You might not be internet famous but you're a treasure to many.
Just smile and make your own journey, I've learned so much from you and a few other like minded people that carry on the craft of making useful things. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to work. The objects we create that look nice are a plus.
A side note: I live close to Dayton, OH and will visit your store front one day. Sort of a day trip when the weather warms up.
I've been more or less following the woodworking "scene" since my first woodworking class in 1974. I think it's hard to be anything more than mildly famous outside of woodworking. Even Norm was unknown to most folks in the circles I moved in.
I live in the same area that Roy does and I have met him a number of times over the last 30 years. We were born in the same city in the same year and are both woodworkers. I built my own lathe after seeing him build two lathes on his tv show and I have turned over 2,000 bowls on it. But that's where the similarities end - I have a motor on my lathe - to hell with standing on one leg while powering a lathe - I have work to do, and electricity is a boon to humanity, not a curse.
I studied woodworking in California with some of the big names in Bay Area woodworking. Their philosphy is 180 degrees away from the "use hand tools, sharpen planes, use a scraper" and all of the other East Coast time wasting techniques. Dove tails? I have made a total of two of them in my career. They interest me not one bit. The 18th century is over - move along, folks.
I don't see eye-to-eye with the handtool crowd and I am glad that I didn't get caught up in that cult - last year I sold all of my handplanes - new and old, as I have no need for such useless pieces of metal. Your mileage may vary...
If you turned 2000 bowls, that is impressive, and I am right there with you in regard to foot powered lathes (although I think that they are very cool and look like fun, kind of). But your lack of appreciation for hand planes and molding planes and saws is definitely a character flaw and yes my mileage/kilometers do vary. I made it to Roy’s school in Pittsboro only once. Bill Anderson was teaching about making moldings with hollows and rounds. I have all the powered wood working tools, but you can have the noise and dust. If you like that, then the more power to you. - Pun intended.
Well, this comment is now a reply to a deleted comment, therefore pointless.
But back to what's important - I sure hope this snow melts soon - I have been turning, but a bit of warmth would be nice and conducive to getting more work done.
Thank you Chris. Your books and humble generosity with free information have improved my woodworking greatly. I agree, Roy Underhill is one fine person. I met him at WWIA 2008 when he autographed his latest book for me after my waiting in a long queue. He made me feel like I was the only person there with his attentive gaze and several questions about me and how I liked WWIA. When I took courses at the Woodwright’s School he was equally personable with all the students. I am lucky and grateful to have both of you as woodworking teachers.
Given how giddy it make me when one of my favorite Indy musicians follows me on instagram as happened this week, I probably don’t have what it takes to be Indy famous in the woodworking world. I left the notification up all week like an elementary school kid’s leaves a kiss on the cheek. I just want to sell my carvings, spoons, and chairs to whoever will buy them and teach others. I will and do give them away for free if I can’t sell it which is probably a hindrance to making a living. Gotta go I have to make a carving to give to that Indy musician. :)
I think fame may not be the right metric to aim for these days. Rather, being recognized as a valuable contributor to a community I care about - that feels good and deeply human. That recognition is harder won than TikTok virality, but probably more satisfying. Amex can take care of the airline upgrades.
Roy is also a Really Nice Human. You write him with something like a sincere conversation point (I didn't ask him how to cut dovetails) and he'll write back. IIRC we were discussing combination planes and their evolved use on white pine. He might have gotten something out of the exchange there. But I suspect even if he already knew, he would have acknowledged what I had said. That matters.
I think what is needed for "fame" as a woodworking magazine person, is regular informal exposure to the interested public where the name is repeated. You and Megan did it through blog posts, but I think I can name 4 more through magazine-based podcasts. Without googling, I think Christiana, Peckovich, Huber, and Wittmer are or were EICs, although I admit I don't really understand the hierarchy of job titles in publishing. (I think the Shop Notes podcast and WW magazine industry consolidation were both after your original publication date). (Hopefully this isn't an annoying comment, although it's at least an admission that I've listened to too many WW podcasts for a long time. (I think there even was an episode or two of a PW podcast from back in olden times)).
Do you recall your first appearance on the show? For me, the episode where you introduced The Joiner and the Cabinetmaker was what really got my notice. I ordered the book and read it, and have been a fan and customer of LAP since.
You are famous because I met you at one show when I was looking for editors to review an English company's Dowel Jig. You must also be famous because I would not buy anyone else's book on Handplane Essentials which I dive into from time to time.
One of my favorite moments on Parks and Recreation was Ron Swanson's reaction to seeing Christian Becksvoort at a woodworking event. Especially since the tiniest fraction of one percent of people watching the show would have any idea he's a real person. I have to imagine getting him on the show was 100% Nick Offerman's doing and I love him all the more for it. https://youtu.be/sp4RmP1T8ZQ?si=zrv-K_4N38UU683P&t=84
You might not be internet famous but you're a treasure to many.
Just smile and make your own journey, I've learned so much from you and a few other like minded people that carry on the craft of making useful things. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to work. The objects we create that look nice are a plus.
A side note: I live close to Dayton, OH and will visit your store front one day. Sort of a day trip when the weather warms up.
I've been more or less following the woodworking "scene" since my first woodworking class in 1974. I think it's hard to be anything more than mildly famous outside of woodworking. Even Norm was unknown to most folks in the circles I moved in.
