Survey question: Let's try this one

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

Henry (Raleigh NC)

Choice of projects you ask. I did choose to make a desk for my wife who suddenly was 'Work from Home'. There's a post detailing the build, and questions related to a pencil drawer buried in the archives here. It's my only piece that I named - Covid desk.

We are planning major bathroom reno - but that is not really Covid related. It's living for 25 years with a master bath that is too small.

Henry

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

"how your woodworking has changed, if at all, in response to the sobering reality of the past nine months. Have you been spending more (or less) time in the shop?"

Much much less. I've done almost zero woodworking. My daughter requested I build a bookcase for her, but I need cherry lumber and don't want to go out and buy any. She needs it for her baby room by March...

"So how has the pandemic changed your life or outlook?"

It has changed drastically. We rarely go out unless it's necessary. Rarely see friends and family. No going out to diner, nothing.

I'm scared to death of this virus (not afraid to admit it) and trying really hard not to get it. I'd be the first in line to get vaccinated if I could.

I get to be the outlier

John in NM

Time in shop: I've spent a bit more time in the shop and working on the houses because I've had the time to spend. The downside to the more time available is I notice more how tedious some of the production work is - I may make a very good hourly rate on the products I sell, but figuring in the time spent stalling the boring steps I'm probably not even making minimum wage at it!

Changed outlook: The last 9 months haven't changed my outlook at all - but major events in 2018 did change it so perhaps had all been the same in 2020 as in 2017 the pandemic would have had more effect on outlook. I suppose I was already inoculated for the uncertainty of life.

The pandemic effects have been minimal in my life, mostly because I split my time between two very rural zip codes. Case counts are low in both, and though the counties they are in have alarming statistics, those are due mostly to their small urban areas. In a normal week I might see a few of the neighbors in passing but mostly my wife and I are alone anyway, its been that way for years.

That said, I do notice that I'm more likely to start big projects and lay in supplies for the future, especially with wood retailers who may need the business - I used to be more apt to go get wood when I needed it.

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

David Weaver

working from home, I'd have more time in theory to do more in the shop, but I have done about the same everything as I did previously going to work.

* same amount of cleaning (only when the shop becomes unusable)

* same amount of time spent in the shop making and experimenting

I've always used time on public trans to locate and get supplies for projects that aren't easily found locally, and that goes away when not riding public trans. I also use that as time to list things that I've changed my mind on and dumped, so all of the "nest building" I thought I'd do has gone to nothing.

One of the more interesting side effects is that while I"m here, the kids are upstairs, and I can hear them, which makes for a small amount of guilt when they're playing or bored (even though I don't have much of that kind of guilt bone) and figured that over lunch, etc, I could easily go up and sit and have quality time with the kids for an hour or so.

Only to find out that they're OK with part of that going that way - but within about 10 or 15 minutes, I'm encroaching on their ability to do things they want to do (like continue on a lego project, etc, over lunch).

The mrs. will say "are you going to spend lunch in the shop? What about your kids?" I shut it down, go up, ask the kids what games they want to play "not now, dad. Maybe later"

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

Hank Knight

I have a long term project, a slant top desk, I've been working on since well before the pandemic began. When all this insanity started I spent a lot of time on it and made good progress. I must be a little ADD because I get bored with it, much more so when I spend a lot of time on it without a break. I've done several interim projects for neighbors that broke the boredom, but none recently. I'm thinking about shelving the desk for a while and building a corner cupboard for LOML. It should go faster and be a little less challenging. I'll get back to the desk before long.

As for how my life and outlook has changed because of the pandemic, the answer is not too much. Someone said recently that you don't realize how antisocial you are until there is a pandemic and your life doesn't change. I think that applies to me. My wife and I have been homebodies for years, so this hasn't changed our basic routines much. We don't see friends as often, and we don't go out to eat or to athletic events like we did before the pandemic; but otherwise, our life remains about the same.

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

Dick Coers

My woodworking has dropped off over the last few years, but I've hardly turned on a machine this year. With wife and I having several risk factors, we are pretty much locked down. So going into the basement shop has little appeal when I can go for an eBike ride in the sunshine. Nearing 3,000 miles for this year. Then we bought our sons Mazda MX-5 Miata convertible, and drives are now as appealing as rides. I was so desperate to be outside, I even painted the house!

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

Jim Dillon

My wife likes to say, a little too often IMO, what's the difference between now and before the pandemic? We didn't go anywhere then, and we sure don't now . Our "big adventure" back then was a Sunday trip to recycling, the pet store, the grocery store, then a nice lunch somewhere. Now, we have not been to a restaurant since March, avoid crowds (and friends ), wear a mask, and use hand sanitizer when called for. So in that sense, life is different. I cancelled my 35-year membership in the local YMCA as I didn't feel comfortable using the facility - and I really miss the swimming, sauna and steam rooms, hot tub etc. plus the comradery among members. We have cancelled our annual Xmas party this year (second time in 45 years) as it didn't seem like a good idea.

Spent the past summer doing home projects, mostly painting, yard work, other hobbies (photography, genealogy, cooking, reading) etc. Plus entertaining seven cats and playing frisbee with the dog.

The pandemic has not impacted my woodworking as I haven't done much for the past two years; we have run out of space for new projects. Jim

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

Jack Dover

Time in the shop: I get more, because 2 hrs of commute is saved every day and I'm way more productive working from home, so my workday about 1hr shorter. Previously there were days I was just sitting and doing nothing being exhausted from day job, don't remember anything like that since the lockdown has started. I read less now though and many plans for work around the house are still just plans.

