Who are you?

chrispitude · Post by **chrispitude** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:17 pm

My name is Chris and I'm 34 years old and married a bit over a year ago. I'm an electrical engineer and I work for a company (Synopsys, Inc.) who actually writes the design software that all the major companies use to design their microchips. I help those customers use our software to make the chips.

I've been mostly into cars as a hobby. I have a 1995 BMW M3 (174k miles), a 2006 Jeep Liberty CRD turbodiesel (my wife's, actually) and a 1986 Shelby Omni GLHS undergoing an extensive restoration.

I'd barely call myself a novice woodworker, but I'm interested in learning it as a new skill. Given the recent 520 upgrade, and the new headstock a few years ago, I definitely see it as an investment. The folks here have inspired me to get into this hobby, and I sincerely hope that soon I will be able to give back to the folks here that have answered my incessant questions so patiently.

Who are you?

- Chris

osx-addict · Post by **osx-addict** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:36 pm

Well.. I might as well chime in.. My name is Rick and I'm.. uhh.. let's see.. 44 years old, married for almost 13 years to my great wife that is interested in some of my hobbies (wood is one of them), and have 3 great kids (10yr,6yr,2yr).. I am gainfully employed by one of the large aerospace companies and I sit in front of a PC all day long writing & testing C++ code for embedded computers... (and I can write really long rambling sentences too!)

I've got several hobbies and things I like to tinker with -- notably photography, computers, vehicles, etc. I do all of my own handy-man sorts of tasks at home (installing/ repairing faucets, toilets, stoves,etc) and have always had an interest in wood from the time my father allowed us kids to get some wood scraps and hammer old bent nails into the wood for fun on Saturday mornings.

Unfortunately, my father didn't have anything beyond a RAS (craftsman) -- no router, TS, or anything beyond your basic hand tools so doing more than your basic wood working was tedious.

I'm not sure I'd call my self a woodworking novice as I've got several routers (ok .. 2), Delta TS, and Jet 6" jointer. While I've got those slick tools in my garage, they are and have been gathering dust for many years.. The jointer has had very little use as I don't think I ever got the complete hang of using it.. I did use the TS for a remodel we did a while back on a rental property we own but it's been sitting ever since. The most exotic wood I've used is Oak (the rest is either framing lumber or poplar) -- I druel over the cool looking "real" exotic woods they've got for sale over at my local Rockler dealer..

Anyway, as most of you know I'm a SS newbie and while I've passed on the SS in the past (I've never been a fan of those "one-tool-does-all" tools), I now realize that the SS is one of the best tools out there and it's capable of doing LOTS of things and doing them in a minimal footprint in my garage (which is VERY crowded)

. This will make me happy as well as my wife who will be able to walk w/o tripping on something once the TS and Jet are gone to a new home... (soon).

Anyway, I want to thank each and every one of you that has answered my very basic questions on all things SS.. I'm sure I'll have more and I've been learning quite a bit with all of you knowledgeable SS'ers!

Sonny · Post by **Sonny** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:32 pm

My name is Sonny Asburry and I live in Martinsville Virginia. I have been married (to the same woman) for 43 years. We have two daughters, one 41 years old with a 6 year old son. They live in Huntsville, Alabama, where she works for Nasa and he works at Red Stone Arsenal (doing what, I don't know).

The younger daughter lives here with her 3 teenage chlldren.

I retired from the Martinsville Police Department after 27 years and then again after 9 years as a Welfare Investigator for the Department of Social Services.

I inherited my Dad's 1954 or 1955 Shopsmith made by Magna and bought a 2002 Shopsmith a week ago.

I don't have a shop set up yet, because the 12 X 24 building that I have is full of the contents that I inherited from my oldest sister who died last year.

I joined this site when I found it and unlike some other wood working forums that I have read, this site does not snipe and back bite and really tries to help out those who post.

I hope to be here a long time and bug all of you with questions.

Sorry this is so long.

Sonny

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:26 pm

I could be mistaken

but I am not sure that you will get many responses. Some people want the anonymity, privacy, are not interested in "being friendly" or are just fearful of what could happen with info passed on the internet. The public profile allows users of this forum to post the info that they are willing to share.

My name is Tim and I have a wonderful family. I have been married a short 29 years to the mother of my four children, ages 28, 23, 8, and 6.

I have been installing continuous gutters for the last 28 years, and worked for a wholesale tool warehouse for 7 years preceeding that (selling mostly automotive tools but we also carried the FULL lines of Millers Falls and Stanley hand tools along with Black and Decker) (During that time, to my understanding, ALL of those tools were made in America). I have participated in all phases of construction work and in fact did most of the work on the building of my current home.

