I have been following the Old Tools Group for several
months now. I first became interested in woodworking
in my 7th grade shop class and when my parents built
their house was impressed by how quickly things went
together and eventually ended up with a degree in
Construction Management. I love the sense of
accomplishment that comes from creating something
tangible. Construction lets me watch others do that.
I thought that I would be more involved when I entered
the field but have since discovered that I am really
just middle management!
My dad is a real life farm boy who does almost
everything himself. I remember watching him fix cars,
boats, lawn mowers, appliances etc and thinking that
he was so very gifted. (He is but not to the degree
that I though as an 8 year old) Because of that I
just assumed that I could too and have taught myself a
lot. I seldom hesitate to tear into things, much to
my wife's horror. That is how I ended up managing an
apartment in college as a part time job. Also the
reason that I have at least 10 projects under way
currently.
I got married while in college and now have 2 kids, 3
year old Grace and 2 month old Keith. They have
seriously impacted my life, mostly for good. My mom
maintains that Grace is like I was at that age which
isn't exactly a good thing! Luckily Keith is much
easier, otherwise we would be done having kids! As a
result I have a lot less time for woodworking.
I got really interested in making furniture once we
bought our house four years ago. (This also has a lot
to do with being cheap or financially conscientious as
I tell my wife) Originally the idea was to buy
fixer-uppers but this house was enough for me to
realize that I didn't have the time for major remodel
work with my young family. Once I got the yard in and
the basement complete (the house was new and had a
1700 sf basement with nothing in it) I started into
making furniture. As part of the basement build-out I
carved out a 12' x 30' space for my shop which I share
with the data closet, furnace and water heater. I
also use part of the garage where the messy tools
reside.
To date I have made a country style dining room table
from some old barn beams from one of my parents barns
that succumbed to weather, a cherry coffee table,
several end tables for our house a buffet, misc. small
gifts as well as refinished an antique dining room
table and 8 chairs and a couple dressers. There is of
course the smattering of small stuff like boxes and
stuff for the friends and neighbors.
While trying to repair antique furniture I leaned
about hide glue and veneering and ended up using these
techniques to rebuild the chairs and fix some of the
damaged veneer on a 20's era dresser. This is really
where I became enthralled with hand tools and the best
ways as opposed to fastest/ easiest. This was when I
followed Badger Pond. I migrated to Woodcentral and
occasionally visit Woodnet.
I also got excited about collec, er using hand tools.
They are much easier to use at night when the kids and
spouse are in bed than their tailed cousins. I have
managed to sneak war era Bailey planes from #3 though
#8 in and some of them even make nice shavings, this
acquisition of course necessitated the procuring of
water stones and then the there are the pile of saws
that I will learn to sharpen someday as well as the
Bob Smalser inspired pile of socket chisels to rehab.
Not to mention several hundred board feet of various
wood for all the hand cut dovetails and mortise
constructed fine furniture that I will be building any
time now. :)
I have finally admitted to myself, but no one else,
that I like the older tools, esp. planes, socket
chisels and back saws for their intrinsic beauty as
well as the promise of the work that they can produce
if I learn the necessary skills.
I bought a bunch of air dried western maple for a
classic work bench that I hope to start this winter, I
just need to finish the next 8 chairs, another antique
table and a smattering of other projects I have
started before I can get to it! I am constantly
reminded of this every time I see the twin screw
Veritas vice that I got from SWAMBO for my birthday
glaring at me each time I enter the shop crying out to
be installed and used.
I love to see all the great tools that you guys find
and make, they inspire me to dream that one day I will
have the skill to make my own tools.
Thanks for the great community and for offering up
great tools that I would otherwise have to risk Ebay
to find.
Matthew Williams
Marysville, WA
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