My wife noticed that most of the people (well, most of the men at least) in woodworking magazines have some form of facial hair. Was wondering if anybody else has noticed thisor if anybody can propose a reason as to why so many of us (me included) sport some sort of beard/mustache combo. (my personal theory is that we use it as some sort of dust filtration system)
-pjw
Replies
I tell my wife that I've cut my fingers so many times with sharp tools, that I'm afraid to put a razor to my face. (when that doesn't work, I use the old "how would you like to put a razor to your throat every single morning and have to make the right decision each time?")
Helps cover the scars.
Jack
Less time spent shaving equals more time for woodworking!
philjohnwilliams,
Pulling one's hair is an essential element in correcting woodworking mistakes. The blank stair accompanied by the beard / mustashe pull provides the woodworker a moment to reflect..."as in why the hell was I born"? "dumber than dirt fits me well"
If we only have hair to pull that's on top of our head....well, there goes our good looks too...anyplace else and its our reputation thats at risk. Personally, I don't have facial hair...I've had to dramatically reduce the number of mistakes I'm allowed (sigh).
It's just nature at work ( evolution & hormones) so why spend all that time every day scrapping your face with a blade.
You've got it right... The moustache is a great dust filter and you NEVER have to remember to put it on. It also gets cleaned daily and is dry and ready for the next days work. I use the beard to hide the flea and tick collar I wear to keep assorted insects away. It also makes a great evaporator-cooling system on those hot and humid days. I also agree that after working with some of the people I HAVE to work with, I would probably slash my throat if I had a razor in my hand.
Anyway.... Happy & Safe 4th, and remember what it is supposed to celebrate. SawdustSteve
Hi PJW,
Hmmmmm... ...as one of the bearded, your post reminds me of a quote by Shakespeare to the effect: "Many a man hath more hair than wit." Maybe I wear a beard as a kind of disclaimer to others: "See the beard; don't expect too much in the cognitive department!"
I initially grew a beard because, back in the days of so-called safety razors, the portion of my neck immediately beneath my chin usually looked like hamburger after I'd shaved. When I met my wife, she said one of the first things that attracted her was the beard, and I've only shaved it off once in the past four decades; when I did, the dog hid under the kitchen table and barked, and the wife asked where I was planning to sleep!
Besides, after all these years I'm used to tugging on it when I'm making decisions - you can usually tell how much I've been cogitating by the number of white beard hairs that adorn my shirtfront.
-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
I'm sure I'll catch some heat from most of you in this post, but I've been beard-free for about five years and I'm here to tell you, it's really quite liberating. I sported the woodworker look for more than thirty years, and it was tough to finally take the plunge, but five martinis and a dull razor later, I was a new man. And, outside of finding the two extra chins that had appeared since I first grew it, I have no regrets about shaving my beard. So my advice, take it off, take it all off.
I don't think most woodworkers have facial hair because they are making a statement, but because many just don't have to show up for work someplace that has a dress code.With one very short exception I've had a beard since 1968, long before I ever thought about woodworking.John
PJ,
I think the further north you go the more facial hair you find.
Here in the tropics it is the streamlined look so I cant spread glue with a mustache like the rest of you.
It's a darn handy place to store a pencil. Since shaving the beard off years ago I can never find where I laid the pencil. The ear thing didn't work for me as it interfered with the glasses.
If you build it he will come.
phil,
Yep, it is part of the uniform, I guess. Many years ago, my shop was featured in an article on reproduction furniture in Money Magazine. At the time, there were two other guys working with me, and I got a call from a lady writing copy for the pictures they'd taken while at the shop. She was having a bit of trouble identifying the individuals in this one picture, and could I clarify for her who was who? Oh, that's easy, I told her, I'm the one with the beard, Phil has a plaid flannel shirt on, and David is the one wearing blue jeans. Loong silence on the other end of the line. Of course, we were all virtually identical.
I've had a moustache since 1972, the beard comes and goes. Have had a vandyke goatee since my scoutmaster days in the early 90's. I thought it made me more intimidatiing, when I had to read the riot act to one of my scouts.
Regards,
Ray
Glas to see that so many people responded to this post. After reading all the posts, it would seen to me that maybe it is a combination of all these factors (though i am leaning towards the job with no dress code idea) As for he who shall remain nameless who admits to having removed his facial hair, all i can say is somebody will be at your place shortly to reposess all your tools (just kidding)
-pjw
Beard and mustache since I was 17, part non-conformist, part laziness and part practical. Don't own any flannel shirts or suspenders though!
Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. ~Italian Proverb
"As for he who shall remain nameless who admits to having removed his facial hair"Ah, you folks just don't know what you're missing. I love the smell of Barbasol in the morning.
