That was an absolute pleasure to visit you Marcus, that will surely be the most memorable of my trip, I'm confident that whatever becomes of that oak, you are likely to achieve something beautiful, I recall speaking to a sculptor some years ago about producing a piece which becomes a large part of their life, which in turn can become a very small part of the clients life, and as you rightly say they pay their money and off they go, in some ways that pleases me that most of my jobs last no more than a week, though I am grateful I do have some wonderful customers and some of my work has become part of their lives, I do have some regrets that the materials I work with don't have the shelf life of great sculptures or magnificent buildings, but the quickish results normally get some very good feedback which I think really is the bit that keeps me going Best wishes Andy
I’m a new comer to the wood working world and I follow as many wood workers that I can for tips and tricks. Most valuable info has come from this channel, cheers mate.
I can't thank you enough for what you have done Marcus. Not all that running around naked and woodworking, I have been doing that for years. You mentioned once that you had Fibromyalgia. I have been ill most of my life, I read a book last year called The Myth of Normal. It explained so much to me but you have given it a name. Still not better but now I have a name for it, I can deal with it better. Many thanks Harvey, just a rough old trowel.
After 40 plus years in the trades and construction and contracting i found the one thing that makes it all okay...I like building things. Big things, small things, expensive things, cheap things, simple things, complicated things, exquisite things, shoddy things. All the things. And I really like learning and doing new things, like the dust collection box i added to my belt sander this morning...inspired by you. Thank you.
I hear ya.. my hobby morphed into my profession. Started tinkering with guitars in high school waaaaaaay back in the mid 80's. did a Boilermaker apprenticeship, hated it and vowed never to work in the trade. Floated around for a few years doing different jobs and repairing guitars as a side line. nex ting I was full time building, repairing and restoring. Loved the work, the Guitar players not so much😆 The money was good though, was able to retire at 50 and just bugger around in my workshop exploring new directions with woodwork.
Just subscribed based on what a refreshing view on life and work you have, currently I’m unemployed due to mental health/ disability’s but should be moving from Surrey to North Wales soon with my partner and I hope to start up my own business, just working at my own pass as it’s not worth working yourself into a grave! 👍
I started out in Cabinet Making in about '89 too. When I started I honestly believed that Cabinet Making would be the most creative, expressive experience ever, working with beautiful timbers and hand tools, cutting joints. The reality is TOTALLY different. If you work in Cabinet Making, you won't be able to use that creativity at all. Everything nowadays is specified by the client (customer) and drawn up by the draftsman. Your job is just to make what THEY specify to you. Yes you are using machine and hand tools, and making money (not that much though!) which has a certain 'satisfaction'. But using your 'creative flair' will NOT be possible. You WON'T be able to make decisions about anything on the project for yourself, any changes will have to be cleared by your supervisor at least, but probably through the draftsman and the client too. It's the CLIENT who is allowed to be creative. YOU are NOT. Solid wood is used sparingly, as it's SSOOOOOO EXPENSIVE (expect chipboard/MDF instead). And the only time you're likely to use your beautiful Blue Spruce dovetail chisels, is when you're an apprentice, and you have to make a box to show your skills. From then on in, it's Festool domino/biscuit city! This frustrated me so much many years ago, that I had to start designing and building my own guitars, to allow me the creative outlet I craved, and thought I would be able to enjoy at work. But that's another story... So if you are a hobbyist woodworker, and you want to turn 'pro', please do bear this in mind?
