Comments on: The Norm of woodworking http://www.acanthus.com/blog/2009/10/31/the-norm-of-woodworking/ Tips, tricks and stories for woodworkers of all levels. Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:01:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Joe Barry http://www.acanthus.com/blog/2009/10/31/the-norm-of-woodworking/comment-page-1/#comment-641 Joe Barry Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:31:59 +0000 http://www.acanthus.com/blog/?p=255#comment-641 The important thing is that you can always learn from someone if you are open to the possibility. What you may learn is a technique that you'll never use or a revelation that can change your work. As we advance in skill and maturity we are on a continuum in which we may start out as a machine tool woodworker and then gradually acquire the skills to do more and more hand tool work. Realistically, we need the mix - especially if we are trying to make a living at this or get the project done for Christmas! One of the things I have been pleased to learn from Norm is the calmness and courtesy with which approaches others and his tasks. Bob Vila, on the other hand, should be careful for dropping hammers on any job site he may visit because he certainly has not learned that lesson!!! The important thing is that you can always learn from someone if you are open to the possibility. What you may learn is a technique that you’ll never use or a revelation that can change your work. As we advance in skill and maturity we are on a continuum in which we may start out as a machine tool woodworker and then gradually acquire the skills to do more and more hand tool work. Realistically, we need the mix – especially if we are trying to make a living at this or get the project done for Christmas! One of the things I have been pleased to learn from Norm is the calmness and courtesy with which approaches others and his tasks. Bob Vila, on the other hand, should be careful for dropping hammers on any job site he may visit because he certainly has not learned that lesson!!!

]]> By: Chuck Bender http://www.acanthus.com/blog/2009/10/31/the-norm-of-woodworking/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Chuck Bender Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:39:23 +0000 http://www.acanthus.com/blog/?p=255#comment-148 Thanks for the comments. The more encounter the amateur woodworker, the more I realize that as human beings we're just generally too hard on ourselves. That need to strive for perfection often gives us a lack of tolerance for making mistakes. Not so much in other people but in ourselves. I can tell you honestly, I make mistakes every single day. If I told you otherwise, I'd be lying. The difference between me and your average amateur woodworker is, I have had a LOT more practice at fixing those mistakes and the ones I make today are a whole lot smaller than the ones I made 20 years ago. For someone who's just starting out, the mistakes are usually a lot larger and, without any idea how to begin fixing something you weren't sure how to do in the first place, they're just more daunting. Never forget, I didn't get where I am without making all the same mistakes as everyone else. If I can do it, you can too. Thanks for the comments. The more encounter the amateur woodworker, the more I realize that as human beings we’re just generally too hard on ourselves. That need to strive for perfection often gives us a lack of tolerance for making mistakes. Not so much in other people but in ourselves. I can tell you honestly, I make mistakes every single day. If I told you otherwise, I’d be lying. The difference between me and your average amateur woodworker is, I have had a LOT more practice at fixing those mistakes and the ones I make today are a whole lot smaller than the ones I made 20 years ago. For someone who’s just starting out, the mistakes are usually a lot larger and, without any idea how to begin fixing something you weren’t sure how to do in the first place, they’re just more daunting. Never forget, I didn’t get where I am without making all the same mistakes as everyone else. If I can do it, you can too.

]]> By: Bob Rozaieski http://www.acanthus.com/blog/2009/10/31/the-norm-of-woodworking/comment-page-1/#comment-147 Bob Rozaieski Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:08:20 +0000 http://www.acanthus.com/blog/?p=255#comment-147 Chuck, Here here! K.I.S.S.! I've always said, if I can do this, anyone can. I think that one of the biggest problems is that information and opinions are too easy to come by in this internet age. If one has a problem, all they have to do is pop onto one of the messageboards and get 100 different solutions most of which will contradict each other in some way, shape or form. This in turn leads to the infamous paralysis by analysis you mention. It keeps people from taking a step back and trying to solve the problem themselves. One topic that fits this to a tee is sharpening hand saws. There has been so much (mis)information about it that most folks are scared to death of even thinking about sharpening their hand saws. If they would just take a step back, then jump in and try it, they would see it's really not as complicated as they have hyped it up to be in their own minds. I think we have this tendency to psyche ouselves out before we even try. So I'm with you. Just jump in and do it. If you make a mistake, so what. Fix it and you've learned what not to do the next time. You can't learn if you don't even try. Chuck,

Here here! K.I.S.S.! I’ve always said, if I can do this, anyone can. I think that one of the biggest problems is that information and opinions are too easy to come by in this internet age. If one has a problem, all they have to do is pop onto one of the messageboards and get 100 different solutions most of which will contradict each other in some way, shape or form. This in turn leads to the infamous paralysis by analysis you mention. It keeps people from taking a step back and trying to solve the problem themselves.

One topic that fits this to a tee is sharpening hand saws. There has been so much (mis)information about it that most folks are scared to death of even thinking about sharpening their hand saws. If they would just take a step back, then jump in and try it, they would see it’s really not as complicated as they have hyped it up to be in their own minds. I think we have this tendency to psyche ouselves out before we even try.

So I’m with you. Just jump in and do it. If you make a mistake, so what. Fix it and you’ve learned what not to do the next time. You can’t learn if you don’t even try.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.acanthus.com/blog/2009/10/31/the-norm-of-woodworking/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Shannon Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:41:32 +0000 http://www.acanthus.com/blog/?p=255#comment-146 Chuck, Well said! This is the one thing I learned in your classes: just get out there and do it. We are blessed by all of this content to show us differing ways to do things, but this abundance can also suck us in and eat into the precious few hours of shop time on our schedules. Once we get rolling and forget about over analyzing everything and just start working wood it is amazing just how much fun can be had! Chuck,

Well said! This is the one thing I learned in your classes: just get out there and do it. We are blessed by all of this content to show us differing ways to do things, but this abundance can also suck us in and eat into the precious few hours of shop time on our schedules. Once we get rolling and forget about over analyzing everything and just start working wood it is amazing just how much fun can be had!

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