My neighbor across the street ( an F-15 pilot) did beautiful woodwork.



George

 

My dad made me a workbench

My parents were divorced when I was in the first grade at age 6, and my dad who lived in Chicago, in his parent's basement, built me a kid's sized work bench. I lived with my mom in an apartment in the burbs so there was only room for it on the back porch. There was a small bench to sit at, a clamp on vise, (still have it) a wood miter box and back saw, and an egg beater drill.
I also enjoyed making things with an erector set and those tinker toy things, a builder at heart. I remember going to the fenced in area down the block where the contractor befriended me because I would stand there and watch eveything they did. He realized I understood more than a 6 year old really should and he told my mom "The kid should become an Architect".
That stuck with her, and she convinced me to take college prep classes in high school and that carried through 2 years in college when I realized becoming an Architect was beyond my reach. But the college had classes in Industrial Design where I found my niche anfd graduated "Outstanding Senior" in my ID class.

All this time I was acquiring tools and machines to build stuff including a massive 8 1/4" Skil saw, (still have it) a powerful Stanley 1/2" drill, a Craftsman 100 10" table saw, welding equipment, (still have it) a stand for the drill to make it a "drill press" (still have it), a push/push automatic Stanley screw driver, (still have it), and so it went .....
I'm finished acquiring machines as I now have multiples of most and my woodworking projects have slowed down in number. There's still a list of "should do's and some wanna do's" but they probably won't all get done as I have a few more hobbies than woodworking, including restoration of a 1980 Chevy pickup, https://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f15/restoration-project-109305/
which will get on the road this spring.
There's only so much nice weather here in Michigan, so that takes priority, and posting on WWT means I can stay inside where it's warm. :wink:

 

I did various small woodworking projects in my teens and always loved going to my uncle's shop - he was an excellent woodworker. But I only got to see it a few times each year. When I was 19, way back in 1972, I was getting into photography and converted my bedroom at my parent's house into a darkroom. So I build a darkroom workbench that looked more like furniture so my Mom would let me have it in the house. I was smitten with woodworking from that point forward! :grin:

Advice for those starting out? Work with the tools, space, and comfort level you have for now on your projects. On the next couple of projects push the envelope. As you get comfortable doing that just know that any project requiring a new tool, regardless of size or price, is a good project! :wink:

Branch away from Pine, Oak, and plywood and get into hardwoods that are a bit more elegant - Walnut, Mahogany, Cherry, etc. Yes, they cost more. But you'll get better when you realize a mistake is costly. When you're using cheap wood a mistake is largely of no consequence.

David

 

...How did you get started with woodworking?...

Borne into it from Woodcarvers to Aborist-Orchardists...among other professional arts within the family...

...Do you remember your first project? What was it?...

Yes...but the first wasn't my own project. It was my Mothers carving tools...Next would have to be for a Japanese Carpenter that specialized in Tea House Garden woodworking and landscaping. All I did was carry tools, hold "things," and watch silently I was 5 and 6 years old...

...What advice would you give to people interested in getting started with woodworking?...

Always start with the basics and traditionally...Its the only way to truly learn wood from the foundational level...

 

Myfirst real job out of high school was in a cabinet shop. I spent the next 7 or 8 years working cabinet shops. I worked my way up to the shop production manager running a shop that employed about 40 people at peak times. Mostly we built kitchen cabinets but would take on custom projects from time to time. I was in my mid twenties, in over my head and I knew it. I knew the shop and every job in it but I was inexperienced at being a manager and it showed. I quit and started a business installing kitchens and finish carpentry. From there went to framing. I loved framing and would have continued to do it but broke my back on a project and was forced to change careers to something less physical. Went back to college, got a degree in information systems and became an IT Manager for the next 25 years. During that time I dabbled in wood working, making my own frames for my photography, but when I retired I started putting together a small wood working shop. I spend my time playing on my lathe and building small projects for friends and family. Anything from picture frames to jewelry boxes, tables and cabinetry.

 

I'm envious (your jumping off, into woodworking, point). Catching up though

 

These are my first projects... I started at the CINARLI WOODWORKING HIGH SCHOOL.. I was 17 years old...I was a bad student...I stayed in class for 2 years... we dont use of electrical machinery (band saw,miter saw,jointer e.t.x..) first year at the woodworking high school... we can use only just hand tool..My woodworking teacher was a very good person...

My advice is go school...school is very important...

SM-J700F cihazımdan Tapatalk kullanılarak gönderildi

 

All my life I've had a need to do everything myself. To be able to customize and create whatever I want. It's the reason I got into software design, game development, construction, and wood working. Software because what I wanted didn't exist, so I made it myself. As for everything else, why pay someone else to do something that I'm capable of doing myself? Oh that's a neat table, oh it's $3k? It's only a few hundred in materials so I'll do it myself! That's really how I got started, didn't want to pay for stuff! Except food, I eat out way too much cause I hate to cook.

