Infill vs bedrock

Re: The Gospel according to Charlesworth

Rick Hoppe in L.A.

>I prefere as many vendors as possible in the marketplace of ideas and Charlesworth is serving up some fresh ones.

Re: The Gospel according to Charlesworth

David Miller from Iowa

>From whence is this all this angst coming? Cut the guy a break - I wish I was as succesful in my chosen field as he.

Dear, oh dear!!

Sgian Dubh

>---such invective.

It's just planes you're talking about guys and gals.

They either work or they don't. It's like sharpening-- you either can or you can't.

There isn't much to them as tools. Tune them up, sharpen them and use them. There's nothing fancy, mysterious or precious about it that I can think of. Slainte.

Re: The Gospel according to Charlesworth

Bob Hackett

>To quote a good friend"Just because you think you`re a driving force doesn`t mean you get to run people over".

You can be good at something and still be humble,or did that go out of fashion?

Some of the best tricks and tips I`ve ever seen are things that other WWers picked up at someone else`s shop.Those folks had been doing those things years before they became the "latest thing" and passed those tricks along with no thought of fame or fortune.It was thier opinion that"There`s nothing new under the sun" and surely someone else had thought of it first.The important thing was that you share in order to help someone else along.

Maybe it`s just that I`m a product of the people who brought me along that makes it hard for me to abide self appointed experts with large egos.

Mainely,Bob

Re: The Gospel according to Charlesworth

Greg B

>Art,

It's been a few days since I read your initial post. It probably doesn't need to be resurected, but it's been eating at me a little bit. (and the few pints tonight have dampened my impulse control...)

David Charlesworth doesn't pretend to write gospels. He is the farthest thing from any sort of self-promoter. He is a very skilled and precise maker and teacher. He had good training and credits his mentor, Ted Baly. He never pretended to have invented the techniques he teaches, although I think he should be able to take a little credit for one of his strengths: simplifying techniques so they become easy and repeatable for anyone. After teaching for so many years, he has seen the things which give people trouble and has tried to come up with fixes for them. He isn't ashamed of using honing guides, for example, because they can be used quickly and for consistent results. I see his knack for teaching and appreciate it.

There are self promoters and charlatans out there to be sure. He really is neither. He's very unassuming and more of the college professor type, with his mind not only on fine details, but on how to simplify and communicate the important points to others. Lest anyone get the impression he is too conceptual - at the expense of being practical - (I recognize "college professor" can be a pejorative) the contrary is true. He is very down to earth and understands the importance of the bottom line: making. Spend five minutes with him and you'd understand what I mean.

There. I feel better now. Need another pint, though. Nothing personal; it's just that your initial post kind of seemed so. (Sgian, are you enjoying this?)

Cheers,

Greg

Correction

Greg B

>Sorry; While there have no doubt been variations, I think the ruler trick is legitimately his. In any event, regardless of source, the techniques are sound. I have to believe he'd simply say he hopes the information he shares is "useful" to others.

Re: The Gospel according to Charlesworth

Sgian Dubh

>I lurk in a lot of these threads in the Neanderthal section, Greg. Sometime's they're informative and sometimes they're amusing too, and sometimes they just make me shake my head-- and every now and then all three and more.

I'm primarily a tool user. I'm interested in results. I'm not especially interested in the tool. A plane's a plane. Some have got bits of wood in them like my Norris's, Speirs' and a Matheithson(sp?) or two and some haven't. My Records, Stanleys and Cliftons mostly work okay too. My wooden planes whack off wood as well. I've never owned a Lie-Neilsen but the ones I've used seem to work fine as long as they're tuned and sharp. Slainte.

Just having a little fun

Greg B

>Sgian,

I get it. The results part, and couldn't agree more. Just mentioned your handle in connection with your "Oh Dear" post. There's a vast difference between a maker trying to make a living and the amatuer who perhaps delights in simply making a tool work as intended/imagined, on the way to the bottom line: the project. Probably stupid of me to risen to the bait, but I like David very much. In addition to being a provider of much useful information, he's a great guy on top of it. Anyway, the dust will probably never be kicked up to inspire another Oh Dear here, so back to lurking for me too.

Cheers,

Greg

Re: Just having a little fun

Wiley Horne--Glendora CA

>Greg,

I'm glad you spoke up for Mr. Charlesworth, and from the viewpoint of knowing the man. All I know from direct experience is that one time a coupla years ago I wrote him an email about one of his articles in Furniture & Cabinet Making. He doesn't know me from Adam's housecat, but he did give me a considered answer inside of 24 hours. That impressed me that he is a good person, and not a bit pretentious.

Wiley

Re: Just having a little fun

Greg B

>Wiley,

I can't take that much credit. I've only spent a couple of days with David, but owe him a debt of gratitude too great to repay. My day job demands analyzing people on sometimes scant information. I think one of the strongest descriptors which first comes to mind when spending any time at all with David is, "genuine".

Enough of the personal stuff. Anyone can agree or disagree with his methods. My own results took a dramatic turn for the better after reading his articles and books. Confidence and satisfaction went the same direction. Isn't that why we do this?

Cheers,

Greg