WWA Info Exchange

Tampa Tom

I was wondering if you might be able to help me with an interesting woodworking survey. Two years ago, Tool Crib posted a simple question to a number of woodworking forums:

Who have been the three most influential woodworkers who got you started woodworking?

Today, with their permission, I'm looking to update their results, and I need your help.

If you are so inclined, please list the three most influential woodworkers who got you started in woodworking. Feel free to name family members, shop teachers, famous woodworkers - whoever 'lit the fire' in you to take up the craft. Also, feel free to share any thoughts or comments about their influence.

I will keep this survey open through August 15. At that point, I will collect your entries and tabulate the results, similar to how Tool Crib had done first:

http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2007/03/10/toolcribcoms-guide-to-your-31-most-influential-woodworkers/

If you have any questions about this survey or if you want more information, please PM me...

I'm looking forward to the results of this survey. It could prove to be fun!
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Mango · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:04 pm Post subject:

I'll start

Norm In my world he was the only woodworker I knew of. I watched him every time I could.

The second would be the writer of a book, Roger Holmes

I'd have to say in all truth and sincerity there are really big names out there that have spectacular skills and styles.
in the world of woodworking buttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt.

I found the internet, With the forums and the individuals that come there, new to woodworking and old timers . In all its creative combined wisdom of the trades and artistic skills; the forum(s) is where I have benefited the most.
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Ice Pirate · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject:

For me I'd say:

1. Roy Underhill
2. Norm Abrams
3. WWA and all here
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Verna · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject:

My turn:

1. Daddy -- he always had a workshop and always fixed "stuff" around the house.

2. Mr. Brooks, shop teacher -- BUT, I'm a "girl" and I wasn't allowed to take Wood Shop in high school (we're NOT discussing what years I was in high school!!!). Mr. Brooks was my home room teacher and the home room always smelled so good from the wood. The students projects were always sitting around and were very interesting to me.

3. Mr. Silcox, shop teacher -- Adult Evening Woodworking Classes. A great teacher, inspirational, didn't mind answering questions, and was a great shop safety instructor.

Verna
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doug f · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:20 pm Post subject: Interesting survey

1. My Grandfather - not great woodworking, but he could make very practical stuff out of nothing.

2. My Father - a great woodworker. He built our house from the ground up, most of the furniture in it, and many, many pieces for customers. Not to mention the precision hospital trailers he built for Fruehauf during WWII.

3. My Wife - she's a lousy woodworker, but she's the inspiration and the motivation for a lot of the stuff I build.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Doug

Lawrence · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:45 pm Post subject:

1. WWA - all you fine folk

2. David Marks... woodworks made me realize what was possible (especially with a 24 inch jointer!)

3. Norm

Lawrence

tms · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:44 pm Post subject:

Hey Tom,

Interesting survey. Thanks for posting it. For me, this is pretty easy:

#1. Pop. Without a doubt. From the day he put me on the tall drafting chair so that I could be a "Daddy watcher", to the day before he passed away, I cherished his advice in the shop. Of course we had the usual teenager vs. parent squabbles, but whenever I was stumped, there was only one man I needed to call. I still miss him.

#2. Howard Renner. Pop's best friend and a professional boat builder. His disciplined hand work is what made his boats top tier in the market. His quality of work has always been out of reach for me, but I'm inspired that mere mortals can accomplish such, and still be fantastic, generous and engaging people. Howard is eighty five years old and still hoarding teak for his next project.

#3. Howard Chapelle, the great naval archeologist. His book simply titled "Boatbuilding" was the first thing that I pulled down from my father's bookshelf, and it became my bible as I grew up. It's the only book that I took with me to college, and sometimes I would read it just for recreation when I was too fatigued with biochemistry to study anymore.
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Don2Laughs · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:10 am Post subject:

1. Mr Leigh my seventh and eight grade shop teacher. Introduced me to the beauty and value of wood and gave me confidence to complete my first project, a mahogany bookcase for my Mom, and encouragement to continue.
2. This forum's initial members, Jim, Dave N Cairns, BOB SMALSER, Danny Prouxl, Dave K. and John at woodshopdemos.
3. David Marks

Thanks,
Don
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BlackRock · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:25 pm Post subject:

1.) My grandfather, a cabinetmaker and furniture builder. Although he passed away when I was 4, his work can been seen everyday in my house and all my relatives. From my sister's hand carved jewelry box lids to my grandmother clock, his quality and craftsmanship will outlast my lifetime.

2.) My Uncle. He inherited my grandfather's woodshop and helped me out by teaching me that older industrial shop equipment can be purchased at a fraction of the cost of newer equipment at a much better quality. He also taught me that no matter what kind of wood you use and how well you construct a piece of furniture, if you don't take your time sanding and finishing your project, nobody will ever see the quality of your woodworking skills.

3.) Norm. I installed a TIVO in my shop just to replay Norm's episodes when I get stuck on a project. I find at least 75% of his project's are something I would like to complete (if I only had enough time). Knowing that I'm quite a bit younger than Norm, I dread the day when NYW is no longer on the air.

