OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

132232 "Terry McClean" <terrymcclean@r...> 2004‑04‑16 Bio
G'day from the Ottawa Valley.

Here I am, Belfast born, but now a long term Canadian, living in Ottawa.
I've come to woodworking as a hobby. After general work around the house
I've now developed a strong interest in woodworking with hand tools.
Right now I'm swinging both ways; old hand tools and new hand tools.
That last part must come from living so close to Lee Valley.

A couple of courses in Windsor chair making were fascinating and I now
have a shaving horse and pole lathe to go along with the two chairs I've
made on the courses. I've been accumulating other tools for chair making
and my goal now is try it on my own.

Like others, working with hand tools I've come to appreciate the
necessity for sharpening. I've turned to this group for lots of
information and have benefited from lots of feedback to my questions on
hand-cranked grinders, restoring wooden spokeshave mouths, etc. I can
only hope that I'll be able to return the favor in the future.

Yard sales, flea markets, antique stores and tool sales have caught
my attention. But when necessary I've been willing to buy new.
Unhappy with the inshaves I'd found I was able to find a blacksmith
(200 miles away)who made me a beauty. I met the blacksmith when I
picked up the inshave at the old tools show at Pickering, Ontario a
couple of weeks ago.

I have posted here and in other forums so I'm not a total newbie. I
usually post with a tag of Terry in Ottawa, or as TiO in chat groups
when the long tag is a bit cumbersome.

Glad to finally do this and looking forward to learning more and
contributing.


Recent Bios FAQ