Does Anyone Do Woodworking

[a1gutterman]

Hi,

When I first read this post I had the feeling the question was more like:

Does any one here do any woodworking any more?

I've noticed a lack of woodworking projects being shown over the last while and thought this might be in reference to that. If that were the case I like to assure everyone that yes this is still a site to discuss and show woodworking projects.

I have several in the works and I'll post a few of them sometime in the future. And I would encourage others to do some woodworking project posts as well.

If this post was "off subject" sorry.

Ed

I, too, thought that was markfive's meaning. This wood be the second time that I asked him this same question, but on a different subject. He did knot answer the first time, maybe he will now: markfive510, what did you mean by this question? Is it what reible and I suspect? Or is it more in the general sense, like the other responses are answering to?

[ryanbp01]

I do, but I'm self-taught. I guess I don't have enough confidence in my own skills yet to show what I have learned. Most of what I learned was when my wife and I remodeled the house we live in over the course of what will be 28 years on Saturday. I wish I had more time to devote to it, but the job comes first (at least for the next five days:D !), not to mention classes to take over the summer, railroad exhibits to run, etc. As a high school teacher, the emphasis is on English, Math, and Science. Plus, with 30+ languages which are spoken at the school I teach at, shop classes are a thing of the past. Students can take the option when they are juniors and seniors to take classes at our regional vocational school (culinary arts, auto technology, aviation tech, early childhood education, firefighting, cosmetology, etc.) on half days and are here for the other half.

I too, am concerned that students are not exposed to woodworking as a hobby or as a possible way to go into business for themselves. However, our society is evolving into a reliance more and more on technology, us forum members included. Maybe it is time for us to show the younger generation how woodworking can become an enjoyable pasttime/ hobby.

BPR

[BigSky]

I, too, thought that was markfive's meaning. This wood be the second time that I asked him this same question, but on a different subject. He did knot answer the first time, maybe he will now: markfive510, what did you mean by this question? Is it what reible and I suspect? Or is it more in the general sense, like the other responses are answering to?

As a group we are a strange bunch. Forum conversations can't be led. They go where ever the notion takes them. The original thought in this question was intended as a criticism of the forum. There is hardly ever any serious discussion about woodworking. But ask a social/political question and we are off and running.

The reaction has been interesting however. Schools no longer have vocational education, homemakers no longer do self repair, we don't unveil our projects for whatever reason, computers and videos have captured the lime light with the younger generation and we are all too easily led off the subject.

[judaspre1982]

====================

[dlbristol]

I spent 35 years working in public schools as a teacher, coach and principal. There is some truth to what you say about the schools, litigation and testing.
We could spend another 35 years on that and probably not solve it, but what might we do to help get more young people involved? This might be a good topic for its own thread.

Maybe we could do something. I know three guys in my family that would be interested in doing something with wood, and my daughter has always been interested. There is certainly enough knowledge and passion here to go a long way. A good point was made about not having to be a great wood worker to be a good teacher. I have seen that many times. I was by all accounts " the worst" Football player on my HS team, and yet managed to have some success as a coach.

[BigSky]

OK THEN----- MKV510, Where are all your wood working project pics and and threads--that you started-- on this forum to justify you criticism of others!!! I am not looking to start any war here, but it really strips my gears when such a remark is made. You seem to have a bit of sarcasm to your posts also. Please do not try and turn this forum into a jousting match by starting threads like these. There are other wood working forums available to you. This is my last negative post I will allow myself to participate in. Thank You----Dave

OKAY, Dave - I don't see sarcasm in my comments but I'll accept that. In the meantime I'll spend most of my forum time elsewhere. I've been living underground almost since I joined and maybe that is where I belong. My observations and opinions are rejected as criticism anyhow.

[woodburner]

The woodworking hobby as a whole belongs to the older generation who grew up in a time when things were made and repaired at home by the people who live there.

I always wonder where the people who keep the big box hardware/home improvment stores in business live. I always see people buying all sorts of things when I myself visit these stores, but I never see anyone doing any projects, not in my neighborhood anyway.

Things change with time. I remember as a teenager being able to work on my cars in the driveway using simple, cheap, uncomplicated tools, but now cars are built so complicated, you need thousands of dollars worth of specialized tools to work on them.

The same with woodworking. Those of us who enjoy this type of work, now called a pastime because a hobby should not be work, are of the older generation. At only 49 yrs. old myself, I find myself in the younger group of woodworkers. I'm the youngest in my fine woodworkers club, and the second youngest in my woodturning club, and the youngest in my model train club. The cost of these hobbies is high, and keeps on getting higher. That is a major stopping block for most young people starting families right now.

What is wrong with me. I find myself almost alone in my age group who enjoys these types of hobbies. Everyone else I know at my age are more interested in talking about finances, politics, who makes the best beer, etc. I'm almost an outcast with my age group.

I feel that it is our own fault that the younger generation (and even those who are my age) has lost interest in these type of subjects. How many of us reinforced the joys of working with our hands to our children? How many of us asked our children for help when we worked out in the shop? Not many I'm sure. I'm guilty of it myself. We only have to look at ourselves for this problem, not the younger people themselves.