I live in the same area that Roy does and I have met him a number of times over the last 30 years. We were born in the same city in the same year and are both woodworkers. I built my own lathe after seeing him build two lathes on his tv show and I have turned over 2,000 bowls on it. But that's where the similarities end - I have a motor on my lathe - to hell with standing on one leg while powering a lathe - I have work to do, and electricity is a boon to humanity, not a curse.
I studied woodworking in California with some of the big names in Bay Area woodworking. Their philosphy is 180 degrees away from the "use hand tools, sharpen planes, use a scraper" and all of the other East Coast time wasting techniques. Dove tails? I have made a total of two of them in my career. They interest me not one bit. The 18th century is over - move along, folks.
I don't see eye-to-eye with the handtool crowd and I am glad that I didn't get caught up in that cult - last year I sold all of my handplanes - new and old, as I have no need for such useless pieces of metal. Your mileage may vary...
If you turned 2000 bowls, that is impressive, and I am right there with you in regard to foot powered lathes (although I think that they are very cool and look like fun, kind of). But your lack of appreciation for hand planes and molding planes and saws is definitely a character flaw and yes my mileage/kilometers do vary. I made it to Roy’s school in Pittsboro only once. Bill Anderson was teaching about making moldings with hollows and rounds. I have all the powered wood working tools, but you can have the noise and dust. If you like that, then the more power to you. - Pun intended.
Well, this comment is now a reply to a deleted comment, therefore pointless.
But back to what's important - I sure hope this snow melts soon - I have been turning, but a bit of warmth would be nice and conducive to getting more work done.
Fame and flame are so close together.
So are "friend" and "fiend."
Thank you Chris. Your books and humble generosity with free information have improved my woodworking greatly. I agree, Roy Underhill is one fine person. I met him at WWIA 2008 when he autographed his latest book for me after my waiting in a long queue. He made me feel like I was the only person there with his attentive gaze and several questions about me and how I liked WWIA. When I took courses at the Woodwright’s School he was equally personable with all the students. I am lucky and grateful to have both of you as woodworking teachers.
Cheers,
Michael
Given how giddy it make me when one of my favorite Indy musicians follows me on instagram as happened this week, I probably don’t have what it takes to be Indy famous in the woodworking world. I left the notification up all week like an elementary school kid’s leaves a kiss on the cheek. I just want to sell my carvings, spoons, and chairs to whoever will buy them and teach others. I will and do give them away for free if I can’t sell it which is probably a hindrance to making a living. Gotta go I have to make a carving to give to that Indy musician. :)
The bartender at the best bar in Covington (Larry’s) referred to you as “world famous”. That’s all the fame I would need.
I think fame may not be the right metric to aim for these days. Rather, being recognized as a valuable contributor to a community I care about - that feels good and deeply human. That recognition is harder won than TikTok virality, but probably more satisfying. Amex can take care of the airline upgrades.
Meh. I'm in it for the Cocaine Parties.
Nothing like snorting a line off a SawStop. 😂.
Wait... There are cocaine parties? Obviously I'm not on that list.
Yeah Amex hasn’t offered those since the 80s
Roy is also a Really Nice Human. You write him with something like a sincere conversation point (I didn't ask him how to cut dovetails) and he'll write back. IIRC we were discussing combination planes and their evolved use on white pine. He might have gotten something out of the exchange there. But I suspect even if he already knew, he would have acknowledged what I had said. That matters.
I think what is needed for "fame" as a woodworking magazine person, is regular informal exposure to the interested public where the name is repeated. You and Megan did it through blog posts, but I think I can name 4 more through magazine-based podcasts. Without googling, I think Christiana, Peckovich, Huber, and Wittmer are or were EICs, although I admit I don't really understand the hierarchy of job titles in publishing. (I think the Shop Notes podcast and WW magazine industry consolidation were both after your original publication date). (Hopefully this isn't an annoying comment, although it's at least an admission that I've listened to too many WW podcasts for a long time. (I think there even was an episode or two of a PW podcast from back in olden times)).
What was Roy like to work with? He seems like a lovely guy to hang out with.
Roy is 100 percent gold, on camera and off. You are correct.
Who needs fame when you can find contentment.
When I tell people I do some woodworking they just assume I build birdhouses.
They have no idea you can make all kinds of things that don’t suck.
You can make things that don’t suck but you can also make things that suck, and be content that you’ve made it 😃
Ray Underwood 😆
Do you recall your first appearance on the show? For me, the episode where you introduced The Joiner and the Cabinetmaker was what really got my notice. I ordered the book and read it, and have been a fan and customer of LAP since.
You are famous because I met you at one show when I was looking for editors to review an English company's Dowel Jig. You must also be famous because I would not buy anyone else's book on Handplane Essentials which I dive into from time to time.
One of my favorite moments on Parks and Recreation was Ron Swanson's reaction to seeing Christian Becksvoort at a woodworking event. Especially since the tiniest fraction of one percent of people watching the show would have any idea he's a real person. I have to imagine getting him on the show was 100% Nick Offerman's doing and I love him all the more for it. https://youtu.be/sp4RmP1T8ZQ?si=zrv-K_4N38UU683P&t=84
Oh man, you’ve perfectly illustrated Chris’ point: Asa Christiana, one-time editor of FWW, was in that episode too, but few took notice. 😁
Oh man, I gotta watch that show!