First project? Technically, a wooden duck when I was in grade school. I found a piece of wood that I thought looked like a duck, so I did some very basic carving and painted it. I think after that was a book case, more so out of necessity.

I'm still fairly new to real wood working so I don't think I have any advice to give others just yet.

 

Went to a technical school to become a nurse, guy I knew told me to switch my major from nursing to Building Construction. So despite that fact that I was in the second year of my major, I changed every class in my schedule three quarters of the way into the year and got into Building Construction. Two years later graduated with honours at the top of my class with a degree in woodworking, I've run with it ever since. One of the best decisions of my life.



-T

 

My best friend in college knew woodworking. I knew piano. We bought a house together and fixed it up. He taught me woodworking. In return, I taught him to play piano. That was the deal. He is still a better piano player than I am a woodworker.

My first project was a simple cedar hope chest. I still have it and use it.

He took his tools with him when we went our separate ways. Over the years, I followed the usual homeowner/handyman path, but I always wanted a table saw. I bought a Bosch REAXX table saw a couple years ago, and that renewed my interest in woodworking in a bigly way. Since then, I have acquired some new and used benchtop and floorstanding power tools and made a few projects. I posted some project photos in the "What did you do today?" thread.

 

My dad and several of my uncles did woodworking, but for my dad his woodworking time was mostly spent doing home maintenance or something for me or my sister since his paying job was with the power company. My interest in what they were doing drew me in to help and learn from all of them. When old enough to work I spent 2 Summers while not in high school working for one uncle (my mom's brother) who taught me most of what I know about power tools and how to use them safely. He was building houses, so I got plenty of experience in most of the house construction trades. One of my father's brothers was a cabinet maker and finish carpenter, so I learned a lot about the finer forms of woodworking from him. Most of the rest of what I know about woodworking was self taught.

I spent most of my working career as an automation engineer (EE), creating control systems for large scale one or two of a kind automated manufacturing systems. These mostly assembled integrated circuit modules for computers at very high speeds. During this time my woodworking was one of my main hobbies and the needed relief from the stress of my real job, but I also remodeled the two houses that I've owned, while living in them.

After retiring for the first time at 55, I worked in a commercial shop designing and building trade show and museum displays and exhibits, then I retired again. I went back to work 3 more times when offered much better paying or "fun" jobs. I even drove a train because it seemed like a "fun" job, but now at 76 I consider myself "fully retired". I'm still doing occasional work for the NC Science Museums but now only as a volunteer. Most of what I make in my home shop now is for myself, family, and close friends, and "I have the rest of my life to finish it". No more job related stress or due dates.

Charley

 

My father is a carpenter and I grew up with it...just seemed like the natural path to follow. He's a fan of power tools though and I am starting to build an interest in keeping the old ways going as much as possible. I love using hand tools for most things but you won't see me ripping a board with a hand saw...my table saw is so much more efficient and patience is a finite resource.

 

I was 4. My grandfather was building a bookcase. I took two pieces of scrap and nailed them together. He always kept that cross in the drawer of the bookcase.

I never got along well in HS shop class, except while learning to use the different pieces of equipment that my grandfather never had. My shop is still very meager compared to most, but I get along for the most part. I keep telling myself "someday I'll have...." A new table saw is coming this Spring I hope.

Advice? Stick to basics and good techniques until you have them mastered. And, keep your fingers on your hands where they belong.

 

I was 4. My grandfather was building a bookcase. I took two pieces of scrap and nailed them together. He always kept that cross in the drawer of the bookcase.

I never got along well in HS shop class, except while learning to use the different pieces of equipment that my grandfather never had. My shop is still very meager compared to most, but I get along for the most part. I keep telling myself "someday I'll have...." A new table saw is coming this Spring I hope.

Advice? Stick to basics and good techniques until you have them mastered. And, keep your fingers on your hands where they belong.

Our teacher in trade school told us how to tell how good a carpenter is - count their fingers.

