OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

86366 Conan The Librarian CV01@s... 2000‑11‑17 Another updated bio

GGG,

   In the spirit of the season, I am updating my little bio.  When I 
first found the porch I was a neophyte w'worker who was swayed by the 
very persuasive writings on the wreck of a certain jack plane collector 
and soon-to-be shellac-pimp (you, Paddy).

   Since beginning woodworking in 1997, and turning towards the 
enlightened ways of galootitude, I have accumulated a decent arsenal 
of tools, while still managing to build enough to convince SWMBO that 
I really do use all those hunks of cast iron in my shop.  (Looking 
back at my initial bio is almost embarrassing, as I had a total of 
four planes when I posted.  Now I have that many *smoothers*.)

   We recently moved into a new house and I now have half of a large 
two-car garage that is solely dedicated to my, er ... hobby.  Living 
as I do in old tool heck is probably a good thing, as otherwise, I 
would probably have the garage *totally* filled with tools.  As it 
is, I have some room for wood and other things.

   Now that I have most of the iron bench and specialty planes I will 
likely ever need (plus wooden dado planes), I can concentrate on 
adding saws to my collection, and making my own wooden planes.  I've 
already made a smoother and a couple of Guntershaves, and they are 
among my best users.

   Recent projects have found me doing all work from rough stock prep 
to joinery in true Neander fashion.  I am not religious about it; I 
just prefer it that way.

   I am currently building my first "real" bench.  It is a simple 
design based on Kirby's from The Workbench Book, making use of planing 
stops for holding work, but with a leg vise instead of a cast iron 
vise.  The base is made of standard construction grade SYP (except for 
the leg that will be the fixed jaw for the vise; that one is made of 
dense "guato" pine laminate to 4x4"), and the top will be SYP 
face-glued on edge giving a top of roughly 2-1/2".  It's nothing
fancy, but hopefully it will be good enough for the kind of work I do,
and will  help me build my dream bench in the future.

   In the future I hope to concentrate on jewelry-box making and other 
detailed work.  If I get good enough at it, I can always sell my wares 
to unsuspecting tourists in one of the many craft shops in our little 
hamlet (Wimberley, Texas).

   The porch has been a great source of inspiration and information to 
me during these last couple of years, and I hope someday to be able to 
help pass the torch the next gaggle of budding galoots.


      Chuck Vance
      See my project page at: http://www.swt.edu/~cv01/projects.html



Recent Bios FAQ