SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Dick Coers

For 25 of my 46 years of woodworking, it was my livelihood. The first 7 years was out of necessity, to furnish our apartment and home with furniture on a limited budget. Thrown in there was the occasional job to pay for more tools. Then I started a serious part-time job that worked into opening a business. The last decade plus has gone from furniture to decorative turning. Still operating a part-time business. The desire to sell has diminished to doing a single holiday show each year. Selling has not been good for my spirit. I'm of the age where I know I have paid my dues and developed some real skills. It actually hurts to hear such simple comments (like how long does it take to make?, or did you do that yourself?, or my uncle makes duck calls, or the worst, what is that used for?) as they walk on by. I had the goal of woodworking until I died, nearly all my life. But that has changed with age and I find other interests taking much more of my time. I'm all tooled up and have wood for a couple lifetimes, but loosing interest fast. What a conundrum!

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Mark Nowicki

Like Dick, whatever interest I had,is almost gone.

I find that, in my sixth decade, I am more interested in using what is left of my physical abilities than turning big trees into boxes for socks.

The only woodworking I plan is small projects for family and friends: a humidor, small boxes, an ukulele.

After that I will try building model ships.

Started getting rid of my tools, but, again like Dick, humanoids, especially the frugal ones , are not my favourite species so it is not an enjoyable process.

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Barry Irby

I have retired from my daily job and have lots of time for woodworking. I have accumulated tools and a lifetime supply of wood. Am building furniture for family and friends. Free to family and enough to cover direct costs to friends. Actually I am building tombstones. Something to remember me by when I am gone.

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Jesse Cloud

I worked on computer software most of my life. When I retired I dove into woodworking and enjoyed making real things that are useful to people. Making a piece of furniture exactly the way she wants it is a way I can express my love for my wife. I always insist on doing each new project in a way that teaches me something, so the projects take much longer than they need to.

I'll be 70 in a couple of months so its probably time to look seriously and decide whether woodworking is the way I way to spend what time is left.

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Paul Leuba

I am 75 and retired for about 10 years from IT project management and consulting roles. I miss the daily challenges of solving problems and reaching goals at work, so, wood working provides me with a forum to be challenged without the grind of externally imposed schedules and budgets.

I find that I seek out wood working projects that stretch my skills and allow me to learn something new on each project. It’s rewarding to me that the products of my labor iare useful to family and friends, but, my primary motivation is self fulfillment.

Paul in Hunt Valley, MD

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Jim Dillon

As a 76-year old "elder-orphan" (i.e. no children/grandchildren/relatives) and living in a small house, my 30-year woodworking journey has become somewhat self-limiting. Nonetheless, I have enjoyed immensely the experience of learning a new skill, cutting a piece of wood "4-square" (I still remember that first experience), and applying the first finish coat to a project. I'm hoping my 2-year hiatus from butchering another piece of wood will end soon, as I miss using my hands to make something. Maybe that Krenov-inspired cabinet or entertainment center will yet get built! Jim

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

After 30 years working in a basement shop ducking under the HVAC ducts, I made the decision to build my dream shop; 900 square feet with a 10 foot ceiling and actual windows. The machines are now moved, located, re-tuned, and connected to the new dust collection system. The clamps are hung on the wall with care. The walnut, maple, and cherry are stacked and ready for use. The open sketchbook lays on the counter, ready to remind me of all the items I’ve been planning to make.

“So kids, who would like this dining table?” “Geez, Dad, way cool and love it but don’t have any room.”

“How about this credenza?” “Wow, Pop, lovely, but it won’t go with the other stuff and the dining table you made for us.”

“Hey, how ‘bout a new media center, Hon?” “Sweetheart, the TV’s on the wall now, and the music is streamed. I don’t want to have to keep that thing polished.”

“Got some neat walnut and maple for cutting/serving boards or turned platters! Want some?” “Dad, I have the cabinet stuffed with a half dozen already. Can’t take any more.”

So, why does the old refrain “All dressed up but no where to go” keep ringing in my head?

Well, that dining table is getting made anyway, and the lathe beckons!

Tally-Ho!! ONWARD!!!

