OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

86927 "Breitenberger, Eric" Eric_Breitenberger@e... 2000‑11‑30 Updated Bio
It's been three years now since I first began reading this list
(in 1997), so I suppose an updated bio is in order:

I like to do things with my hands. I'm not sure if this interest is
genetic or acquired, but I can remember my father teaching me to 
repack the bearings on my bicycle when I was 7 or 8. I learned many
basic skills in my dad's shop, and I suppose it was those skills 
that later led to numerous and varied jobs such as bike mechanic,
welder's helper in pipeline construction, concrete worker, framer,
and carpenter. 

Those jobs were intertwined with a very lengthy college education,
which eventually brought me to Alaska almost 15 years ago. About 4
years ago, I started building a house, on 2 south-facing acres high
on a hillside north of Fairbanks (latitude 65N). That's where I 
live now, with my wife and two huskies. My other interests include
skiing (and skijoring), bicycling, hockey, hiking, and hunting.

My interest in OldTools lies in a long-term goal of mine: to make
nice furniture while enjoying the creative process. Over the last 
three years I've acquired a reasonable selection of hand tools. 
I've probably got more planes, chisels, and saws than I really 
need (but I'll never admit it). Besides accumulating lots of tools,
I've been slowly learning more hand tool skills as I go. Working 
on the house for the last few years has been electron-intensive,
but I make use of hand tools whenever they are more efficient.

Once the house is complete and I have a larger shop, I plan to
finally turn to building some furniture, with the tools and skills
that I've been picking up along the way.

I'm continually amazed at how much I've gained from the OldTools
group in the last 3 years - not just tools and knowledge, but 
lasting friendships. It's a great group and I'm glad to be part of
it. Real glad.

-Eric Breitenberger



Recent Bios FAQ