I enjoy spending time with my family, including "throwing the ball around", cub scouting, dirt bike riding and woodworking. We do "game night" too.

I purchased new, my Mark V 510 in 1995 and used it for a few odds and ends and to remodel my 1st house. It has helped me to make tack boxes for 4-H kids, entertainment centers, a complete set of oak kitchen cabinets, pinewood derby cars and a number of other small projects. Unfortunately, it was put into storage for 3 years while I was building my house. I am now settling into my shop in my new home and will start some major projects. I own some non-SS tools and equipment too.

guvnuh4 · Post by **guvnuh4** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:29 am

I'm 24 years old, and I live in the big, happening town of Urbana, IA (I think we just broke 1,000 people recently...). On June 24th, I will be married to my wife for 2 years. Last May, I graduated from a local community college with a degree in Network Egineering and Administration, and picked up a job immediately in my field (who knew computer's were so popular?!).

I've been incredibly interested in woodworking from an early age. My father, maternal grandfather, and maternal's(?) maternal great grandfather have all been woodworkers in some fashion, so it just seemed natural that I should have some form of shop to continue the tradition to my, yet to be conceived, children.

I had access to an old, huge Craftsman TS that was my aforementioned great grandfather's, but in the two stall garage that I have in my house, I didn't really want to have to wrestle with cars and tools as much. I picked up a 1979 MarkV 500 SS at an estate auction. I haven't been able to make it out to the shop yet due to weather (CRAZY subzero temperatures...), but I sincerely hope to get some projects completed in the next few weeks.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:45 am

As you can tell from my screen name I am Paul Cohen age 51, I have been married for almost 33 years and have two boys (almost 17 and 20). I loved shop in junior and senior high school and went to college to become a Shop Teacher that lasted about one semester and I found computers, I have been with Intel in Sales and Marketing for 28 years. I currently work in a group that does software development tools (compilers, libraries for those that know what I am talking about). I got all my Shopsmith stuff new from Shopsmith and have done every upgrade imaginable usually as soon as they became available. My wife supports my hobby and even sells some of my stuff along with the Jewelry she makes in a business she started last year.

I also have an interest in third parties that support the Shopsmith tools (like Kreg, One-way, Sand Flee...) and sometimes try to matchmake. Working for Intel I strongly believe that everyone thrives when there is a healthy ecosystem.

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:50 am

I'm 52 and live in Columbia, MO, home of the Missouri Tigers. I grew up in Kansas and was transplanted to Missouri by my parents in 1973. I was introduced to woodworking in shop class in junior high school. I bought my 500 in 1985 and used it to build bunk beds for my two sons. I also have a daughter, age 20 now. I am a Medical Technologist working in a blood bank, but I also have an interest in computers, so I manage out lab computer system in my 'spare' time. I play a little golf and like to work outside on my lawn, garden and landscaping. I obviously have too many hobbies, so I am not the die-hard woodworker that many of you seem to be. I am happy to see that some of you are fairly young (20's) and are doing your part to further our hobby.

nuhobby · Post by **nuhobby** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:51 pm

Hi, I'm semi-anonymous. I'm 42 and have been married (first time) for these last 5 years. I am an electrical engineer. My company has been losing a lot of money. So I feel for the underdogs and tough-luck cases. I believe Shopsmith has gotten through the worst of it now.
I've had my Shopsmith (new) since January 2007. I REALLY like it. I think home craftsmanship will be making a comeback in the USA as people come to their senses.

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 6:54 pm

Hi, I'm Gary Kalyn:D We're having our 40th Anniversary this summer. I'm a Pharmacist, but have been dabbling in woodworking since Jr.High. Finally I'm semi-retired (pick and choose my jobs) so I have time to play in the shop. I had assorted low end tools, and finally, after drooling for years, purchased a ShopSmith at the State Fair about 3 years ago. I use my spare time to create intrasia, and doll furniture for the grandchildren. One of these days I'll put together enough original inventory to present at an art show...hoping for Palm Springs or Newport Beach, where I can show art and not crafts $$$. Just a dream. Interesting thread, nice to see what others do with their dedicated time (time not spent woodworking).

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:33 pm

My name is Blane Ryan. I am a high school Social Studies teacher (Government, Economics, World HIstory, and U.S History) at the 4th most diverse high school in the U.S. (67 languages are represented). My other hobbies are model railroading (HO scale), railfanning, travel, doing historical research, genealogy,gardening, and learning how to become a better woodworker. My wife and I will be married 27 years in May. We have 3 children, ages 24, 19, and 16. I am a President of the Three Rivers And Indiana Railroad (TRAIN for short) a modular railroad group and a board member of the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society.

Happy Easter,
BPR