Replies

1. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Jan 22, 2009 12:51am | #1

   Trapper, it would help you if we knew where you are, generically what you retired from, and what you want to build. Just click on frequent posters names to see the detail of the profile that most use-some don't- but never use your address -mail or email- or phone # in a post.  

   You should look for a woodworking club in your area. Paddy

1. 
   gltrap54 | Jan 22, 2009 01:39am | #2

   I'll do some checking locally.......... Perhaps my city's parks & rec offers something.

    

   OBTW.......... I'd like to learn to make some simple piececs of furniture to start.

                                                                                             Trapper

   Edited 1/21/2009 6:39 pm ET by gltrap54

1. 
   Tracey1959 | Jan 22, 2009 02:18am | #3

   Trapper,  I was in much the same situation as you.  I checked with the local newspaper when we moved here.  The activities person steered me to the local woodworking club.  Two of its members live within a couple of miles of me.  It was then easy to find some other old ----- to get together with once a month for show and tell.  At the meetings we also have a demonstration by one of the members.  The group also has a workshop once a month, usually on a saturday.    I now am busy with restoring our home (built in1898), and the help from nearby members is great.   

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jan 22, 2009 05:14am | #4

   Paddy & Trap,

   Last week I sent a letter to the editor of the local paper asking if there would be any interest in starting a woodworking club in town (small like 2,500 people).

   So far I got 3 emails and 4 phone calls!  Not bad for 5 days.

   Trap - You might want to do the inverse, i.e. recent retiree looking for a local woodworking club.  Ye never know.

   And, there are some really nice folks in here that'll bend over backwards to help you kind get beck to the bench so to speak.  Sort of an Internet woodworking club kinda thing.

   Regards, Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

2. 
   roc | Jan 22, 2009 07:33am | #5

   There is a story I remember reading a long time ago. If I can figure out where I read it I will tell you latter. I think it may have been a James Krenov book. ( start your library now )

   Include:
   all back issues of FWW
   James Krenov's books
   search this site for other reading lists and one was put in a FWW a few years ago that was pretty good.

   Any way back to the story. There was a wood working class with a bunch of students sitting around a master level wood worker that was invited to come and speak to the class. Turns out the teacher of the class, like so many "teachers" at these schools had never made furniture for a living but went right from being a student to teaching.

   The invited guest was asked what the most important thing that they as students could do to become better wood workers. Without hesitation the speaker pointed at the teacher and said first get rid of him. Second spend the money for taking classes on tools and teach your self to use them.

   I like over the top stories so I figured I would throw that one into your hat.
   roc

   PS: for the most part I agree:

   • most teachers are poor
   • learn allot on your own then take a class by a master (not to be found at every local vo tech).
   • You want to do this right the tools are pricy. And you will still usually need to work them over to make them right. Damed frustrating but there it is.

   Otherwise watch Norm on PBS. On second thought watch Norm anyway.

3. 
   Eef | Jan 23, 2009 12:09am | #6

   trapper,

   for the past sixteen years the day job has been teaching 16 to 18 year old kids beginning wood working. i get to see the unexperienced have close calls on a very regular basis and although i love roc very much, i think it important to be shown the basics.  especially where power tools are going to be used.  beginners do not understand the physics of a tablesaw, jointer or shaper kickback. it ALWAYS catches them by surprise.  i needed to be taught all about basic safety techniques in the early days. what CAN happen is simply not understood well enough when starting out.

   let us know what you want to accomplish and make and learn!

   eef

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   Edited 1/22/2009 4:10 pm ET by Eef

   
   

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   Edited 1/22/2009 4:11 pm ET by Eef

1. 
   Thorvald | Jan 23, 2009 06:02am | #8

   Say Eef, there's a win-win here -- you can help Trapper with the woodworking, and Trapper can help you with the squirrel lamp! 

   No, honestly, welcome aboard Trapper.  As eef says, let us all know what you're interested in accomplishing, and you'll likely get more info (and opinions) than you have file space for.  Verne

   If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to cut it up and make something with it . . . what a waste!<!----><!----><!---->

1. 
   gltrap54 | Jan 23, 2009 06:26am | #10

   Thanks so much to everyone for your advice. I'm looking forward to starting a class soon. I'll keep ya posted!

2. 
   Tinkerer3 | Jan 23, 2009 08:32am | #11

   Very good point.  I have been impressed with the need to develop a safety technique since ever.  It is amazing how kids pick up the computer, self taught and really get good at it without problems.  To a lesser extent woodworking with hand powered tools, one can develop into a skilled worker though a teacher can speed up the process.  Wood working with power tools can be very different.  If there is no one to give you pointers on safety or safety literature to read, one can easily do something seriously wrong the first few days that suddenly ends any possibility of further developing that career or possibly any career.

   Edited 1/23/2009 12:34 am ET by Tinkerer3

4. 
   Buster2000 | Jan 23, 2009 02:57am | #7

   Trapper,

   You'll get varied advice depending on who you ask.  Some people really like the self tought and others like the classroom.  I suggest that before you do anything get the knowledge, and think about the type of projects that interest you.

   In my city there are multiple sources for woodworking instruction.  The local school board has night classes at the high school, the trades school has continuing education classes, the art school as furniture design, and all three woodworking stores have classes as well.  They all have different 'feels' to them, the stores all tend to be small project orientated while the trade school is machine orientated.  I took one at the local high school, I felt it was a good mix of hand tool and machine education.  The students were really varied, it's nice to get out of your regular group once in awhile.

   Buster

5. 
   agewon | Jan 23, 2009 06:18am | #9

   Trapper, I think the best resource is the FWW magazine.  I found one in a waiting room one day and a week later had my own subscription and joined the website.  Believe it or not, there are enough resources on the site to get you started.  I usually watch and read as many videos and articles as I can during the week, and try and get into the garage on weekends to "try stuff out".  Whether its trying to freehand dovetails, or make jigs that i may use in the future, it's all an education.  Like the other day, I learned that I need a dovetail jig because my freehand dovetails look like a jigsaw puzzle.  Just start reading and doing and who knows, you may be a natural