Comments on: Reader Question: Late X-Mas Present For A Woodworker? http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:01:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Gary http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-186925 Gary Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:25:59 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-186925 I plan to spend a lot more time in my shop once I retire, but thats not for another 25 years or so. A previous poster might be right - he may be more of a tool collector. That isn't a bad thing - it doesn't make him a poser or anything, but it could explain why he isn't "producing much." If he enjoys knocking around in the shop, let him be. If those pics are of his bench, he has some nice hand tools. It could be that he might like turning - it's quite addictive. I'm a powertool guy, a neander and a turner. Hopefully by the time I retire, I'll have built up a decent level of skill in all 3. Ask your dad what an ideal day in the shop for him would be. Not when he retires, but now. The answer will provide you some insights. If nothing else, gift certificates to Lee Valley or other stores are always a good idea. I plan to spend a lot more time in my shop once I retire, but thats not for another 25 years or so.

A previous poster might be right - he may be more of a tool collector. That isn’t a bad thing - it doesn’t make him a poser or anything, but it could explain why he isn’t “producing much.”

If he enjoys knocking around in the shop, let him be. If those pics are of his bench, he has some nice hand tools. It could be that he might like turning - it’s quite addictive.

I’m a powertool guy, a neander and a turner. Hopefully by the time I retire, I’ll have built up a decent level of skill in all 3.

Ask your dad what an ideal day in the shop for him would be. Not when he retires, but now. The answer will provide you some insights. If nothing else, gift certificates to Lee Valley or other stores are always a good idea.

]]> By: Simon http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-185628 Simon Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:51:01 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-185628 If a hobby is for fun, then only he can determine what is the fun part. I have about 10 different hobbies with all being neglected since I have 10 different hobbies! I would rather have a nice workspace than just one singular hobby. So I say ask him what HE wants for Christmas. If a hobby is for fun, then only he can determine what is the fun part. I have about 10 different hobbies with all being neglected since I have 10 different hobbies! I would rather have a nice workspace than just one singular hobby. So I say ask him what HE wants for Christmas.

]]> By: Mike http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-185025 Mike Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:41:00 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-185025 I'm sort of in the same boat as your dad. I've got tools, wood, and space, but no time to work on the projects I want to work on. How about a "gift certificate" for 8 hours of shop time, and you can work out with him what you can do to make it possible (like maybe taking on some of his chores, or committing to work down there with him so it feels like he's not neglecting family, or whatever). I’m sort of in the same boat as your dad. I’ve got tools, wood, and space, but no time to work on the projects I want to work on.

How about a “gift certificate” for 8 hours of shop time, and you can work out with him what you can do to make it possible (like maybe taking on some of his chores, or committing to work down there with him so it feels like he’s not neglecting family, or whatever).

]]> By: Brian http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-185017 Brian Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:16:23 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-185017 Sometimes building jigs and fixtures is just fun, and they tend to be shorter projects. So how about a copy of "WOOD Magazine: Build Your Own Shop Jigs & Fixtures". Sometimes nothing "big" gets started due to the fact that we have no idea what to build. So how about a copy of "The Big Book of Weekend Woodworking: 150 Easy Projects". He can build stuff for the grandkids (are there grandchildren?). If they are young you could buy a copy of "Toys, Games, and Furniture: Over 30 Woodworking Projects You Can Make for Children". If the grandkids are too old for these kind of toys, how about asking them if they have an interest in spending some of their Christmas break with grandpa out in his shop. (1) This will certainly motivate him, and (2) some of my favorite memories are working with my grandfather in his shop, learning how to use tools. What I wouldn't give to have just a few of those hours back to re-live all over again. I'm pretty sure my tool obsession began right there in my grandfather's basement wood working shop. :o) Forget the kids, maybe you (Joe) might be interested in spending that time with him in his shop. ;o) New tools are great (that's why we read Toolmonger, right?) but what makes me happy is when the kids ask me if they can help with a project (home improvement, woodworking, automotive, etc). Whatever you decide, I hope you and your family have a Wonderful Christmas this year. Sometimes building jigs and fixtures is just fun, and they tend to be shorter projects. So how about a copy of “WOOD Magazine: Build Your Own Shop Jigs & Fixtures”.

Sometimes nothing “big” gets started due to the fact that we have no idea what to build. So how about a copy of “The Big Book of Weekend Woodworking: 150 Easy Projects”. He can build stuff for the grandkids (are there grandchildren?). If they are young you could buy a copy of “Toys, Games, and Furniture: Over 30 Woodworking Projects You Can Make for Children”.

If the grandkids are too old for these kind of toys, how about asking them if they have an interest in spending some of their Christmas break with grandpa out in his shop. (1) This will certainly motivate him, and (2) some of my favorite memories are working with my grandfather in his shop, learning how to use tools. What I wouldn’t give to have just a few of those hours back to re-live all over again. I’m pretty sure my tool obsession began right there in my grandfather’s basement wood working shop. :o)

Forget the kids, maybe you (Joe) might be interested in spending that time with him in his shop. ;o)

New tools are great (that’s why we read Toolmonger, right?) but what makes me happy is when the kids ask me if they can help with a project (home improvement, woodworking, automotive, etc).

