OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

119197 "Greg Peters" <rgpeters@m...> 2003‑06‑24 Lurk mode off; bio
GG's

Greetings.  I have turned off the lurk mode and would like to introduce
myself.

Married, mid 30's, two boys (5 and 1), and I support my woodworking
addiction through employment as a chemistry professor.

My path towards this site and traditional woodworking was pretty
straghtforward.  As a chemistry prof, I'm quite familiar with the power of
an electron, and saw nothing wrong with shamelessly exploiting that power
to satisfy personal woodworking ambitions.  I started down the slippery
slope with a curious interest in hand made hand planes.  I made a few that
really worked well for a short time ('tempered' steel?  whazzdat?).  I
hit the point of no return when I broke the "10-in, 10-out" rule.

I was building a chest/changing table for the (at the time) embryonic GIT
when I decided (for reasons I cannot explain) to pick a fight with my
table saw (yep, it was on).  The results were predictable.  A strange calm
descended over me as I gathered my wits (and gathered my um...it doesn't
matter), hollering to Her Worshipfullness that I've lopped off a finger
and I need to go to the hospital.  She got me there, only to nearly go
into premature labor (at six months pregnant).  As I explained my injury
to the trauma staff, I was told to hush up, while they took care of my
wife.  Normally, I'd have been a bit miffed, but by that time, I was on a
Demirol drip, my blood pressure was something like 80/40, and I was well
on my way to HappyHappy Land.

I have since healed, thanks to a wonderful medical staff here in the 
Memphis area. During that recovery period, I reevaluated how I thought
about the craft, and reading Graham Blackburn's book on hand tools (which
I had purchased prior to this injury to learn more about hand planes), I
thought it might be possible (certainly less hazardous) to continue my
passion for woodworking without such a reliance on machinery.

I discovered the name Disston.  I discovered an on-line auction site that
sells said items.  The words "Daddy has a saw problem" have been uttered
in my home.  My wife shakes her head when I get "another package of rust".
 I bought so many saws I had to build a saw rack (not knowing there were
designs here for that very item); I broke the rule of clustering your tool
purchases too closely together....

Hand saws that are properly shaped, sharpened, and set are incredible.  I
learned the care and feeding of your own handsaws is ridiculously simple. 
I was startled at how easy it is to shape, sharpen and set some of the
handsaws I got from that online auction site (like the 4 tpi H Disston
and son sawblade a seller included in a lot that I purchased because 'it
didn't have a handle' and he 'didn't know what else to do with it').  When
that beast rips through wood, it makes a pleasant sound that resembles
'oink'.  I politely thanked him.

I discovered Stanley planes.  I read something called Blood and Gore.  My
left arm is bald from taking test shavings.

I learned what a brace is, and how to use it.

I discovered OldTools, and learned there is a group that will support your
tool buying habits as long as those habits don't interfere with their OWN
buying habits (so I no longer bid when I see the user name of 'aperrault',
or some of the other easy-to-spot crossovers from this list).

I stalk flea markets, estate sales and garage sales like a criminal;
"Antique Store" is no longer a euphamism for "$#!+ to Dust Store".

I learned that Guinness is a magnificent beverage...........OK, I learned
that a long time ago

I learned that you can make beautiful things without electric tools....

I recently attended the weeklong Traditional Woodworking class (9-13 June)
at Marc Adams' School; Chris Gochnour was in charge. Strange thing about
this class was that I was on the waiting list for it, and received a
call from Marc on Saturday afternoon (around 6), informing me there was an
opening--would I like to attend.  The class started on Monday morning at 8
(36 hours of notice).  I did some quick thinking (...500 miles from
Memphis to Franklin is about 8 hours; expensive week long course, wife
left alone with two GIT's 5 and 1, I have to pilfer the cherry I had
earmarked for our headboard, cut list, tool list, pack, steal my car [in
the shop for repairs]).  Um..........this was a really tough sell.  I'm
pretty sure I cashed in every 'good husbanding' point I'd ever received. 
She let me go.  Here are the results

http://www.chem.memphis.edu/faculty/peters/toolchest.htm

As a scientist, I'm used to documenting things as I do them, and this was
no exception.  I have actually transcribbled about 25-30 pages of notes
from this class, which was without a doubt a magnificent experience.  As I
put what I've learned into practice, the notes section keeps getting
longer as I continue to remember things that I forgot to note initially.
 
I am now in the process of updating my workbench; my first effort was a
replication of the bench Norm built in the second-ever episode of the
show.  Too small, limited vise/clamping mechanisms and the aesthetic
appeal of crabgrass.  Thanks to Keith Rucker, as I will attempt to 
duplicate your success, I'm sure I will lean heavily on your extensive
documentation.

I suppose I'll acquiesce to SWMBO's demands for that headboard (though
we're short on cherry), but the bench likely comes first. (I DID just
build her a walnut sewing table; my first project completed using only
hand
tools). 

I've successfully shirked my work responsibilities for the day; it's
quitting time somewhere on the globe.  Time to pop open a Guinness and
find a seat on the porch.  Should your travels bring you to Memphis area,
know there's a Galoot with a large back porch, a fridge full of beer and
plenty of chairs.

Cheers.

Greg

--If woodworking is an addiction, I'm not interested in your 12 step
program



Recent Bios FAQ