One chair a week. 

 

Good for him, but not what I’d want to do. 

30 minutes ago, DAB said:

One chair a week. 

 

Good for him, but not what I’d want to do. 

Dab, good on ya buddy.

I was only sharing the video as something cool to watch, wasn't inferring any of us have to work that way. It's an enjoyable watch, just thought I'd share it and hope some of you would share my joy in watching it too. For me, his work is very inspiring.

On a side note, one chair a week aint bad, at 1200.00 to 5000.00 per chair. He did say however, he creates about 50 chairs a year, for all we know, he may do 50 chairs the first 6 months, and take the rest of the year off!

 

Love his shop & setting especially the gardens and the big pile of logs out back.

He pretty much described the old adage, "choose a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life..." I'd say he nailed it...no pun intended.

2 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

"choose a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life..."

Indeed! In retirement, I can completely visualize myself doing this. Wait, I can visualize doing this now, it's actually part of my downsizing shop strategy, trying to get some inspiration and ideas.

Did you catch the part about not needing a table saw, how cool is that, to know that you'll just never need a table saw.

1 minute ago, John Morris said:

Did you catch the part about not needing a table saw, how cool is that, to know that you'll just never need a table saw.

Yep, but he did have a Griz lathe and an awesome old band-saw...oh, and lots of splitting wedges/mauls and that really, really sharp adze...that's scarier than a table saw with no shielding to me.

Was a cool video...loved listening to him tell his story...reminds me of several folks I've encountered over the years in the Gatlinburg area and in and around the Great Smokey's. 

8 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

but he did have a Griz lathe

I don't think that was a Grizz, to me it looks like something from the 50's or 60's, maybe an old Powermatic, could be wrong.

2 minutes ago, John Morris said:

maybe an old Powermatic, could be wrong,

Nah, I think you're right. The bandsaw might have been an old Powermatic too. I'll re-watch; it's worth watching more than once...tomorrow though...way past my bedtime, so no Gold Star for me today.

Just now, Grandpadave52 said:

Nah, I think you're right. The bandsaw might have been an old Powermatic too. I'll re-watch; it's worth watching more than once...tomorrow though...way past my bedtime, so no Gold Star for me today.

Sleep well Gramps! My eyes are getting heavy out here on the West Coast too, see y'all tomorrow!

4 hours ago, John Morris said:

I was only sharing the video as something cool to watch

I can see and understand his mind set...

thanks John...

Would be great if you liked making chairs, which to me is tedious. I think that may be a General lathe.

13 minutes ago, Gerald said:

I think that may be a General lathe.

Yes! An old General. Look at those castings, thick!

19 hours ago, John Morris said:

Dab, good on ya buddy.

I was only sharing the video as something cool to watch, wasn't inferring any of us have to work that way. It's an enjoyable watch, just thought I'd share it and hope some of you would share my joy in watching it too. For me, his work is very inspiring.

On a side note, one chair a week aint bad, at 1200.00 to 5000.00 per chair. He did say however, he creates about 50 chairs a year, for all we know, he may do 50 chairs the first 6 months, and take the rest of the year off!

 

let's take the low end of that range, 1200/chair.  let's say he takes 1/2 of friday off (I would!), so that's about $300/day.  most of which is his labor.  Pine isn't that expensive, particularly if you get it in logs.  let's say he works 6 hours a day, that's about $50/hr.  decent money.  1200 x 50 = 60,000/year.  no commute.  no idiot pointy haired boss.  yeah, you could make a career out of that and do well for your family.

 

good for him.

 

so that cremation box i made, i had about 10 hours into it.  plus another $100 of materials.  at the above rate, that's a $600 box.

 

i gave it away.

 

17 minutes ago, DAB said:

gave it away

You weren't in it for the money Dab, I thought that was a wonderful thing you did for that person.

The world needs more, like you.

Curtis also has classes in his shop all year long, and he gets paid very well. Quite the artisan and mentor. I think he does very well for himself and family. He's created a wonderful world and business for himself. 

 

I wish him nothing but the best in all he does. Just seems like a real genuine kind soul.

 

wonder what he gets for a chair

a fair penny

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi9_8zIuY7cAhXBtVkKHVu8DP4QFghuMAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.curtisbuchananchairmaker.com%2Fuploads%2F2%2F5%2F6%2F4%2F25643327%2Fwindsor_pricelist.pdf&usg=AOvVaw20-lB_DysW1IlN0dhgPmSy

 

Edited July 8, 20187 yr by Cliff

Yes he does Cliff. He's made a wonderful name for himself. 

windsor_pricelist.pdf

Hello John

Thanks for the video.

I recall a discussion several years ago in another wood magazine about using hand tools versus power tools. It was implied that the tools used by WWers of old may be, should be, etc... the choice for WWers of today. I stated that if power tools were available to the the WWers of old, they would have used them to their advantage. WWing is a personal choice and our tools and methods are appropriate regardless of the age we are in. 

hat 

I agree Hat, by posting this video it seems I may have invoked some emotions that an inference was made, that hand tools is superior to power tools, I had not even gone anywhere near that subject, it was simply a wonderful (I thought) video of a man working the wood. I don't understand why woodworkers feel that way, when they see a video like this. Woodworking is a personal choice, and we should not be offended by a man or woman who states on the inverse, that "I would rather hear my hand tools over a power machine in my shop" just as we should not be offended by a man or woman who states, "I love the speed and reliability of creating projects with fine tuned power machines".

 

What I find funny, is when this subject is brought up, the woodworkers who lean heavily towards using hand tools to create their work, from my own experience on forums, are never offended when they hear a woodworker who leans heavily on their power tools and machines make that statement of why they prefer electric power over human power.

 

But when a hand tool woodworker makes statements such as, "I love the quiet and peace in my shop, and the connection I feel with the wood when using my hand tools", well than it seems the power heavy woodworkers get easily offended by that, for some reason. Go figure.

ah yes... power vs. non-power tool debate.

 

i have some of each.

 

the end goal is to complete the project with whatever skills you have.

 

after that, you have space limitations, budget limitations (not everyone can afford some pricey power tools), time limitations (some tools work faster than others).

 

now, if you stick with one type over the other for other reasons, that's a personal preference.  it's not right or wrong, it's just different from others.  and that's ok.