like the idea of getting your kids in the shop with you. Hand tools make this a safer proposition especially with small children. Though they still need to learn shop safety even with hand tools. There be some sharp blades that can easily cut. I learned that as I learned how to sharpen my tools. lol
Take Care and enjoy the time with the family.
Michael
Hey- what are some tools that you’d like to “invest” in? Christmas is around the corner…. and we STILL don’t have your list, Dad.