OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

170111 "Jordan Baker" <jordan@b...> 2007‑05‑25 Bio
After lurking for quite some time, I have been convinced  that even though I
am unlikely to have much to  contribute, I should post a bio. (I might want
to ask a  question or three at some point).
Greetings all:

My name is Jordan Baker and I live and work in Northern  Virginia.  My
much-better-half and I run a title and  escrow company (think real estate
stuff) and spend far  too much time on the road.  If we could get rid of the
beltway- and most of the cars on it- this might not be a  bad place to live.

I can trace the point I started down the slope and certain points where I
picked up a great deal of speed.

For me, the top of the slope appeared when I was sitting in a hotel room in
a foreign land- (Roanoke, Virginia  seemed that way to a yankee from
Detroit).  It was the  morning before taking the bar exam and while flipping
through the channels I came across a man in a red plaid shirt who talked
funny (even for a yankee) and who was about to make a set of bookcases. I
watched with my mouth open as the bookcases came to life and was left with 3
impressions:

1) Plaid Shirt (who I came to know as "Nahm") made it look as though I,
ill-equipped and untrained as I was, could maybe do this "woodworking
thing;"  2) I  could probably do it even without the wall sized sanding
machine he had in his shop (at least I hoped so); and 3) It seemed MUCH more
interesting than any of the subjects I was about to be tested on.

After acquiring and using power tools for some time, I decided to try hand
cut dovetails.  After all, I had the free chisels that had come with my
tailed router.  They should be used for SOMETHING.  My hand skills developed
slowly but I enjoyed it.  I picked up much speed on the slope, however, when
watching someone else chop  dovetails.  HIS chisels actually sliced cleanly
through the wood.  What were these- MAGIC chisels??  Compared to the chewed
up screwdrivers I was calling my own chisels-  yes, there was some magic
there.

Learning what tools are capable of if they are actually sharpened and honed
was probably my single greatest breakthrough with regard to woodworking or
tools.

Sharp chisels led to me frantically looking around the shop- "what else can
I sharpen?  Let's try that  block plane thingy that never worked!"

Everyone knows what happens next- "How can I acquire MORE metal to
sharpen?"- and put it to use, of course.

Soon I'm clipping down the slope like its a luge run-  blinking the tears
out of my eyes so I don't miss the signs that say "Estate Sale" or "Flea
Market."

I won't be outbidding any of you on tools "Rare and Ingenious" any time
soon, but if I get to that user quality Stanley plane or Disston backsaw
first, it's  mine (much to the dismay of SWM usually BO).

I don't expect that I'll be posting much, as my enthusiasm far outweighs my
knowledge or experience.  I look forward to continuing my galootish
education  however, and for old tools- this list is the best education there
is.

Best regards,

JB

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Recent Bios FAQ