 

Mine started out young like some of the others, just nailing two boards together to make something but mostly just two pieces of wood nailed together


I was raised on a big farm out side of a small town in NW Iowa, learned a lot of framing and other carpentry work working with my Dad, but when I was in 7th grade we got a new shop teacher in school, the other ones weren't very good, football coaches or some other teacher that couldn't teach what they were supposed to so they would get relegated shop teacher


Mr Anderson was a great teacher, and we got along great, him being the only teacher I liked, and he saw my potential. Besides some of the first projects made out of scrap wood, that he would show us how to utilize it making lamps pen holders etc


In 9th grade I built my first grandfather's clock, then built more for relatives, then started collecting tools. I have only sold one piece I built it was a "Sled table" it had a solid walnut top, steam bent "runners" with paduak supports, that sat on a bleached ash base, that was about 10 inch high on one end and 3 on the other like the runners were going down hill


I rented a booth in a crafts mall and in 90 days no nothing, so we hauled it all home, and then the phone started ringing, it was right before Christmas and 4-5 people wanted the sled table, I had it in the store for $495 and got it bid up to $995


I have built tons of furniture our house is all stuff I built, prefer walnut, but work with any hardwood, I usually will just built something for somebody for just the materials, and have built a lot of stuff just for fun and give it away


But lately I have shifted from wood worker to tool whore, so I have to build more furniture to justify spending about $20,000 on new tools the last couple years LOL

 

When i was a little kid, probably about 5 or 6, my folks had a room added onto the house. I remember sitting on the bare plywood subfloors pounding nails into scraps of 2x2 to make fortresses for my Star Wars toys to play on. By that time I already owned my own little brown plastic toolbox, a coping saw, hammer and hand drill, and maybe a few other tools.

By the time I was nine I was at summer camp and I remember building a plywood banjo in the woodshop. I also made a chess set with little hand-painted tiles for pieces. I remember frequently choosing to be in the shop, rather than to do sports or camping or swimming or whatever other activities were being offered (I did plenty of those too, but the shop was definitely one of my top choices).

In middle school, I took a lot of pride in the shelf and coat rack we all built.

In high school, I took woodshop classes as my art elective, where I learned to turn bowls and spindles. I also built several small end tables of my own design, sufficiently well made as to continue to be in use. I have a clock I made hanging on my wall, and the hand dovetails are...not terrible.

After dropping out of college, I decided to take a two-year college program in fine woodworking. I was three credits shy of graduating because I never finished the final project in my carving class.

Instead, I Developed an interest in philosophy and went on to get a four year degree and then graduate from law school. I spent 18-years in college and apartment life, without access to shop space. I had nothing more than a plastic toolbox with a hammer, drill and a circular saw.

I bought a house and shop space in 2017, and here I am.

 

SNORT - I got into law after figuring out it was a purchased thing and I could not afford it. Some decades later, I tell people I made the obvious jump - from law to woodworking.

Fortunately, for me, I was always drawn to DIY and, especially, making sawdust, then melding it with things like, epoxy, plastic, brass, copper,. . . . As such, after growing tired of helping people made destitute by the system survive it (burning out), I threw myself into the very different world of handymaning. The latter allowed, even justified toys, uh, tools and equipment that allow me to maintain our house (things like an over-arm pin router, a 4'x6' carving machine, a 14" and a 17" bandsaw, a cabinet saw, a copper plating station and so on).

Said another way, welcome to another reality - a more real one.

nstead, I Developed an interest in philosophy and went on to get a four year degree and then graduate from law school. I spent 18-years in college and apartment life, without access to shop space. I had nothing more than a plastic toolbox with a hammer, drill and a circular saw.

I bought a house and shop space in 2017, and here I am.

 

well, in terms of actually learning the right way - I had a woodworking class in Intermediate School, in New Zealand (before going to high school at Auckland Grammar).

Of course, I watched my Dad do a few things around the house. As an ex Lighthouse Keeper, he had to be "handy".

My first personal project was a custom wood case for a model rocket and launcher and supplies. All glued up with free scraps from a local cabinet shop.

 

Took 3 years of woodworking in high school. 30 years working residential and commercial shops. Spend the last 7 years as a furniture maker. Because of health I'm reduced to a hobby woodworker.

 

My grandfather built houses in Denver from the 40s to the 60s when he retired move back to Nebraska. We would visit for a month in the summer were I would "work" with grandpa in his shop where he built a variety of things including piano stools. I only wish I had taken a more active interest in the craft as he would've been an extraordinary teacher. My first project was to make a small bowling pin on his homemade lathe.

Beyond that my woodworking lay dormant other than working for a family business making picture frames. About three and half years ago I got a quote on new cabinets for my kitchen and after getting over the shock that they wanted between $18,000 and $22,000 to install crappy prefab cabinets, I decided "hey, I can do this… It's only boxes". I decided to test this out with a small cabinet containing four drawers between the refrigerator in the stove. I figured if I could build this one I can do the rest. That cabinet took about three and half months to make as I had to learn how to do everything every step of the way and acquire the tools I needed to do a job that looked presentable. It has been 3 1/2 years, but I installed the final cabinet last weekend and must say that I am very pleased with the effort (despite all of the glaring mistakes that mostly only I can see). I am now looking forward to doing some more interesting and enjoyable projects now that the bug to work with wood has dug in like a tick.

