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Showing posts with label who I am. Show all posts
Showing posts with label who I am. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Two Writers
ok you shoe'd people out there,
I've had a question or two from some of you....so yes I do
have a partner. She runs the business
and I run the shop....
She also keeps my household and keeps me in line. I
recommend getting one of your own if you haven't yet LOL.
At any rate yes she sometimes writes a blog or two here and
you should pretty easily see the difference between out writing styles. Fact is
though sometime I'm lazy and don't write often enough other times I SHOULD be
writing about something and I just really don't want to...so she steps up
hopefully you'll like hers as much as mine (sometimes I pray you will all like
them better so I can stop :P)
Thursday, April 5, 2012
No Fluff
Ok it has come to my attention that some people think I
don’t post on my blog enough…. Well
maybe that is true. There are many
things going on in the shop that I probably should post about. But here’s the thing on that…I only post the
things that I think are important and that I hope may not only be informative
but that also can teach something. While
I –could- post 10-15X a day like I see some others do…here’s the reality of it
…I believe it lessens what I post.
People simply stop looking or worse still block people who post too
often… Does it matter to you that I’ve
made another trophy?(I make hundreds a year)
Do you care that my other ½ came into the shop today and that this is
one of only about 3 days a year where I’m actually typing this from the shop
instead of from home at night?
Point and lesson from today?...NO FLUFF!!!! I try not to
post it…nor do I read it J
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Barefoot Woodworker's Shop - Shop Tours on Fine Woodworking.com
Barefoot Woodworker's Shop - Shop Tours - Fine Woodworking
See our shop on the Fine Woodworking website!
See our shop on the Fine Woodworking website!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Barefoot in a Wood shop
What is it like to be Barefoot in a Wood shop?
What’s it like for a Fireman to run into a burning house? I have no idea, but I guess he probably considers it just part of his job.
So this is how I ended up barefoot in a wood shop.
I work in Southern California. My building is a tilt-up made of concrete. No heating/ no air conditioning. Here in the winter time there’s only one or two days where it’s really cold. Heating’s not such a big deal. On the other hand, being in a concrete box when its 100 degrees outside means it’s 110+ inside. So, I don’t know how many years back, it was a really hot day and I was wearing combat boots (throw back to military days) which made it just that much hotter. So about 1:00 in the afternoon I got the brilliant idea of “I’ll just take off my shoes.” Concrete was cool and felt good. It was nice, like being 6-yrs-old again. It worked so well, the next day I just left my shoes in the car. And the following day, I just left my shoes in the car. Well, here it is years later and a lot of times I’ll wear sandals, but I can’t even find my actual shoes anymore. So that’s how it started. And it’s just a part of my every day going to work.
Working with no shoes, while it may feel really nice, it often times comes with its own little hazards. For the first 6 months, it was the most simple thing that became the most dangerous. You would think in a wood shop maybe it would be splinters or dropping things on my foot. But no, running right across the length of my shop is a seam in the concrete. You know, just like the ones you see in the sidewalk where the tree is at and it makes a little bump, maybe half an inch tall? Yeah, innocuous little thing. But for 6 months I’ve never stubbed my toes so often or as hard. It wouldn’t actually catch my toes so much as it would catch the ball of my foot and then slam my toes into the ground. Did you know most expletives don’t actually include all four letters? It seems at such times pronouncing four letters is much more difficult that it would originally seem. But after reinventing all the expletives and going through a box of band-aids, I finally got used to that stupid seem in the concrete.
So now all I have is the common problems. Sawdust isn’t bad; it’s kind of soft and squishy under your feet. I don’t waste nails or screws so they’re not on the floor all that often. And never once has my foot found one. And sometimes, yeah you drop something. But woodworkers learn early on some things are expensive and you learn to shove your foot under it, save it. And other things are sharp and you learn to dance quickly and save your foot instead. For someone who never took a lesson in my life, I dance a lot more now.
Now, the one that gets me; Sawdust is nice and squishy on the feet, but it looks like wood. So it hides the little ankle breaker blocks that come off of the items I’m working on. And that my friend, is the real threat to being barefoot in the shop. It’s as if a 6 yr old has left their toys out around you house. I now avoid the seam, without even a glance. I never drop screws or nails. But I can walk through a pile of sawdust finding the only block in a 10 foot radius and it will still drop me every time.
So with all of this in mind, if you decide to come by and visit, don’t come barefoot, you won’t be let in. I have years of being barefoot in the shop and have learned how to function safely. I’m the barefoot woodworker and you are not.
What’s it like for a Fireman to run into a burning house? I have no idea, but I guess he probably considers it just part of his job.
So this is how I ended up barefoot in a wood shop.
I work in Southern California. My building is a tilt-up made of concrete. No heating/ no air conditioning. Here in the winter time there’s only one or two days where it’s really cold. Heating’s not such a big deal. On the other hand, being in a concrete box when its 100 degrees outside means it’s 110+ inside. So, I don’t know how many years back, it was a really hot day and I was wearing combat boots (throw back to military days) which made it just that much hotter. So about 1:00 in the afternoon I got the brilliant idea of “I’ll just take off my shoes.” Concrete was cool and felt good. It was nice, like being 6-yrs-old again. It worked so well, the next day I just left my shoes in the car. And the following day, I just left my shoes in the car. Well, here it is years later and a lot of times I’ll wear sandals, but I can’t even find my actual shoes anymore. So that’s how it started. And it’s just a part of my every day going to work.