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Hank Knight

I'm 75. I've been retired for six years. Woodworking has been my hobby for most of my life. When I was a kid, my father took up woodworking as a hobby and I followed along. Over the years, I've been interested in lots of other things, sailing, music, photography and others, but woodworking pulls me back. It always has. I enjoy the challenge of learning new skills and solving problems; it keeps my head in the game. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment when I build something I'm satisfied with. I love the knowledge that I can build a piece of furniture that is demonstrably better that almost anything I can buy on today's furniture market. I enjoy the accolades my work gets from friends and acquaintances, and I especially enjoy applying my skills to help neighbors and friends with projects they thought were impossible or beyond their means. In recent years I've enjoyed working on joint projects in my shop with my grown daughter, my only child, experiences I will cherish to my grave. I hope I live and remain functional long enough to share what I've learned with my grandson. In this regard, I hope my grandson demonstrates some interest in woodworking. I couldn't help but notice that all of the responses to Ellis' survey are from guys like me, guys in their 60s and 70s, retired, mostly, and entering the afternoons and evenings of their lives. The sad thing here is that few young people these days show much interest in woodworking. I hope the resurgence in popularity of woodworking post WWII (my generation) is imbedded deeply enough to carry these skills and this culture forward to succeeding generations. It is eminently satisfying and rewarding to some of us.

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

al morgan

I got in, because my father was a good woodworker, but only showed me a couple of things...he was a machinist by trade, but was handy with wood working. Anyway, I became an engineer (I are), and got into computer programming work, that was pretty much all mental effort (please no comments), and at the end of the day I realized I needed something to do with my hands...to sort of balance out all that thinking with physical.

Also, I realized I needed to have a hobby to retire to...I've spent the last 20 years getting ready for my hobby by buying woodworking stuff, reading wood working stuff, lurking on this site and others, doing some minor woodworking stuff,and now that I'm retired I found it somewhat difficult to pursue. My ideal of woodworking is to build classic furniture, my wife's is to put up a shelf...somewhat 180 degrees.

I've made a special effort to involve my son in woodworking, something I felt I needed to do, for something for him to do, and something for him to remember our time together.

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Henry (Raleigh NC)

I'm not quite in the retirement set the way many other posters are, but my mustache is gray!

I have fallen back on woodworking and home repair skills when needed - as income producers for times there isn't a regular job. But I continue to enjoy the inherent challenges.

What role does "making stuff" play in your life -- making functional things for yourself and others?

things for sale?

artistic statements?

tactual pleasures?

all of the above? Yes

Functional - and hopefully aesthetically pleasing - furniture in our home (family, church). Not so much an artistic statements, but making custom pieces to fit the need/want.

Henry

What are your ambitions for building new skills or reaching new heights of accomplishment?

I typically try to stretch my skill set in projects, and have lots of way left to do that. Embellishments (inlays), dovetails, drawers, casework....

Is there one particular bucket-list project that you would like to do before you go to your great reward (besides amassing all the tools in the world)? Seems to me like a Maloof (or similar) rocker would be one thing I would consider a crowning piece.

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

Ed Wesolek

Hell-o Everyone,

I have enjoyed reading this section of the Ides of September. I too am a 64 year old gentleman working at trying to be a wood worker. I am in the process of finishing up on building new work benches in my barn for my work shop. This is my third woodworking shop and of course it is the best. A nice barn that is heated for us here in Michigan, sorry no air condition but a lot of fans for the summer. I also have enough wood to last the rest of my lifetime, not to mention lots of tools. One of my new goals is to use up all of the wood that I have accumulated over the years. Like everyone else, I build things out of a need for that person to help them out. I also like to increase my skills by trying different skills when building many different pieces of furniture. My younger daughter wants everything that I build, my oldest daughter does not want any of the things that I build. Go figure. I build and do woodworking simply for the enjoyment of keeping my hands busy along with my mind. The cherry on top comes when I give the gift to that person and I get a nice smile form them. For me it is pure enjoyment of creating something from the gathered wood. Someone will have a great barn when this old man moves on. I hope that they will enjoy it.

Re: SURVEY: Ides of September +8

johannaj

I, too, retired from IT a couple of years ago. I agree, Paul, that woodworking supplies the need for mental challenges - sometimes over-supplied! I'm presently working on a corner cabinet with a curved front that is driving me mad!