Informal Survey How far does Knots reach
While reading a recent post to the Knots community, I noticed one of the replies was from Galilee, Israel. Afterwards, I started to wonder, how far does Fine Woodworking.com actually reach with those that read the Knots forum. Obviously, with the world wide web, the potential is around the world. Consider this an informal survey with 2 questions.
1) What country, either domestic (U.S.) or foreign, do you reside? Please do not be too specific for safety reasons, but do not be too general either.
(Example – NE Florida)
2) What type of woodworker do you consider yourself?
Novice – A beginner with a lot to learn but with a strong interest and desire to improve their skills.
Experienced Hobbiest – Someone that has been doing casework, furniture, or turning for a number of years but desires to improve their skill.
Skilled Hobbiest – One who has been involved in the craft for many years, perhaps using more wood joinery techniques and very few, if any metal fasteners in a project, and desires to improve their skills. Note : There is a time and place for metal fasteners, however, skill is developed with joinery
Professional – One who is either making a living or in the process of building a business with their skills.
Replies
QC, Canada
Novice for now.
:)
Nova Scotia, Canada
Novice
NC
Not a beginner, but a lot to learn.
Pro in San Jose, CA.
One of my favorite stories about this forum is about a problem I had a little over a year ago. I was trying to come up with a euro hinge arrangement to retro-fit some cabinet doors with beveled edges. I couldn't figure out a way to do it so the hinge cups bores didn't show in the bevels, so I asked for ideas.
There were 3-4 answers within a few hours and the best one was from someone in Israel.
Michigan
Skilled Hobbiest (not bragging, just following your definition.)
As to the issue of geographic spread - a while back I was puzzled at the number of posts with time stamps of wee hours in the morning. Then I realized they came from Australia, New Zealand, etc.
Too soon old, too late smart.
Frosty
Washington (state) - Skilled-hobbiest
East Central Mississippi - Southern Yellow Pine, Dogwood and Pecan country.
Skilled Hobbiest in a free fall down the slippery slope of handtool-dom. Secretly thinks wooden boats are more beautiful than freaky-looking furniture. "You've seen one cabinet on a stand, you've seen 'em all." (Just joking - "likes to occasionally flirt with blasphemy!")
Yukon Canada
Semi skilled hobiest
I got into this finishing the inside of my new house completely in wood, and don't see how I can Quit! It's to much fun!
You are so right, there are few more pleasant experiences than visiting a working harbour and enjoying the sight of the variety of small craft bobbing at moorings. If any design reflects form following function then that of water craft must head the list.
I built a boat in my two-car garage when I lived in Australia. You could enter the garage and turn the lights on from inside the house. As the hull was taking form, I used to creep down the stairs late at night, open the door to the garage, turn the lights on and just look at it.
I think that boats are named after girls because you sort of fall in love with the hull form as you are building it.
I believe I have spoken with more folk with soul since joining knots than at any previous time in my life.
Come, come my friend, this is for all to see in my profile, although not to be gleaned from thine.
Taylorsville, Utah
Skilled hobbyist.
Virginian temporarily living in IL. Skilled hobbyist.
1) North West New Jersey
2) Novice - Lots of tools, not a lot of skills. I'm really good at making scraps.
56,
1) Albuquerque, NM (USA)
2) Intermediate hobbyist -- hand tools only.
Beste Wünschen auf eine Fröhlichen Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Tschüß!
Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!
James
I live in Belize.
I am a professional, just starting a small, one man business, low volume.
A: southwestwrn BC- coastal & B:medium experienced.
Madrid, Spain
I'm just retired to follow my woodworking passion. Trying to become a pro.
Hola,You are not alone from madrid spain.sashttp://www.ebanisteriayrestauracion.com
It's a pleasure to know of other people nearby woodworking. I've visited your site. Clearly you are a high level pro. Congratulations.
Central Florida USA, New England native.
Professional.
-Paul
Novice, just south of San Francisco, with some very nice tools. One of my fondest memories is the paper thin shaving created by my Veritas Bevel-up jointer plane...
DFW TEXAS skilled hobbiest
Not frorm the Galil (Galilli), Israel but Gush Etzion, Israel...to all you CNN watchers also known as part of the "west Bank", just south of Jersualem.
I am professional...ie, I work for food.
gedaliah blum
http://www.gedaliahblumfurniture.com
hello
experienced hobbyist from upstate ny
Limassol, Cyprus.
Complete beginner :D
South UK. Novice / Experienced Hobbiest depending on the field we're considering. eg Tirning definitely Novice.
Turnpike
Recovering engineer and hobbiest.
