OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

86463 thomt@u... 2000‑11‑20 Bio update


Wow! Has it been only 3 years since I first posted my BIO!!!

I still work for IBM, now helping to insure our systems are safe and
secure. SWMBOett is now 10 going on 18 and still the apple of my eye. SWMBO
is heavily into faux finishing. Now -she- is looking for old tools for wood
graining etc.

About a 4 years ago I had a life-changing experience. I had been promising
myself that I would make a chair entirely by hand from green wood. I went
to the John C. Campbell folk school and did it. I built a ladder back chair
from red oak. We started Sunday night, splitting the enormous red oak log.
Monday morning, after a terrific breakfast supplied by the school, we went
right to work. The instructor was Tom Donahey assisted by his wife Karol.
They were absolutely delightful. Tom has an easy laid back manner that
instills confidence in his students, regardless of their experience and
ability. Tom didn?t allow anyone to get too far ahead, partly so he
wouldn?t have to explain everything 5 times and partly out of kindness for
the not so fast students. During off times we discussed sharpening stones,
wet/dry joining, drawknife sharpening (to dub or not to dub, that is the
question), shavehorse building, froe pounding and other neander pursuits. I
now realize we could converse in normal tones because the loudest sound in
the room was the swishhh of drawknife and spokeshave, not the screaming of
tailed apprentices.

Sometime, amidst the pile of shavings, the dripping sweat, the well tuned
tools, conversation, swish and laughter, I became a galoot.

I discovered SWMBO's Great-grandfather was a carpenter-contractor around
the turn of the century in the Chicago area. I have some of his tools
including some iron, wooden and transitional planes, a really cool Noble
adjustable handle drawknife, and a set of Disston handsaws. I have
completed the set of type 10/11 planes and even filled in the halves. I'm
not quite ready for the Numbers 1 and 2 but, maybe someday... I'm a user
not a collector, I'm a user not a collector....... err I think. Grandpa
Sias' tools are gradually being replaced by 'new' users so they can retire
to the mantle and rest. Stop that snickering, it's a historic display!

M-WTCA and the porch have allowed me to not only fill in the spaces but
acquire new tools as needed for projects. Currently I'm working on hand
saws, sharpening and using as many different ones as possible.

Increasingly, when asked my woodworking specialty, I am inclined to answer
education. Specificly, hand tool woodworking. Maybe the love of shop
classes when I was a kid, maybe the shop teachers credentials that I later
attained, but most likely the spark of understanding I see in a student's
eye, no matter how old the student. -That- makes it worthwhile and
wonderful.

Thanks to the denizens of the porch, the list moms, and the local galoots
who put up with me.

Thanks for listening.
Thom Trail Htf.
11/20/2000




Recent Bios FAQ