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Hello from Michigan

840 views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  cabinetman 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello everyone. My name is Josh and I'm from Southeastern Michigan.

I work as a custodian during the day. When I come home I like to spend an hour or two just improving my shop space in my garage by using the least amount of resources as possible.

Although most times I lack the visual creativity to be able to envision what a piece of wood could become, I am constantly online looking up ideas for shop and home projects to build. My main source of learning and inspiration comes from watching YouTube videos from Steve Ramsey, Jay Bates, John Hiesz and the Wood Whisperer.

I grew up watching and learning from my dad who usually put me to work doing little jobs in his shop. Sometimes it was replacing plugs on small appliances or cords. Other times it would be holding a piece that he'd be cutting or shaping. At the time, I wasn't at all interested in being there helping. I couldn't see the benefit or rewards of doing any kind of woodworking. My mom used to try and encourage me to work with my dad to build and sell furniture with him. I always shrugged it off. My dad was always the doer and didn't always explain to me why he was doing what he was doing. I'm not sure I ever heard him express to me that he wished that I would help him more and work with him.

Although I can look back and see a lot of missed opportunities to learn a lot more from him, I am thankful that I learned as much as I did. My dad would spend a lot of time reading books and magazines at night teaching himself how to do anything.

I always remember growing up, most, if not all, of our fans were ones that people were throwing away that most of the time just needed to be oiled or have a new plug put on. I learned from him early on that most things could and should be fixed before throwing it in the trash. That has been one of my focuses recently. People throw a lot of useful things away that can be salvaged or fixed.

So I started looking into using pallet wood for projects and have so far built two work benches, a miter saw stand, a small router table, a mobile stand for my table saw and still in my shop since March is my tv stand for my 50" rear projection. All from free wood that people were throwing away.

I don't even do it to save the money or time refinishing or fixing. I just truly enjoy the challenge of being able to take trash and turn into treasure or useful projects. Also I am slowly trying to get away from the throw away mentality that has plagued our culture for many years and has played a role in our economic problems.

Backing up a bit, my dad was recently forced into selling all of his bigger power tools that included a jointer, planer, band saw, drill press, radial arm saw and many other various tools that he still wishes to this day that he would've been able to give me. But at the time my wife and I had no where to put them.

Shortly after my wife and I bought our first home, a close friend gave me a craftsman table saw, tool chest and dewalt miter saw. I've since upgraded to a contractor ts and have acquired a router and some other small tools. But, had it not been for this friend, I might not have gotten back into woodworking. He kind of jump started the process for me.


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#4 ·



If you fill out your profile in your "User Control Panel", you can list any hobbies, experience, occupation, or if retired…from what, or other facts. You can also list your general geographical location which would be a help in answering some questions. In doing that your location will show under your username when you post.











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