My only advice is to enjoy yourself, take your time and only acquire tools as you really need them.

 

View attachment 370871



How did you get started with woodworking?

Do you remember your first project? What was it?

What advice would you give to people interested in getting started with woodworking?

My Dad was into renovating, but the first real project I participated in was building a 9m houseboat. The first I did on my own was also a boat, a 2m hydroplane (with a 25hp motor LOL).

I'd say you need two things to get started in woodworking, (1) space to build in, and (2) space to use or show off what you make.

 

Old thread, but good question...

I technically got started when my neighbor gave me a project kit to make an insect cage out of 13 little pieces of wood, nails, and a couple screens.

I got started for reals freshman year of architecture school when I started handing around the shop and making random pieces of furniture etc.

 

Before woodworking, my Dad had his own business at home; a sheet metal machine shop. By the time I was 10yo, he could hand me a blueprint, pick out the metal he wanted, and I could make the parts. He eventually shut down to take a job at Compaq Computers (it was still Gateway Technology then). He sold some of the machining tools and bought a Sears table saw and some other tools. I, however, was the one who got to 'play' with all the new tools. Got 26+ years of experience, mostly hobby. Have been out of woodworking for the past 20 years or so but anxious to ease back in -- only, now it will have to be smaller projects and smaller pieces of wood due to multiple injuries.

 

How did you get started with woodworking?
In 8th or 9th grade I took an Industrial Arts class. That included learning how to use the woodworking tools - all Powermatic - from table saw to drill press.

Do you remember your first project? What was it?
We built a section of a house with all the utilities and then got to build a personal project. I built a foot stool. Got graded down for the knot in the top even though I told the instructor that I put it there on purpose. Still have it and it is in our living room. That was 45+ years ago.
In my late teens I found 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood dumped in a field next to where I was working. Took them home and, with my dad, made a 3 shelf book case. Still have that piece too. That was the only thing I made with my dad. Doubt I will ever get rid of it.
When I bought my first house I added trim and baseboard and built horseshoe pits in the backyard. Got married and moved to a new house. Started buying tools.
For the first child I made a pendulum cradle. That was followed by toys and a cherry rocking horse for his first birthday and another for his cousin.

What advice would you give to people interested in getting started with woodworking?
Take classes to learn the safe way to use the tools. (I have a head for one of those horses hanging in my shop with the chatter marks the router made when it got away from me. It serves as a reminder to not run power tools when you are tired. That "Just one more thing and I'll call it a night" is the most dangerous thing you will do.)
Buy the tools you can afford. You can always upgrade if you stick with it and sell the old ones to someone who is just starting out.
Try a variety of styles and projects. Furniture, toys, boxes.

 

View attachment 370871



How did you get started with woodworking?

Do you remember your first project? What was it?

What advice would you give to people interested in getting started with woodworking?

I got my start being around my grandfather who was a career woodworker coming here at the age of 12, alone, fleeing communism. He was my hero and to this day I can close my eyes and see, and smell his shop. I know where each machine was, and where he stored his hand planes. I do not remember the specifics of all the little jobs I did with him. My first job I did all on my own was my first Wood Shop project when I made a pine dry sink. The teacher was not for it as most of my classmates were making simple shelves. I spent a lot of time after school getting it done on time for the semester. I had a construction business from when I was 17 and at about 25 started an architectural millwork business. I made a lot of custom doors, entry, passage, carriage house, french, as well as fireplace mantels and anything a normal shop would not do, such as convex doors. The best advice I would give someone starting out is do not ever buy a tool until you have a specific need for it. Then, get the best you can afford. All my tools and equipment were paid for out of my business. My shop is set up completely different from a guy who just does cabinets. His shop is set up different from a guy who does turnings. Finally, always enjoy the fact that the more you think you know, the more you do not know.

 

View attachment 370871



How did you get started with woodworking?

Do you remember your first project? What was it?

What advice would you give to people interested in getting started with woodworking?

Watch a lot of this old house

 

It does make you want to grab the hammer and fix or tear up something..

 

Woodworking offered as an alternative to art in 3rd year *13/14".
Only hand tools. First exercise to square up a piece of wood using a jack plane, ruler, miter guage and tenon saw.
Learnt technical drawing which proved useful when studying chemical engineering at uni/ This all proved useful when later walked around the factory and when in export. Sometimes the floor was just beaten earth and outages common.
johnep

 

I need a couple of magazine racks for a newly purchases travel trailer. It escalated from there.