Farewell Joe Johns *LINK*
Alan Young
On Christmas morning I turned on my computer and saw the sad news that Joe Johns had passed. I met Joe Johns in the summer of 2005 at Lee Grindingers Montanafest. The gathering still remains a highlight of my woodworking life-I met Lee and Ellis that weekend and had a spectacular time talking everything woodworking and partying and having great fun.. People came from all over the country for this three day event-Joe Johns came from not too-far away Ronan Montana. He was one of the presenters for the event-talking about shop safety and table saw maintenance.
Joe also ran an e-mail list for woodworkers that I signed up for after meeting him at Montanafest. A few months after getting home Joe posted a pciture of a 1973 Delta Unisaw that he bought an estate sale just because it was there. He then offered up to the list-I accepted and a couple weeks later a big crate came to my place where my son-in-law helped me unload it a get it piece by piece down to my basement shop. For the last 12 years it has been the work horse of my shop-not just as a Table saw but as a work bench assembly table and too-often a lumber storage rack.
I know Joe would like to think I had taken better care of the saw in regards to it's appearnce but I hope he knows how much I have enjoyed usng this saw and what work it has helped me turn out. Thanks Joe- I'll always remember you when I turn on the Delta.
RIP Joe.
PS .I gave Joe a "Michigan gift" It was a Porter Cable Biscuit Joiner container-full of shavings from a walnut tree that came from Dexter, Michigan not far from where I live. In nearly everyone of his You-Tube videos taken in his Twisted Knot Woodshop-The canister can be spotted all alone at the top of the storage shelves in the back left corner of his shop.
These shelevs are just to the left of his double table saw set up. 29:30 into the video.
Joe John's Shop Twisted Knot Woodshop Tour