Vancouver Island.M.
Not always right but never in doubt.
Norway
Experienced Hobbyist
Just in from the shop where I have enjoyed my first hour with the new Jet jointer/planer combination machine.
Geir
Vermont , USA.
Experianced Hobbiest, part time pro.
Experienced hobbiest, Southern California.
Bob
1/ Scotland..
2/ trainee handraulic masochist.. too dumb t ken better.. too thran t quit...
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Massachussetts;
Experienced hobbiest;
This is my therapy when I am not in Court practicing divorce law.
Catskill mountains of NY. Skilled hobbyist.
Quebec, Canada here.
semi-skilled hobbiest/pro. ( i work in a production furniture factory, but at home i make furniture with real joinery/solid wood)
NW Georgia
Experienced/Skilled Hobbiest(somewhere in the middle, always a lot to learn) - been known to sink a couple of brads holding stuff in place during glue up.
Kevin
Long-time pro.
I'm the fool from the Galilee.
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
Edmonton, Alberta ... skilled hobbiest
Interesting discussion.
Louisville KY, by way of So. GA
Skilled Novice
I'm in SW Florida, enjoying today's high of 80F. But last week we had it get down to 43 at night, so Aruba was looking real good.
professional, one-man shop
Uh.........let me think
Paid wood butcher....is that a new category?
Crystal Lake, IL (60 miles northwest of Chicago)
Jeff
1) Upstate South Carolina
2) Enthusiastic novice
North central Arkansas, USA and proud of it!
I used to do woodworking but have not built anything in over 10 hours!
A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!
Bude, Cornwall, South West, uk
South-central Michigan,
Retired physician
Turning, carving, windsor chairs, photography, playing horn
Pluto,
And man, we are pi$$ed about losing our status as a planet!
It's hard enough getting supplies out here. Now this!
Anyone ever try keeping a shop warm when the outside temperature is -200 K and methane fog is blowing around? Talk about long drying times for shellac!
Sparta Wisconsin, central. Not as cold as Pluto , but #$%$$# cold.
experienced hobbiest.
marc
U.S. - NW - Oregon
Experienced Hobbiest
" There'll be no living with her now" - Captain Jack Sparrow
1. Western North Carolina
2. Experienced hoppiest
New resident of Kiwistan- (the place where the sun rises).
Manufacturing artist in timber.
Manufacturer of planes for the discerning.
Curator of the local museum (old age home) for ancient machinery relics and selected hand tools.
Bloomington, Indiana.
skilled hobbiest - only a few years, but my work uses traditional joinery and is carefully
hand finished and fitted with planes & chisels... but there's still so much more to learn.
Age 25, I'm college art student with a focus in printmaking.
I think furniture making is appeasing my sculptural and 3D cravings.
I also think it would be a great career someday, if I get good enough.
If you think it's hard to sell furniture, try selling origional artwork.
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
I'm a hobbyist beyond the novice stage, not yet at the fine woodworking stage.
Central Massachusetts by the way of the sunny side (the best) of Switzerland,
Pro, been at it for almost 40 years !C.
Bermuda
junior hobbyist!
Hi,
I live in Northern Virginia, about 19 miles from Washington, DC, where I have worked for NASA since 1979. I started by building simple furniture using a circular saw, a jig saw, a belt sander and a router, on the porch of a trailer in State College, PA. Finally I have a small basement shop. Life is good! By the way, in 1968, I made a fence for my circular saw and router out of the side of a plywood sheet with a factory cut. I still use that fence when it is called for.
You asked "what kind of a woodworker"? Answer: one who does it because he loves it. No hurry. No sales. All products go free to the family. Luckily they love the stuff. (Either that or they lie well.) I pick projects that incorporate things that I haven't done before. Mostly I make case furniture using motorized tools, but do antique restoration, antique clock repair, carving, Bauernmalerei, and Rosemaling. I am not the best in the world at any of this, but I enjoy trying new things. Latest move is toward the use of hand tools. I wish I had more time to do this stuff.
I am glad you asked the questions you did. I now know more about some of the folks that I have corresponded with on Knots. I always figured that the woodworking religion (or disease) is worldwide. I have gotten more good info and more inspiration for designs on Knots than from everywhere else combined.
Enjoy,
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Saskatoon Saskatchewan(kind of rolls off the tongue eh)Canada novice-hobbyist
NE, US..... pretty close to Taunton's actually!
Professional contractor.
Paint grade professional cabinet maker.
I don't think that I really rate as a "woodworker". I do it to get paid.