Whatever you decide, I hope you and your family have a Wonderful Christmas this year.

]]> By: Fred http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-185010 Fred Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:07:17 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-185010 Maybe your day is more of a tool collector than a woodworker. Nothing wrong with that - just a different focus. If so - then some heirloom quality tool (Old Norris Plane - if your budget will stand it - or a modern Lie-Nielsen) would get him excited. If the problem s that he can visualize a project - but has a problem with his confidence in using tools (afraid of the tablesaw etc.) - then maybe some woodworking classes might encourage him. Maybe your day is more of a tool collector than a woodworker. Nothing wrong with that - just a different focus. If so - then some heirloom quality tool (Old Norris Plane - if your budget will stand it - or a modern Lie-Nielsen) would get him excited.

If the problem s that he can visualize a project - but has a problem with his confidence in using tools (afraid of the tablesaw etc.) - then maybe some woodworking classes might encourage him.

]]> By: mike d http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-185004 mike d Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:56:12 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-185004 Buy your dad tools you'd like to borrow. Buy your dad tools you’d like to borrow.

]]> By: Raymond McInnis http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-184959 Raymond McInnis Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:50:26 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-184959 I am retired and an avid woodworker. When I retired in 2001, my wife had an architect design a shop for me -- to my specifications -- and she let me buy the power tools that I had wanted for a long time. Now I spend about two-three hours per day in the shop, sometimes making furniture, but often making jigs/fixtures for my tools. (It's a family joke: "What does Ray do in the shop?" "Oh, he makes jigs!") I also spend quite a bit of time daily on http://www.woodworkinghistory.com My wife, bless her, doesn't question me for not going out to the shop regularly. My son buys me tools (sometimes other things) for my shop, but doesn't push or shame me, if it seems like I am not spending enough time out there. Wisely, I believe, he sees that it must flow naturally. To a non-woodworker, inactivity in the shop seems like a waste of valuable time. Not so! Getting yourself set up to do a project is as much psychological as anything else. You don't just go out there and start building stuff. You have to work up to it. When watching a baseball game, do you notice the ritualistic gyrations the pitcher go through in preparation for making a pitch? Adjusts his cap. Kicks the dirt on the mound. Walks off the mound. Spits. Squints at the catcher. My analogy: baseball pitcher vs woodworker -- may seem strange, but frequently, it takes a while to get started. Why? Again, all I can say, "it's psychological!" In part, perhaps, it is fear, fear of failure, fear of making a bad cut in expensive wood, fear that the design isn't just right, it could be a lot things. The worst thing to do though, is to shame someone into going out into the shop, just to do something. It is, I know, not as easy as that. This doesn't help much, I know. How about a gift certificate at Lee Valley? I am retired and an avid woodworker. When I retired in 2001, my wife had an architect design a shop for me — to my specifications — and she let me buy the power tools that I had wanted for a long time. Now I spend about two-three hours per day in the shop, sometimes making furniture, but often making jigs/fixtures for my tools. (It’s a family joke: “What does Ray do in the shop?” “Oh, he makes jigs!”)

I also spend quite a bit of time daily on http://www.woodworkinghistory.com

My wife, bless her, doesn’t question me for not going out to the shop regularly. My son buys me tools (sometimes other things) for my shop, but doesn’t push or shame me, if it seems like I am not spending enough time out there. Wisely, I believe, he sees that it must flow naturally.

To a non-woodworker, inactivity in the shop seems like a waste of valuable time. Not so!

Getting yourself set up to do a project is as much psychological as anything else. You don’t just go out there and start building stuff. You have to work up to it.

When watching a baseball game, do you notice the ritualistic gyrations the pitcher go through in preparation for making a pitch? Adjusts his cap. Kicks the dirt on the mound. Walks off the mound. Spits. Squints at the catcher.

My analogy: baseball pitcher vs woodworker — may seem strange, but frequently, it takes a while to get started. Why? Again, all I can say, “it’s psychological!”

In part, perhaps, it is fear, fear of failure, fear of making a bad cut in expensive wood, fear that the design isn’t just right, it could be a lot things.

The worst thing to do though, is to shame someone into going out into the shop, just to do something. It is, I know, not as easy as that.

This doesn’t help much, I know. How about a gift certificate at Lee Valley?

]]> By: Joe http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-184940 Joe Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:32:13 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/21/reader-question-late-x-mas-present-for-a-woodworker/#comment-184940 Buy him some woodworking classes. I'm not sure where you live, but Woodcraft offers them in their stores, and there's lots of smaller woodworking and furniture schools that offer classes. Getting him into a class will force him to pick up some tools again - hopefully it will remind him how much he likes doing it. Buy him some woodworking classes. I’m not sure where you live, but Woodcraft offers them in their stores, and there’s lots of smaller woodworking and furniture schools that offer classes.

Getting him into a class will force him to pick up some tools again - hopefully it will remind him how much he likes doing it.

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