This is why I always make a “muck-up” version of anything I do, for the first time. Every time.
My peasant’s chest you taught is wholly unsound in its lid hinging,
The second one I made for close family (they will accept boo-boos) was so much the better for learning the lessons I carried from your class in Kentucky.
My firsts, full of errors, are my notebooks. Not the notebooks. Those are for doodles, drawings, and writing down curses you can’t use in front of anyone living.
I have strived to be a woodworker for 50 years just trying to build my skills.
Not doing this for a living mind you but more than most immersed in the craft.
I have made the classic ( and not so classic ) mistakes. I still can’t measure for instance even after three tries I get a different measurement every time.
Problem is I’m running out of time, if I’m lucky if I’ve got 20 years of learning left……( I’m 70 )
I’m trying to slow down the mistake curve but still ….mistakes abound.
So it’s the learning that keeps me in the game with the occasional super birdhouse repair to show my hard won skills.
I will never be a master at anything but it doesn’t matter in the end.
It was a fantastic class and a fine speech, Chris. Learning the science behind why the prefrontal cortex seizes up in the presence of glue would have made the entire experience worthwhile, but learning how to build a stool the hard way was also handy. Fingers crossed I make it to another one of your classes someday.
I am reminded of a time when Bill Moyers interviewed Joseph Campbell about his book the Power of Myth. He asked him why he searched for the meaning of life, Campbell replied, “I don’t, I search for the experiences of life that give it meaning. “
I took a class on building cricket tables a couple of years ago. I no longer have the strength or stamina to work 8 hours a day, was unable to finish the table. The experience gave me the confidence to continue making tables and chairs (some even passed into my house and not the burn pile). Thanks for sharing your passion for building things.
Great speech Chris. I learned from you that the variation introduced with working by hand and eye create internal stresses in the stool or chair which strengthen the construct and increase durability. I just fixed an old chair over the weekend after my 3 year old grand child flipped the chair over by standing and rocking. (After a few tears and a hug from grandma he was fine, running about like a banshee.) After re-gluing and pinning the medial stretcher with a small dowel, I measured the rake and splay of the back legs and noted them to be about 10 degrees less than your chairs explaining the instability of the old chairs around my kitchen table.
I think you’re better at speeches than you give yourself credit for.
I think I’m the only one in the class who didn’t assemble and glue up the stool yesterday (for transport purposes). I enjoyed watching the others finish up and soaking in the glue up chaos.
I’m going to let the knowledge sit for a week or two and then finish. And then build another one. Thanks for the knowledge and a great weekend, Chris.
I tend to back the training wheels off one task at a time. IE: this project I'll make the tongue and groove by hand vs taking it to the table saw. Once I've mastered the hand skill I tend to go that route more often than not.
Since taking a chair class last year I haven’t made any more chairs. But! Every project I have made has incorporated curves, rasps or hand planed dowels. All skills I learned building a chair that broaden my woodworking vocabulary. If I had used machines and jigs I doubt the impact would have been the same.
Bravo, Well Said!
John is the Man!
This is why I always make a “muck-up” version of anything I do, for the first time. Every time.
My peasant’s chest you taught is wholly unsound in its lid hinging,
The second one I made for close family (they will accept boo-boos) was so much the better for learning the lessons I carried from your class in Kentucky.
My firsts, full of errors, are my notebooks. Not the notebooks. Those are for doodles, drawings, and writing down curses you can’t use in front of anyone living.
Thanks for keeping John Prine in the conversation. ☘️
Now that’s a speech I understand and appreciate.
I have strived to be a woodworker for 50 years just trying to build my skills.
Not doing this for a living mind you but more than most immersed in the craft.
I have made the classic ( and not so classic ) mistakes. I still can’t measure for instance even after three tries I get a different measurement every time.
Problem is I’m running out of time, if I’m lucky if I’ve got 20 years of learning left……( I’m 70 )
I’m trying to slow down the mistake curve but still ….mistakes abound.
So it’s the learning that keeps me in the game with the occasional super birdhouse repair to show my hard won skills.
I will never be a master at anything but it doesn’t matter in the end.
It was a fantastic class and a fine speech, Chris. Learning the science behind why the prefrontal cortex seizes up in the presence of glue would have made the entire experience worthwhile, but learning how to build a stool the hard way was also handy. Fingers crossed I make it to another one of your classes someday.
Thanks Ben. Much appreciated.
I am reminded of a time when Bill Moyers interviewed Joseph Campbell about his book the Power of Myth. He asked him why he searched for the meaning of life, Campbell replied, “I don’t, I search for the experiences of life that give it meaning. “
I took a class on building cricket tables a couple of years ago. I no longer have the strength or stamina to work 8 hours a day, was unable to finish the table. The experience gave me the confidence to continue making tables and chairs (some even passed into my house and not the burn pile). Thanks for sharing your passion for building things.
Great speech Chris. I learned from you that the variation introduced with working by hand and eye create internal stresses in the stool or chair which strengthen the construct and increase durability. I just fixed an old chair over the weekend after my 3 year old grand child flipped the chair over by standing and rocking. (After a few tears and a hug from grandma he was fine, running about like a banshee.) After re-gluing and pinning the medial stretcher with a small dowel, I measured the rake and splay of the back legs and noted them to be about 10 degrees less than your chairs explaining the instability of the old chairs around my kitchen table.
I never knew that song Great Compromise was a protest song until recently. Made the whole thing make a lot of sense.
LOOKS TO ME LIKE A LOT OF ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM. THERE'S A LOT
OF EMOTION IN 'THEM, THAT STOOL'. THANK YOU
I think you’re better at speeches than you give yourself credit for.
I think I’m the only one in the class who didn’t assemble and glue up the stool yesterday (for transport purposes). I enjoyed watching the others finish up and soaking in the glue up chaos.
I’m going to let the knowledge sit for a week or two and then finish. And then build another one. Thanks for the knowledge and a great weekend, Chris.
I’d like to sign up for the “Or worse.” class.
I tend to back the training wheels off one task at a time. IE: this project I'll make the tongue and groove by hand vs taking it to the table saw. Once I've mastered the hand skill I tend to go that route more often than not.
Since taking a chair class last year I haven’t made any more chairs. But! Every project I have made has incorporated curves, rasps or hand planed dowels. All skills I learned building a chair that broaden my woodworking vocabulary. If I had used machines and jigs I doubt the impact would have been the same.
Like learning to play an instrument by ear, old-time two-finger banjo for instance, instead of by tab.
All of this.
I still maintain the best class would be one they don’t take the stool home. Because it’s not about the stool.
That would help with the logistics of transporting a project and finding a worthy cause to donate the project or proceeds to appeals to me.
Burn party!!!
Heck yeah
Or give the stool away.