WoodNet Forums: Re: Why do you like woodworking?

Hi Annie. I think this is a pretty cool project you are undertaking and thanks for taking this interest in the thoughts, motivations and inspirations of woodworkers.

What does it mean to you to be a woodworker?

Woodworking to me means a bit of self reliance. It kind of hearkens back to a time when our forefathers built their own homes, made their own furniture & clothes, hunted and grew their own food, etc. I admire that kind of pioneer spirit and even though I can't/don't do most of that stuff, woodworking gives me the satisfaction of having that little connection with my ancestors.

Do you think there are varying categories of woodworkers?

I think woodworkers can be identified in several different ways, based on their skill level as well as their chosen field of specialization. One can be a novice turner or a master cabinet maker, or both and the one thing we share is our love of wood and making sawdust. That's kind of cool.

What is your favorite part about your hobby?

I like building stuff. I started out as a carpenter, building houses many years ago. I really enjoyed that. I used to think I would do that until I retired. A lot of other things prevented that from happening, but I can still feed that desire to turn a board into something useable. The part I like most in woodworking is, once all the prep, milling, sanding, etc has been done, I get to put all the parts together and see how it turns out. That's when the project really comes alive for me. I believe that is a remnant of my carpentry days.

Do you have a specialty? What is it and why do you like it?

It's been unintentional, but I would probably say that scrolling has become my specialty. I don't do it exclusively, but it's probably more fun than anything else I do. Most of the woodworking I've done over the years has had a practial purpose. I'm making stuff to use or for others to use. I like scrolling because I can make stuff that may be functional, but more often it's something that's purely decorative, unique and perhaps a little impractical. Most of the stuff I make, I give away, so it's very gratifying to see the reactions of the recipients.

Do you have a favorite piece that you have made? Would you be willing to post pictures and give background stories?

It's hard to pick a favorite, because one of the advantages of being a hobbiest is that I can make stuff I want to and I'm not usually captive to someone else's needs. This means that most of the stuff I've made, I've done so because it interested me. I don't have very many digital pictures of my work. This is the only thread I ever posted with any pics of something I built.

TV Stand

It was a wedding present for my youngest daughter last summer. I'm probably most proud of it, because it represents a bit of a stretch for me. I hadn't tackled anything quite like this before and it turned out really well. Of course my daughter was pleased with it and shows if off to everyone who visits her home. I also made a couple items for my older daughter's home that I'm pretty pleased with, but no digital pics. Her wedding present was a 3 sided corner curio cabinet with a clock, glass shelves, mirrored sides. Then a couple years later I built her fireplace mantle surround when they moved into a new house. It's made with cherry that was once trees on her grandfather's farm. I designed it from scratch and added a couple personal touches that make it pretty special. It's the focal point of her living room and she tells visitors that she can never move out of that house, because she couldn't bear to leave that mantle behind.

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No one ever worked so hard that milk squirted out their nose.

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