OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

6461 weston@p... (Steve Weston) 1996‑09‑23 bio: Steve Weston
Hello.  My name is Steve Weston, and I'm a software engineer from
Hamden, CT.  I work for a small company that sells software tools for
distributed and parallel computing.  I've been interested in
woodworking since I was a kid, but have only been serious in the last
year.  At that time, I took a woodworking class at the Brookfield
Craft Center (in Brookfield CT), started setting up a workshop in my
basement, and started buying planes and other tools.  I also
subscribed to rec.woodworking, and enjoyed reading posts by people
like Patrick Leach, Patrick Olguin, and Stephen LaMantia.  The hand
tool FAQ was very helpful in getting me started on the right foot,
although I briefly entertained the idea that the Stanley Contractor
grade planes might be of good quality.  Tim Swihart kindly cleared up
that confusion before any harm was done, and also answered some other
questions that I had on Stanley planes.  I've been buying tools
gradually since then, and I now have a reasonable set of planes for
use in basic furniture projects.  I still have a long list of planes
and other tools that I would like to buy, however.  I hadn't even
heard of many of these tools a year ago.  They are fascinating, and it
will be fun to learn how to use such things as router planes,
fillister planes, and side rabbets.

Since the creation of the Old Tools list, I've browsed the mail
archives periodically, and have gradually given up reading
rec.woodworking in favor of the Old Tools list.  It got to the point
where it seemed silly not to subscribe, and so after several more
months, I finally subscribed.

I've recently decided that I would really like to take Mike Dunbar's
Windsor chair class next summer, so I'm starting to buy some of the
tools that I'll need, and reading his book on the subject.  I hope I'm
not being too ambitious, since I am still new to woodworking, but the
idea of making a nice chair really appeals to me, particularly using
the techniques and tools described in Mike's books.  I would like to
make a set of four Windsor chairs for our dining room, but that may be
a long term project, given that I have a three year old daughter, a
five month old son, and much to learn.  Taking the class will be a
start, and I'll see what happens after that.

- Steve Weston



Recent Bios FAQ