There was a time when fathers and mothers passed down these traits/skills to their children, but starting in the 60's and 70's this type of teaching slowed to a crawl and the parents found themselves enjoying the hobbies they love on their own, and letting their children go on to explore their lives on their own also. I know this because I grew up in the 60's and 70's. During this time period, things changed over from "good things shall come to those who wait" to more of a need for instant gratification. The industries/factories became more reliant on automation. I remember reading about the protests held at factories because people were loosing their jobs due to automation. Now it is so commonplace no one complains about it at all anymore. Automation was industries answer to instant gratification.

It's just change. Life changes as we grow older, new interests are created that didn't exsist when we were growing up. I'm sure that if Ipods, home computers, etc. were around when we were growing up, we would have been interested more in those items instead of our father's table saw.

Want the younger generation to take an interest in what we enjoy, then we have to take an interest in what they enjoy also. We need to show them what can be done with your own hands. Take them out to your shop and show them around. I have done this with my children and now the neighborhood children. But I also have an interest in what they enjoy. They showed me all about computers, MP3 players, DVD's, etc. Now I enjoy all those things too.

My children have moved on with there own lives, but I've been blessed with being able to show my grandchildren their "Poppy's" woodshop, and that's where they want to spend all their time when they come for a visit. So maybe, just maybe, not all is lost. Spend some time showing the younger ones, pass along all you can, stir a spark in them. Don't hide in the workshop by yourself, and don't let the enjoyment of your hobbies fade away when you do.

P.S. There is nothing wrong with cristicism. How you handle it and what you do with it is what's important. Don't take what is written on this forum too personally, or it will drive you nuts. Believe me, have you read what some have written about me. I have never met them, don't even know what they look like. If I took it personally, I would have left this forum years ago.

[woodburner]

Markfive510,

Don't let them get the better of you. Everyone on this forum has a right to their opinion, as you do.

That is just one members opinion though. I do not see your comments/postings as anything terrible. You are right that a lot of what is written lately is not wood/project related, especially in the community part of the forum anyway. But this part of the forum was created to express things other than just woodworking.

Take a look at the other forum subjects and you will see a lot of woodworking is going on.

Don't hide in the corner of the forum. Anyone that has something to write and feels it is of interest to others should put it on the forum for all others to see. If someone reads more into it than is there, then they are taking what is written in this forum too personally. That is something you cannot control.

As for forum members not posting photos, etc. on the forum, only handful have since the forum started back in 2006. A lot of us don't spend time taking photos of every project and posting it here. A lot of members feel that their projects don't warrant a photo because they are afraid of certain members putting it down and giving them a bad time about it. I don't blame them. Some members of this forum can be very harsh.

[robinson46176]

The cost of these hobbies is high, and keeps on getting higher. That is a major stopping block for most young people starting families right now.

[/I]

I'm going to disagree with you Woodburner but only on one line and with a friendly smile on my face. Otherwise, nice post.
While many of us have a small fortune in our shops it really isn't necessary to spend very much at all to get started. There is a magic word (OK, two words) that will get someone started at minimal cost... "hand tools".
You don't have to start woodworking by building a huge hutch, think small and fun to start. Two more words... Bird house... Add bird feeders. Add magazine rack. Candle sticks, plant stands, CD racks. I could sit up a shop to produce all of those things for under $100. Probably on a good day, under $50.
Since I keep saying "begin at the beginning" here is the beginning. Go to garage sales.
Hammer..............................$2
Hand saw...........................$4
Smooth plane......................$15
Bit brace............................$4
Auger bits..........................$10
3/8" electric drill..................$8
Bits...................................$3
Probably new from a store (even Wally World) nails, screws, glue, paint, stain and varnish as needed.
Scrap lumber is available all over the place.
ZAP!!! you are woodworking...
-
Of course there are a thousand variations of this. I have a small table saw sitting in my shop right now I bought for a buck and a nice Craftsman 4" jointer that I bought for $2. I may give the saw to a son-in-law.
One nice scenario would be a $200 ShopSmith and a small collection of hand tools. Ras's are selling quite cheaply now as well.
Some of us older guys have been making up excuses to tell the wives for so long about why we "HAVE" to have something expensive that after a time we have come to believe our own excuses...

[osx-addict]

Interesting thread.. but lets all be nice..

Anyway, when I went to public school (in the LA area) back in the early 70's, they would bus us kids to another public school that had both a wood shop & metal shop to do that stuff. I found it fun and interesting -- but it only was for one semester if I recall. The school I attended did not have anything like that.

The other night I attended an open-house at the local middle school (6-8 grades) and they had a "Tech-Lab" which encompassed mostly computers & wood working equipment (no metal shop).. The woodshop was most of it and included several small Jet lathes, 3-4 drill presses - mostly old Delta, a couple of scroll saws,etc. I don't recall seeing a table saw, RAS or other larger items.. It was interesting to see and my 12 yo daughter was VERY interested in taking that class to learn the wood stuff.. She's very interested.. Anyway, hopefully these sorts of schools can hold on to some of these old-school labs and get some kids hooked. A local community college nearby also teaches various woodworking classes including several that teach furniture building -- something I'd like to take at some point!