Gene · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject:

My wife. All about the Honey Do List. And early retirement. I had no choice, but I don't regret it. I've always needed a shop, but never had the time, money, or geography to have one until about 10 years ago Very Happy

. We moved a lot before that so it would have been too much to deal with.
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NB George · Veteran Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 839

Dad, who let me into his shop when I was perhaps too young to understand, and had the patience to guide me through the broken and lost tool phases.

Dr Moore, college IA type who told me "you've got the woodworking down, now make it look like something."

Norm, who taught me how to do the simple stuff in minimum time so I could use more to make things look good.

Larry Norton · Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 6:57 am Post subject:

Norm

The WWA

I really don't know a third one, but I really like the stuff Glen Huey makes.
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DF · Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:37 am Post subject:

My Grandfather had a 8' wide open end shop, with a home made vise. Where he made tool handles, single tree's, fixed farm machinery. He also had a forge and anvil. I bought the anvil at his estate sale.

My father who built the buildings on his farm, and did repairs the the house, plumbing.

Roy Underhill his shop reminds me of my Grandfather's shop.

rcp612 · Veteran Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 9

#1 was my Dad,,, he could make anything look easy.

#2 Norm,,,, he could make anything look easier,,,,,,,

#3 David Marks,,,, he could make anything, even though it was hard,,,,
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CCJ · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:38 am Post subject:

1. My dad, he built our home from the ground up. He did it his way but it was HOME.

2. Mr. Stewart, shop teacher in grade school. He always yelled "clean up" when I was most into my project.

3. WWA - Do you realize how much experience and knowedge is represented here every day, every hour, and shared by some of the nicest people around?

Thanks TT,
Carlos
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grizzz66 · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:37 pm Post subject:

ok my turn ,

1. russ miller , my shop teacher for 9th, 11th, and 12th grade . he rode me all the time , i hated it then ....but i realize now and thank him .

2. norm and david marks

3 all the fine folks on this forum , who never hesitate to answer anyones questions with out any of the smart aleck comments you might get on some of the other forums BSEG

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what are you building today ???

Rockfish · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:43 pm Post subject:

OK, if I understand your question, it is about who got you started. That makes the question easier since there have been many that have influenced me since I've gotten started:

1.) My Dad. Didn't really do much with him in that area, but I saw work he did and his process of teaching himself.

2.) Keita Ikeda - someone who never realized he was influencing me by having a small table saw on the back deck in his condo to build book shelves. I told him this in the last year and he was surprised. He never felt successful at wood working and eventually quit.

3.) Chris Novak - someone I used to work with who helped me build shelving for my closet in NC. Chris would sketch out plans for a project on his floor. He may have 1/16" of graphite build-up on his floor by now.

Bcubed · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:53 am Post subject:

1. My Dad. He didnt make any furniture, but made practical things. Shelving units you could park a car on, revolving spare parts holders from baby food and mayonase jars (he fixed adding machines and typewriters for a living, had to glean parts from old broken ones which was my job as a kid), small freestanding tool cabinets and gun cabinets, stuff like that. I also did not work much with him. Working on cars, yes, I was his helper. I wish I had paid more attention..

2. From my grandfather (Dad's dad) and my Dad's great grandfather on his mom's side. My grandfather who was a watchmaker had all kinds of neet woodworking machines in his basement. Never saw him work with them, but I knew he made stuff. He handed me a piece of wood and a pocket knife once and said, here, make something. The idea has always been in my mind that I could make stuff, even though I was a girl. And my great grandfather who I never knew. I have 2 pieces of furniture that he made. A 2 door 2 drawer pie safe and a bedstead. He was the woodworker/cabinet maker/coffin maker in a tiny town in NE WV where my Dads family is from. So I guess he would be a Roy Underhill kinda guy.

3. My Mom. She was not a woodworker. She was a seamstress. And she was an antique dealer and a furniture lover. Our home was FILLED with gorgeous antiques (which I now have) as well as books about them. She also loved more primive furniture. I cant tell you how many trips home to Ohio after visiting my grandfather in PA that we made with some piece of furniture on top of the station wagon. She is why I love the kind of furniture I do. Functional, lasting, beautiful.

I never persued woodworking as a young adult, I guess because I was a female. Did other things though. Knitted my first sweater when I was 8, made all my own clothes, taught myself to weave baskets, did simple car repairs, etc. Now I want to make stuff with wood. But my dad is still with me, cuase I want to make useful things, things to make my home more liveable and better functioning as well as something that looks good. I guess working with my hands and making stuff is just in my blood.

little bear · Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject:

My turn, My dad let me run his small table saw when I was about 13 I guess. My grandfather used to work on his old town canvas canoes and build little wooden ducks the Whirley Gig type. I remember he used to balance them perfect then oil the little shaft up. I would go place the things in the wind on a simple post.. man could they go fast. I watched Norm also and bob vela .
Jerry Stelmok helped me out some when I started out building canoes..
http://www.islandfallscanoe.com
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ploh · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:07 am Post subject:

Here's my three.

Tony Shipp- My Sculpture 101 instructor from college. He made these incredible, awe-inspiring found object pieces. His woodworking was top notch and I learned a lot.

Tage Frid- 'nuff said, however, I learned the bulk of what I know about woodworking from his books.

Michael Puryear- I didn't really know who he was at first, but when I saw a table he had made it gave me the inspiration to build my second piece of furniture ever. [/i]
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