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Every day, I pick up this or that piece of wood to work it with my tools, my hands and eyes, and what’s in my heart. I have a chance to see myself in the world through the results of my woodworking. Was I accurate enough? Were my tools sharp enough? Was my skill and technique sufficient? Were these three aspects good enough to make something beautiful and useful? And do I have the character to see perfection and imperfection,both, with equanimity. Actually when I look at what I have made, and am making, I’m really pleased. Wow, I did that! And, as Scott said, we are meant to be enjoying our time spent with our craft. “Don’t worry, be happy” like the song says.
Hi Joseph,
Thanks for the lightning quick response. I don’t believe I have misunderstood. But I have done two of the old three day courses (the box and the shelf unit) and also the month long course last October/November, so I am wondering i)how to play a part in the development of the ‘local guild of woodworkers’, (so to speak) and ii)how to extend my own skills. Put simply, I want to keep on learning and growing as a woodworker, and the School offers me the best way to do that. Indeed, without the School and the courses you have taught me, I would be nowhere. So I’m wondering, “What’s next on the adventure?” A regular drop-in Saturday would meet my needs; might this happen?
Best wishes,
MickHi Paul, Joseph, guys,
Just trying to think clearly about this, and separate out my thoughts about Paul and his mission from my own feelings…..
Firstly, I would agree with another member who said that Paul is an excellent and inspirational teacher, and that he gets my backing to arrange his life and his energy anyway he chooses. He and Joseph are good thinkers and strategists, it seems to me, so I trust their planning.
For my part, having done most of the courses on offer, I am wondering how I develop within the School. I know there was talk last year of a woodworkers’ get-together at the Castle, perhaps every first Saturday in the month or something like that. This would help to develop the community, which I value, as well as people’s craft and skills. Is this still on the cards?
Regards, MickHi guys, I made my own mallet, using the same sizes as Paul suggests (roughly) and the same pattern as in Ken’s suggestion (again roughly). Maybe I just got lucky, but it’s a cracker! It fits beautifully in my hand, and the weight and balance are great. I also happen to think it’s handsome, but that may just be because I am its proud dad! I made it from beech, because it’s not easy to get hard maple or Osage orange this side of the Pond. Give it a go; you’ll love the making and the using.
Ken, that eye dominance test is mind-blowing! Many thanks. I am right- handed and left eye dominant. Who’d a thunk it? Juryaan, what exactly did you do to adjust your sawing technique. I can’t quite see what you mean (perhaps I’m looking at it through my right eye!)
Thanks again, Mick.
Good stuff, guys. Thought provoking. I think that I am with Marc; if I have thought that it’s time to sharpen, it almost certainly is! For me, in my currently cramped workshop, I don’t have a dedicated sharpening station. This leads me to put off sharpening; daft, but it does happen. When I was learning with Paul, on the month long course, we all learnt to keep “going to the stones” very regularly. I need to get back to that. I’m building my new bench, and when I install it in my new, larger workshop, I will have that dedicated sharpening station, and no excuses!
All the best, chaps,
Mick
Those are astonishing prices, especially to someone like me from the other side of the Pond. I took the plunge and bought DMT stones shortly after starting Paul’s courses, so I don’t need to buy the Ezelap ones. But just for interest I went through the ordering process on Amazon, and even with shipping and an estimated sum for import duties, it came to $175, which converts to £112. So a real bargain for Brits, also. Nice one, guys!
I am making a Paul Sellers style work bench. Done the lamination work on the aprons and top, and also the well board. Hope to glue up the first leg assembly today. That will go in my new and improved workshop. Then there are shelves which I started and need to complete, again a la Paul, but adapted to be larger. As the man said, so much to make, so little time!
It’s good to know that I am part of a community of like minded souls.
As a Brit, and a relative newcomer to new genre woodworking, I look forward to the responses of some others from this side of the Atlantic. I’ve bought a couple of magazines and been disappointed – too many adverts (for power tools, of course) and most of the articles slanted at power tool woodworking. Leaving a paltry amount of coverage for our style of working. Any other Brits had a better experience?
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