Mike, <<Ah, you folks just don't know what you're missing. I love the smell of Barbasol in the morning.>> Barbasol may SMELL good, but there's NOTHING like the FEEL of a boar's hair shaving brush on your neck and face first thing in the morning (well....ok, there IS early morning "exercise".....)Cheers!James, decorated with lip hair for the last 32+ years.....
I started sporting a beard a week before my discharge from the Air Force, (rebelious). Kept the beard for 27 years (I thought I had longevity compared to you guys). Finally took it off after repeated coxing from my daughter wanting to know what I looked like without it, kept the mustach though.
Don't miss it. I look younger and more handsome now...LMAO!
Edited 7/6/2006 10:37 am ET by RonT
I've had a full beard for a bit over 10 years. My girlfriend at the time liked beards, and I was tired of shaving anyway. She suffered through the scratchy stage and then dumped me (for unrelated reasons).
Liked the beard though, so I kept it. Keeps my face warm in winter, if nothing else. Then grew my hair out, with LOML's strong encouragement; it's now past my waist. (Needless to say, it gets braided and tucked down the back of my shirt when I'm in the shop.)
I'm a software engineer, so this is part of my professional uniform. :-)
>I'm a software engineer, so this is part of my professional uniform. :-)
Probaly in Calif. and not working for IBM, a consulting firm, or a military contractor.
Party On,
Dick
Probably in Calif. and not working for IBM, a consulting firm, or a military contractor.
LOL, I ran into a military contractor who works at Edwards Air Base, designing flight test instrumentation systems for fighter jets and other planes. Has a PhD, is a software engineer, and 'looks pretty much as Chip describes.
You'll find alot in IBM in the research labs as well, although not any that engage with clients.
In the Pac NW at least, beards and long hair (tied up of course) are not unusual looks for woodworkers.
Boston, actually. Correct on the other three counts. :-)
I'm 59, CEO, wear a tie most days to work, suit on many days, have had a full beard (although I keep it somewhat closely trimmed) since 1968. I shaved it once late one summer in the late 70s thinking maybe I should be without it. We did a lot of snow camping and cross country skiing when the kids were young. First winter trip to the mountains and I knew that I couldn't grow it back fast enough. My face froze. Haven't been without it since.
In the late 90s the hair on top was so thin (you could count 'em) that my wife told me to shave the top of my head. Still plenty of hair around the sides and back, and full beard.
We have lived east coast, west coast (almost) deep south and frozen north and the beard has never been a problem.
Alan - planesaw
Well, I've been shaving for about 45 years now. Nicked myself both times:) LOML says if I can shave twice in a row without bleeding that she'll let me try it with a blade in the razor.
Actually grew a beard (loosely speaking) and wore it for a few years, but could never fill it in well-enough to have it look decent, and went back to the daily scrape. But suspenders and flannel shirt are always in style. (PNW)
Actually, that last sentence got me thinking. I can leave the house, say that I'm going to buy a <any tool--last one was a PM 60B> and SWIMBO doesn't say anything. But if I say I'm going to get some new shirts, she forcefully states "no plaid and no flannel!" When it comes to what's important, she may be better trained than I thought!
The thing is---normal males have facial hair--its just that woodworkers have the self-confidence to show it
Well,
As a weekender I go 1/2 way. Had a moustache since 1967 and decided to stop shaving the rest of it on weekends years ago. I did shave for my daughter's wedding and to meet my first grandchild a month ago.
ASK
I saw a pick-up truck from Montana today. I'm in Pennsylvania. The driver didn't have a beard. Can anyone explain that?
gj,
Maybe it was stolen.
Ray
How does one steal a beard?
Bob,
Haw, I meant the truck, smartypants.
As for stealing a beard, it would have to be a rip-off, I suppose.
Cheers,
Ray
Traveling incognito
Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. ~Italian Proverb
Traveling incognito? I thought he said the guy was traveling in a pick-em-up truck...-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
Was the driver a woman?
lol
No.
I am a retired clergy who attended seminary in the 60's. Every self-respecting (male) theology student in those days had a beard. Most of us kept them through the years. I'm now retired and still have it. Our kids don't remember me without a beard.
True story: One very cold winter my wife and I went to visit our daughter at school in Ames, Iowa. Thinking I would surprise her I would shave off the beard. I did it the night before we arrived. It was at least zero the next morning when I went outside and you talk about hurt, your skin gets very tender under a beard. When we walked up to the apartment door and knocked our daughter opened the door, looked at me a second, and said "Dad, grow it back!"
