Publisher’s note: Welcome to Earlywood, a free excerpt published every Saturday from one of the thousands of pieces I’ve written since 1996. Sometimes it’s from a magazine article. Or a book. Or (in this case) a blog post from 2012. Each entry has been updated or annotated with some modern context or point of view. We hope you enjoy it.
I think that one possible reason why some people get consumed by those tangential matters (gathering the right tools, sharpening, etc.) is that it’s so much easier to get quick, positive feedback (endorphin rush) from those activities than from the long, hard work of learning all of the skills needed to design and make something nice out of wood. As a hobbyist with more enthusiasm than time (or skill), I find it much more challenging to learn to saw a tenon well than to compare the half dozen tenon saws on offer by contemporary makers to figure out which to buy. Once it hits 9pm, I’m spent, and it’s hard (necessary though it may be) to head down to the ill-lit garage I call my workshop and practice sawing those tenons on a crappy 2x4 that is so warped and full of knots that the marking gauge line barely approaches straight even where it’s not running off the rounded arris of the wood. I’ll end here before my comment starts to resemble more a complaint about my own circumstances than a thoughtful response to yet another compelling post. If it hasn’t already.
"This makes noise! This makes noise! This makes noise!" Like and subscribe!
Sorta related, does it do anything for you if we "like" and comment? I haven't really been treating substack like I treat other platforms for noisemakers, and maybe I should, you know, if I like the noise they make.
I teach classes in a variety of settings. More than once in the workshop of a host who promised he had a bandsaw for class to use … but oh forgot to tell me before class it doesn’t have a blade; or sure we have a lathe , it’s a monster we got donated to the school from an estate sale….but oh forgot to mention before class that it doesn’t have a tool rest.
From these experiences I came to the conclusion that they’re people who are “nesters” and then there are people who are “makers”. Nesters collect tools and obsess over their shop. They are comforted greatly by all the great projects they can now technically do someday.
Makers on the other hand are obsessed with making things. Their shops are usually pretty simple, their tools are essential but not very fancy and there are projects under way all over the place. 90 percent of their talk is about the technical challenges they are trying to solve, the efficiencies they are trying to achieve, and the jigs they have evolved too overcome different challenges. It’s are likely to say “and the next time make this chair, it will be even better!” Sure they have a favorite chisel or wrench. But that is not the focus. Their bandsaw may be humble….. but it works just fine when you throw the switch cause it’s used everyday.
As an obsessee, I have to agree with everything you said, Chris. However, being an obsessee, I will probably ignore your words of wisdom and continue doing what feels good. Do you know of any 12-step programs for people like me? :D
Earlywood: Obsessions with the Tools or the Craft
the table saw is the noisiest of them all... unless it's a sawstop with no signal.
Amen brother.
I think that one possible reason why some people get consumed by those tangential matters (gathering the right tools, sharpening, etc.) is that it’s so much easier to get quick, positive feedback (endorphin rush) from those activities than from the long, hard work of learning all of the skills needed to design and make something nice out of wood. As a hobbyist with more enthusiasm than time (or skill), I find it much more challenging to learn to saw a tenon well than to compare the half dozen tenon saws on offer by contemporary makers to figure out which to buy. Once it hits 9pm, I’m spent, and it’s hard (necessary though it may be) to head down to the ill-lit garage I call my workshop and practice sawing those tenons on a crappy 2x4 that is so warped and full of knots that the marking gauge line barely approaches straight even where it’s not running off the rounded arris of the wood. I’ll end here before my comment starts to resemble more a complaint about my own circumstances than a thoughtful response to yet another compelling post. If it hasn’t already.
"This makes noise! This makes noise! This makes noise!" Like and subscribe!
Sorta related, does it do anything for you if we "like" and comment? I haven't really been treating substack like I treat other platforms for noisemakers, and maybe I should, you know, if I like the noise they make.
“The best way to become a master is be prolific”
I teach classes in a variety of settings. More than once in the workshop of a host who promised he had a bandsaw for class to use … but oh forgot to tell me before class it doesn’t have a blade; or sure we have a lathe , it’s a monster we got donated to the school from an estate sale….but oh forgot to mention before class that it doesn’t have a tool rest.
From these experiences I came to the conclusion that they’re people who are “nesters” and then there are people who are “makers”. Nesters collect tools and obsess over their shop. They are comforted greatly by all the great projects they can now technically do someday.
Makers on the other hand are obsessed with making things. Their shops are usually pretty simple, their tools are essential but not very fancy and there are projects under way all over the place. 90 percent of their talk is about the technical challenges they are trying to solve, the efficiencies they are trying to achieve, and the jigs they have evolved too overcome different challenges. It’s are likely to say “and the next time make this chair, it will be even better!” Sure they have a favorite chisel or wrench. But that is not the focus. Their bandsaw may be humble….. but it works just fine when you throw the switch cause it’s used everyday.
As an obsessee, I have to agree with everything you said, Chris. However, being an obsessee, I will probably ignore your words of wisdom and continue doing what feels good. Do you know of any 12-step programs for people like me? :D