John
West Virginia - almost HEAVEN, though originally from the CornHusker state. Though I was introduced to woodworking over sixty five years ago and loved it, I consider myself an advanced novice because I just haven't had that much practice.
From Melbourne Australia in construction and remodeling work if you consider the UK across the pond we are probably across the big lake.
Regards John Bolton
You can make it fool proof but not idiot proof
San Diego, CA, USA: Professional
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Another Israeli from central Israel, trying to eke out a living as a professional in a tough market. Formerly from B.C. Canada. Trained as a carpenter, became a high school tech and woodwork teacher and have built a few wood frame houses here in the land of concrete and cement block. I have a woodshop with a Mini Max 300 as its central machine and do kitchens, furniture, wooden staircases and other stuff.
Well well...Along with Mike in Jordan and Gedalia in the territories, we almost have the makings of a Mideast Knots fest. Anyone else lurking?
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
Sounds like an idea. Maybe some sort of Israeli Fine Woodworking Guild? I talked to you on the phone a year or year and a half ago asking advice on a direction, but am still plugging along.
Cuernavaca Morelos Mexico
newbie
You have received some interesting responses. Why not wait another week and then summarize the results for the rest of us?
Frosty
It has been interesting. I have looked forward each day to reading the new responses. Each person that added to the discussion seems to have a passion for woodworking regardless of what part of the world they live in. It is almost a brotherhood that crosses cultural lines as well as borders worldwide. I have also looked at the web sites of those that have a site available. The work is truly amazing.
I know there are some women that add too the knots forum from time to time. I am surprised there have not been any responses from them. In another week , I will try to summerize the results.
Thanks to all who have responded. Keep them coming in.
Edited 12/13/2006 2:35 pm ET by screename56
Moravia, NY
Pro, I guess
Been reading knots since b4 the Great Norm Abrams is a hack debate. Couldn't pull that off today, with the new rules and all.
TrinidadIt's in the Caribbean for those who don't know (all the football ... ahem .. sorry ... soccer fans will know us as the smallest island to qualify for the World Cup)Woodworking is my hobby
Software development is my professionOmar
COUNTY CARLOW IRELAND
NOVICE but love it
never always right but always never wrong,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
Hilo, Hawaii
advanced hobbiest
Kingwood Texas. Just a few minutes north of Houston.
I am a novice and my endeavors are only good enough to be given away. That being said, I am just starting to experiment with hand planes and fully addicted to seeing the thin shavings that fall around my feet.
Steve
Nova Scotia, Canada
Skilled hobbiest
New Jersey & Mass.
Skilled hobbist
London UK
Retired Pro'
Berkeley California, novice woodworker, retired electrician, tool nut. Duke
"... Buy the best and only cry once.........
Halfway between Boston and Worcester (NE USA)
Hacker
Woodenboats RULE.
A some what skilled armature, But I do some repairers for green.
Peabody, Massachusetts. part of Salem during the infamous witch trials.
I grew up near there, little town called Topsfield. Boats is the reason there are trees.
Long Island, NY.... about 50 miles East of New York City.
Somewhere between 'skilled Hobbiest' and 'professional' as I am a retires Wood Shop teacher, now helping ADULTS who WANT to learn.
(and YES, I can still count to 10)
SawdustSteve
I'd rather die making a rocking chair than sitting in one.
Chandler, AZ. Originally Liverpool UK. Advanced Novice from lack of practice. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.Alan
Started Learning, Still Learning, and still don't know enough!
Southeast Missouri, originally from S.W. Michigan
Advanced Hobbiest, casework pieces, boxes ect.
Originally from Northren Virginia, about 20 mile south of Washington D.C.
Right now I am living in Tasmania, Australia at school
Desiring to be in New Zealand next year to make the jump from the college ranks to the PROS.
http://www.kalafinefurniture.blogspot.com
Springfield, MO, for now....on relocation from Kansas City for a 2.5 yr construction project.
Relatively advanced intermediate period furnituremaking hobbiest.
But I have sold some commissions and hope to do more.
Calvin Hobbs
SW Quebec, Canada
1) Oulu, Finland (in the north)
2) Skilled Hobbiest
http://www.warsta.com
Greetings,
1. Oregon, Wisconsin (just south of the Capital, Madison).
2. Skilled Hobbiest, always looking to learn and gain more knowlegde in the whole relm of WW'ing...
Joe
Even a broken clock is correct twice a day...
Liverpool UK
mid wales uk
semi retired pro, but love seeing new ideas.
wishing you all a safe new year. Teabag.
DFW Texas, Advanced novice
eastern ontario canada
semi skilled pro as i do not work for free unless it is for my own use
"when people pay you you know they value your ability "
The Netherlands
Experienced hobbiest
Central Georgia, Pro.