Projects: maybe one special lockdown project - a few planter boxes. We were preparing since December'19, had no idea how a lockdown would be like, and I made a few quick planters and trellises for basic veggies. Turned out we both liked gardening so much we agreed to a better setup next year regardless of a situation.

Other than that my projects tend to get bigger and bigger. Not a wardrobe scale yet, but big enough to present a challenge to my tools and skills. Early on I had no idea what am I doing so I wasn't really afraid of anything. Today knowing which job is good and which isn't is so daunting I just mess around the shop not really advancing a project, e.g. resharpening once-a-year tools, re-arranging tools, cleaning, etc. This is exacerbated by a constant flow of out of band honey-dos, but who doesn't have those?

Materials: I have plenty, should be enough for a year or more. All was bought before the pandemic and most of it was saved for that special project or the day "I'll have skills". Attending a few estate sales and hearing a few stories behind some really great purchases I realized this day might never happen and that I don't want my stuff to end up on an estate sale unused. So I'm going through my modest stack of domestic hardwoods to its bottom, where 200 bf of QS American beech wait the day I'll finally get to my dream of making my own planes.

Let's try this one

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

When the Lockdown hit (and the courts here closed) my office basically shut down.

That gave me lots of time to hide out in the new shop and be productive.

Finished a half-size model of the dining table I had designed, spent a bunch of time on the lathe with the red maple I harvested, even took on and completed a turning commission, completed a log-sculpture side table for my son and a storage bench for my daughter's kitchen, and milled up all the PT 2x needed to replace 20' of walk.

I also dove into the former shop area of the basement and ripped out all the wiring I had installed for the old shop, took out the remaining dust collection piping and repaired the holes, revised the service panels and breakers, and built storage shelves for my kid's stuff that had been sitting in stacked boxes for decades. Lastly vacuumed the area, and got a wide smile from Memsahib.

Then lockdown got sorta lifted and I had to go back to work. That's put a whole lot of crimp in my woodworking.

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Philip F Duffy

iT has kept us away from family and friends, except those so very close. It has save me some money because I do not go shopping as much, if at all, and my self imposed isolation is just sort of like going on deployments like I used to and am use to.. p

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

Jim O'Connor

I spent April making the three chairs for the church and since then have mostly been carving caricatures, trolls, Santas, etc. for giveaways and presents. Took one today to a neighbor fisherman who has been holed up and he was very grateful for the reminder and the visit. So should continue to do that.

I ran out of Basswood and had to travel 165 miles to get some but got to visit a granddaughter on the way.

Our life hasn't changed except that we usually took an extended trip, 3 or 4 weeks each year. That has been cancelled.

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

JL

Lumber shopping is less. I am using more of my "stash" as opposed to buying lumber.

Working more on "shop things". Jigs, racks and things.

As my wife is home all the time - the "honey do" list is larger

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

Ron in Sterling, CT

The Pandemic has changed our lives in several ways. First, when the Pandemic struck, we decided to stay here in Arizona for the summer rather than travel back to Connecticut. That was great for a while as I spent a lot of time in in our community woodshop. Then in July both my wife and I got COVID 19. We each spent 6 days in the hospital and were on oxygen for nearly a month after. The good news is that we were fortunate and only had a mild case of the virus. We are both fully recovered and back to normal. For that we are very thankful. I am back to spending my weekday mornings in the woodshop working on several Intarsia projects.

Ron

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

al morgan

Not really any changes....I've recently retired so I can stay at home and be with my grand kids and family. They where stay at home anyway (home school and work from home). No big difference. Although I know people are dieing from the virus, and its terrible to have to loose someone to it, the economics and other effects from the government response have their impacts on lives too....sometimes lives are lost too. The only major affect on myself has been a curtailment on traveling and vacations...more impact on my kids and grandkids than me anyway. But, I'd be the first to admit, that probably my tune would be different if I lost someone close to me.

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

Joe W

As far as woodworking, there has been little change. I have been procrastinating on a project for a couple of years now, and even with some extra time off from work this year, I still have not worked on the project. The lack of shop time had more to do with changes in the family structure than the virus. But on the other hand, I have finally started to attempt to sharpen my chisels and a few plane irons. Sharpening is a skill I have been meaning to improve upon and have finally started.

Like just about everybody else, our personal lives have changed somewhat. We are both required to be at work, so nothing has changed there, but we eat out less, and spend a lot less time socializing with friends and family. Grocery shopping habits have changed. We are more cognizant of what we have on hand and no longeer wait until we run out of something before we buy replacements.

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

Bruce, a MN Galoot

The pandemic has had a big impact on my life by restricting our travel, friendships and visits with our kids and grandkids.

In my shop, however, I seem to be getting more things done, completing projects I’ve ignored for far too long. That’s a good thing.

One aspect of my woodworking life that has suffered greatly is my participation in our woodworking club. I’m a mentor/instructor on a regular basis and haven’t been able to be there since last winter. It’s a big part of my social life, too, so the virus has played another deleterious role.

Re: Survey question: Let's try this one

jessecloud

I've stopped buying tools. With my age and underlying conditions, I am pretty vulnerable to COVID. Whenever I see something I want, there's always the thought "Will I be alive this summer to use that tool?"

Hopefully the vaccine will change all that.