Steve (Woodworking for Mere Mortals) started off a project this week with the words, " I knew I could make something nicer for half that price. "  It seems like a lot of people I know got their start that way.   Add to that a pinch of hands-on creativity and we're hooked.   Did that happen to you?

 

I think my first projects (after jr. high shop class) were bookcases that I build on an apartment balcony with hand saw, hammer, chisel, plane and drill.

Edited December 5, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston
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I always liked working with my hands at anything.  I got into metal working and fabrication first.  The wood working came after I was offered a radial arm saw that had never been used for $50.00.  Set it up during the winter and made a TV/stereo stand my wife was wanting.  She loved it.  I set it up in the basement and started working with wood during the winter months and was hooked. 

Just married. Needed furniture. Used an adult ed. shop. They had 3 Shopsmiths. And, so it began. 

41 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Just married. Needed furniture. Used an adult ed. shop. They had 3 Shopsmiths. And, so it began. 

 

A number of my friends started out exactly like this.  Once they had all the furniture they needed, "Now what can I build?"

 

For me, there was a brief break where I got into boxes of all sorts and picture framing, then the kids started getting their own places.  Dad, can you make me a ...?  People ask me what I make --  Well, I make beds, dressers, cabinets, tables, chairs, boxes, picture frames & matting, artwork, shop equipment, and whatever.   This morning I finished up a cart for the church's new 6' round banquet tables.   Years ago, I built a similar stand for the drums for the marching band.

 

I was thinking while working on something else, I think I've built about 45 bookcases since those first two.  35 of those were for a church that was adding on and needed some for the six offices and a library.

35 minutes ago, kmealy said:

A number of my friends started out exactly like this.  Once they had all the furniture they needed, "Now what can I build?"

Even after building everything I thought we needed, the wife always wanted something else. Then, friends wanted stuff. The only time my tools have been idle since retiring has been when we weren't home. But now, it's just fun stuff.

5 hours ago, kmealy said:

People ask me what I make --

Mostly I make a mess..... but I have fun doing it!

John