Working with no shoes, while it may feel really nice, it often times comes with its own little hazards. For the first 6 months, it was the most simple thing that became the most dangerous. You would think in a wood shop maybe it would be splinters or dropping things on my foot. But no, running right across the length of my shop is a seam in the concrete. You know, just like the ones you see in the sidewalk where the tree is at and it makes a little bump, maybe half an inch tall? Yeah, innocuous little thing. But for 6 months I’ve never stubbed my toes so often or as hard. It wouldn’t actually catch my toes so much as it would catch the ball of my foot and then slam my toes into the ground. Did you know most expletives don’t actually include all four letters? It seems at such times pronouncing four letters is much more difficult that it would originally seem. But after reinventing all the expletives and going through a box of band-aids, I finally got used to that stupid seem in the concrete.
So now all I have is the common problems. Sawdust isn’t bad; it’s kind of soft and squishy under your feet. I don’t waste nails or screws so they’re not on the floor all that often. And never once has my foot found one. And sometimes, yeah you drop something. But woodworkers learn early on some things are expensive and you learn to shove your foot under it, save it. And other things are sharp and you learn to dance quickly and save your foot instead. For someone who never took a lesson in my life, I dance a lot more now.
Now, the one that gets me; Sawdust is nice and squishy on the feet, but it looks like wood. So it hides the little ankle breaker blocks that come off of the items I’m working on. And that my friend, is the real threat to being barefoot in the shop. It’s as if a 6 yr old has left their toys out around you house. I now avoid the seam, without even a glance. I never drop screws or nails. But I can walk through a pile of sawdust finding the only block in a 10 foot radius and it will still drop me every time.
So with all of this in mind, if you decide to come by and visit, don’t come barefoot, you won’t be let in. I have years of being barefoot in the shop and have learned how to function safely. I’m the barefoot woodworker and you are not.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
How to Balance your business with your craft
The truth of it all is, people who have talent with hands-on skills aren't usually the most technologically inclined. At least that is the case with me.
I can build just about anything out of wood; I know many different joinery techniques and when to use with for the best use; I know what wood to use for what result; but sit me in front of a computer and most kids can do better.
I've gotten better over the years, but it's just not a skill set that suits me.
The first time I started my shop I believed I could do it all. I was prepared to build custom furniture for people. I quickly figured out that being in business for myself meant I had to do it all. I had to make the bid, I had to buy the materials, I had to make the invoice, I had to collect the payment and I had to pay my bills. And that was just basics when jobs came in. I also realized I'd have to advertise and do my own sales. Eventually it was just too many hats for me to wear. When those doors closed, I promised myself I wouldn't do it the same when it came time to reopen.
I met my partner about 9 years ago. We were friends and, as we got to know each other better, I realized she had the skills to wear the other hats I needed. So, a few years later, I asked her to be the "Office" to my "Shop".
She can't build the furniture, but over time she's learning this industry. What she can do is all of the accounting, advertising (to include photographing the finished products), some drafting/ design for bids, and she's learning enough to start doing more sales and buying. But she's someone that is good with a computer and office skills and, in direct contrast to the original point, she's just not that hands-on inclined.
My recommendation to all considering making a go of this industry - or similar industries - stick to your strengths and find someone to fill in where you are lacking!
I can build just about anything out of wood; I know many different joinery techniques and when to use with for the best use; I know what wood to use for what result; but sit me in front of a computer and most kids can do better.
I've gotten better over the years, but it's just not a skill set that suits me.
The first time I started my shop I believed I could do it all. I was prepared to build custom furniture for people. I quickly figured out that being in business for myself meant I had to do it all. I had to make the bid, I had to buy the materials, I had to make the invoice, I had to collect the payment and I had to pay my bills. And that was just basics when jobs came in. I also realized I'd have to advertise and do my own sales. Eventually it was just too many hats for me to wear. When those doors closed, I promised myself I wouldn't do it the same when it came time to reopen.
I met my partner about 9 years ago. We were friends and, as we got to know each other better, I realized she had the skills to wear the other hats I needed. So, a few years later, I asked her to be the "Office" to my "Shop".
She can't build the furniture, but over time she's learning this industry. What she can do is all of the accounting, advertising (to include photographing the finished products), some drafting/ design for bids, and she's learning enough to start doing more sales and buying. But she's someone that is good with a computer and office skills and, in direct contrast to the original point, she's just not that hands-on inclined.
My recommendation to all considering making a go of this industry - or similar industries - stick to your strengths and find someone to fill in where you are lacking!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
A welcome and who I am
Almost 30 years of experience in custom woodworking and furniture building.
I had the rare opportunity to study under a Master Artisan, who himself was trained in an apprenticeship in the Black Forest. This contact left me with a passion for the construction methods of the past. The more traditional methods of woodworking are preferred, but that doesn't mean I don't know about the modern techniques and tricks as well.
The intent of this blog will be to share a bit, teach a bit and learn a bit.
Feel free to ask questions, comment on something, and give suggestions!
I had the rare opportunity to study under a Master Artisan, who himself was trained in an apprenticeship in the Black Forest. This contact left me with a passion for the construction methods of the past. The more traditional methods of woodworking are preferred, but that doesn't mean I don't know about the modern techniques and tricks as well.
The intent of this blog will be to share a bit, teach a bit and learn a bit.
Feel free to ask questions, comment on something, and give suggestions!
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