Jack Erwin: "The Tuner" (longish)
Rusty Miller
>I met Jack about 30 years ago when I got out of the Air Force and went to work at C.G. Conn (they make musical instruments). Jack worked in the tool & die department. I only worked at Conn for about six months. I saw Jack around town once in a while over the next 29 years. Then one day when I went to a bike shop with my son, Jack was there also. We got to talking and it just so happened I was waring a Lie-Nielson t-shirt. He mentioned that he had a couple of LN saws and planes.
After chatting for about 30 minutes he invited me to come to his shop sometime. A few weeks later I did make it to his shop. His little one car garage shop is stuffed full. He did have a couple LN saws (maybe 7 or 8).
To make a long story a little shorter, over the next few months we got to be pretty good friends and woodworking buddys. He's been to my shop a few times also. Let me say Jack is a very good woodworker. He has made a lot of the things that are in his house. He is especially good at hand cutting dovetails. The thing that really interested me most about Jack is his ability to tune up planes, machines or just about anything in the shop, (hence the name "The Tuner"). He has quite a few old planes that he has tuned up that work better than new. His machinery is in tip top shape. He has helped me with a lot of my tools in my shop.
I'm just glad to have met him again after 30 years. I have not met many woodworkers in my town especially any that have herd of James Krenov or Garrett Hack or Lonnie Bird or Ellis Walentine, or other big name woodworkers.
Just wanted to let others know that it's nice to have a friend with the same interests as you to talk to about it.
Rusty-Tye,TX