Norm (never been on TV)
Well don't i feel the fool. After being a proud wearer of facial hair for the majority of my adult life, and after starting this thread. I have to admit i have just shaved it all off. My wife gave birth to our second son a few weeks ago, and it would seem as though he didn't like the goatee. (screamed every time i held him). All i can say is that i feel naked and promise to grow it back ASAP. At least i still have my flannel shirts (but at 32 degrees and high humidity i don't think i'll be wearing them this week)
-pjw
clean shaven here, 33 years in woodworking. Some of the women in it now have a few hairs on their faces though........maybe its breathing the wood that causes it......... aloha, mike
PJW, in the middle 60's I was doing Uncle Sam's U-DRIVE tours in a nuc fast attack sub. Having been out for 3 months "working" in the Med I grew a beaut of a full beard with handle bars that looked all the better after a stop in France where I picked up some Pinaud wax. They pointed us to Norfolk for some special fix ups for a few weeks at Christmas and my late wife, then a bride of 9 months, flew in from NY. I planned to meet her in the lobby of the Comodore Maury (sp) hotel as the boat gave me a 5 day leave.
I stood aside a post in the lobby and she passed by on the other side so I stepped out 10' behind her and called "hey sweete" and she made a bee line for the protection of the check in desk. She thought that some sailor was hitting on her. I caught up and called her name and she finally recognized me. The beard lasted one night, it garnered many complaints. I of course was roasted by the crew on my return to the boat but my retort was "when do you see your honey? ? Another 4 weeks when we get back to Charleston?"HA.
I grew another but lost it when transfered to a Polaris boat running out of Rota Spain, The Skipper (read God) felt it a risk if we had to go to air masks in an emergency so it became a goatee.
I tried another at age 52 but it was mottled and never came in good. In retirement I mostly use a good Norelco day to (every few) day but a fresh razor blade for dinner with a lady. Regds, Pat
Off topic--
Did you know Russ Adams, Doug Ing, or Gordy Peterson? All from the University of Washington.
Unfortunately, Gordy went down with the Scorpion. I don't know what boats Russ or Doug were on. I had heard once that Russ Adams was grabbed out of a classroom by Rickover and told: "You work directly for me, now." Anyhow, I have to ask.
Thanks, Bob
Bob, no I don't know the names. We do have a guy in our Sub Vets group (over 200 on Long Island NY) who was chased off Scorpion on a medical (one of 3 or 4 IIRC), he was pretty torn up afterwards. I rode Grouper and Blenney in training then went to USS Haddo SSN 604 just after the plank owners were locked down. I Qualified on Haddo and made MM-2(SS). Near the end of my time they were short of A gangers on boomers and shipped me to Nat Green SSBN 636 to Qual again? Did two runs out of Rota and then bailed. All the best, Pat, MM-1(SS), A gang forever!!!!
edit ps. Did you ride the Boats? Adm H.R WAS a different type of bird. I froze him out topside when he visited (in his rinkled grey suit and gravey stained tie) till I saw his ID card and announced him "Arriving" below ON THE 1-MC, just to insure that every one got "the word".
pps. for those uninformed the 1-MC is the main PA below decks (even in the can). Normally I would have called only the control room or ward room for a visitor as needed. If He had gotten passed me as top side watch and the Skipper or OOD was caught unawares -better I died. pfh
Edited 7/20/2006 10:32 pm ET by PADDYDAHAT
I had a full beard starting at age 19 until about 10 years ago switched to a goatee. 1 1/2 yrs ago I let it grow into a Van Dyke?. Back in the early 80's an over zealous oil field foreman made me shave it to go onto his lease for one stinking day to trouble shoot a controller just in case of an H2SO4 release. When I got home my kids (1 & 3) cried and my dog almost bit me. With permission of the project manager I was working for, I tacked on $500 to my expenses and Shell Oil paid for it. Now I'm 50 and there's very little brown left, which I was expecting and ready for. I'm not ready for the heavy duty particulate trap growing in my nose. Then there's my new set of ear muffs which are totally useless in SoCal and make it tough to insert my ear buds. Finally the bear rug on my back makes me feel like I'm turning into a Hobbit and I can't seem to Google Earth the "Shire".
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
Elcoholic,
Let it get a little longer and you might be closer to Gandalf than to a hobbit! ROFL
I was under the impression that facial hair was a requirement in WW - at least at an amateur level. I've sported mine for most of my adult life (way too long) with the exception of a three year stint with an employer that would not allow it because I visited food processing plants. (Believe me, facial hair was the least of their problems.) I keep it close cropped, do not know if I could ever let it get that long.
Seems to me that there would be something missing from a long day in the shop if I could not impress the LOML by shaking a cloud of sawdust from my whiskers at the end of the day. Maybe I watch too much Norm.Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. Frank Lloyd Wright
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