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234263 "Renfro, Mike" <Mike.Renfro@p...> 2012‑11‑08 FW: Bio For Mike Renfro
I am 67 years old and live in Austin, Texas with my wife Deborah and one
of my sons who lost his building job in the last economic downturn. I
spent some time in the Army and got out as a captain. I went to law
school, became a prosecutor, trial attorney and then was elected as
County Judge. For the last twelve years I have been the Director of
Customer Protection for the Texas Public Utility Commission. I am
rapidly approaching retirement from public service so I have been
searching every woodworking site to pick the best qualities for a home
workshop. I have shared garages, half the laundry room to an 8 foot by
10 foot outdoor shed to house my woodworking tools over the last 40
years. I am ready for my own space. My love of woodworking began years
ago as my parents had an antique business as a sideline that grew into
store when they retired to Florida. I have been to many tool swaps and
antique markets in Texas on my quest to buy good woodworking tools but I
am convinced that the good tools hit the market on the east coast and
whatever is left over is shipped to Texas. Slim pickings. I had the good
fortune to meet Mark Wells who encouraged me to join the porch and
recommended that I contact Josh Clark. The caliber of the tools I now
can find has greatly improved. I am slowly buying hand planes, hand
saws, gouges, spoke shaves and metal planes that actually work well
without much rehab on my part. I plan to start building a shop in 2013
to be prepared for my new fulltime career in woodworking. I like to
build period furniture and work mainly with walnut and mahogany.
Mesquite is very plentiful in Texas so I have also built some more
modern pieces for my friends, children and relatives. I have also
developed a keen interest in carving as period furniture requires some
carving skills.
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