Cincinnati .....office cubical....
Skilled Hobbiest- until my girlfriend looks at it and sees all the goofs, then i'm just a Novice.
northeastern ontario
journeyman cabinetmaker
(1) Dong Guan, China.
(2) In charge of development in factory. -Professional.
I am a Taiwanese young man, work in China and like to look for craft knowledge and any opportunity of cooperation in this forum.
-Frank
Nin Hao!
Hello from across the world in the USA! My sister spent a summer teaching English in your area of China, and I did the same one summer in Shenyang.
I loved the food when I was in China, and most of the people I met were very friendly. Your post is probably one of the best answers to the original question regarding distance. I wonder how many miles (or kilometers) away we truly are.
Merry Christmas,
Matthew
?????Toyama, Japan
I'm from the Americas and live in the western part of Japan. What type of woodworker...You could say because I'm in the process of building a business I'm a professional. But I don't see myself as a professional. It's a cultural thing here, you don't inflate you're own balloon and just because you make a living doing this doesn't mean you're on the higher end of the skill scale, which to me is a professional. But then again, you could call me an experienced hobbyist because I don't use ANY metal fasteners, never have.
Now I'm really confused!
"I don't use ANY metal fasteners, never have."That puts on the higher end of your craft.Ron
Wow, it's that easy...pqken
Gee, if I make stoppers for wine bottles without using fasteners, then I am automatically at the higher end of my craft? :-)
Come on! There is more to it than just fasteners or not.
A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!
You bet your "you know what" there is more than that !
A lot more !C.
Tucson, AZ
Novice and cant get enough
US, Southern New Jersey
Professional, but still learning
-LMC
SW Ontario
on the ladder to Skilled hobbiest but as we say in the Great White North
"a day without learning is like a day without sunshine"
or as my favourite Ziggy cartoon goes... "I never make the same mistake twice, after all, there are so many new mistakes just waiting to be made!"
1) USA, California, San Fernando Valley, Northridge
2} Experienced Hobbiest - was a journeyman carpenter in my 20's then spent thirty-some years in Information Technology. Retired eight years ago and am just finishing up my woodworking shop in the back yard. It WILL be completed in 2007! Have Fine Woodworking from Issue #1.
Northwestern Massachusetts
Novice
Central Michigan,USA
If I had to define myself as anything on the list I suppose it would have to be a skilled hobbyist, But I prefer to think of myself as a creator of sawdust or a professional cobbler.
Sincerely
Jim at Clark Customs
Cabinet / furniture maker from southern Oregon.....pro.... wait , what's the definition of professional, making money? I'll have to get back to you on that one.........
1. KUL, Malaysia
2. Novice
1. Residing in Brisbane, Australia.
2. Retired Building professional, now enjoying the 'manual art' of
hand-held & elbow-powered tools all over again.
Happy to exploit the potential in modern adhesives.
I would venture a guess that there is at least one boat building project
in the lives of most Australian and New Zealand wood workers.
Lapun.
N.E. Oklahoma
Skilled hobbiest
Pleasant Grove, Utah
Novice to Experienced Hobbiest (Grew Up With A Shop and Just Built My Own After 15 Years of Adult Life)
I currently live in the Lakes Region of NH and wouldconsider myself a skilled hobbyist. I do period reporduction furniture. I am at the stage in my life where I don't have to earn an income from furniture making but I do do it all day every day.
Stephen Gaal
Stephen J. Gaal
Thanks. I am a member of the Guild of NH Woodworkers. I guess I didn't think about that group as having nowledge ofPortland.
I will give it a try. Thanks.
Stephen J. Gaal
Dear Danmart:
Please ignore my previous reply. I was responding to a different thread. Yes, the Lakes Region is a good place for woodworking. You might want to check out the New Hampshire Furntiure Masters for some very serious work.
Sorry for the confusion.
Best wishes.
Stephen J. Gaal
Stephen,
I sure wish there was something way up here in The Great North Woods. I'd like to start a club/guild but I just don't have the time. Maybe next year after I retire I'll have more time.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 9/10/2007 9:17 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
Dare to say, first post from North West Province, South Africa
Somewhere between skilled hobbiest and professional
Hello Screenname56,
I am from New Zealand professional chair and fine furniture maker.
I am in the furniture trade for 43 years and working from home in my workshop for the last 20 years.
I have worked in different factories as cabinetmaker, draftsman, product developer, planer, and in management services, but working from home beats it all, work and hobby in one.
Have a nice day
Bernhard.
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