Charles Neil

Interesting,

We get our knowledge in many ways. Internet, Youtube, and books?, lol. lumberjocks is a very helpful place. Many of us are learning here because we have no one in our area, or our pockets are empty?

I have known Charles Neil only through internet, email, blogs, and a history of his DVD’s. He is a professional “finisher” as he likes to call himself.

It is interesting to me that we spend money on tools to get the job done, but do not see education that we have to pay for as equally imortant?

We are moving into a world that may not have oil type finishes anymore. Waterborne finishes and polys are here to stay? If we truely want a great piece for our efforts, we have to finish it.

Charles is gently dragging me kicking and screaming into the future. And I’ve learned to “Sneak up on it!” LOL

-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher

If you ever get a meet Charles in person, he is one of the nicest and most genuine people you will ever meet. My kids and I had the opportunity to visit him in his shop last year and it would have been worth the trip from Indiana even if that was the only thing we did. I think I have 14 or 15 of him videos and I don’t regret one. I also like the feeling that I am helping in some small way to support someone that is doing so much for the woodworking community.

-- Jeff Waggoner, http://www.planeoldwood.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Plane-Old-Wood

Hey Russ
Glad you liked Charles
Sometimes the best things in life are not free :))
We all have to make are on decisions as to if something will work in our budget or not.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

a1Jim- Yeah, I found out that Charles only has a few You Tube video’s, but I think I’ve got enough info to work with. There is a line between how much you can learn without actually doing it. I want to try some finishes with his Pre-Color Conditioner before I go on to learn anymore. I just hope it arrives soon, because I’ll be ready to use it with my current project.

-- Failure does not stop me, it makes me try harder..... because I'm crazy.

Russel, Last email I recieved was they are putting the conditioner orders together. :) (sorry Jim he was talking to you but I thought I would respond, :) )

-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher

DocSavage45- I have a couple bottles on order. I think they already shipped them. Cant wait to try it out.

-- Failure does not stop me, it makes me try harder..... because I'm crazy.

planning on a couple myself. He will help when people run into trouble, but he has a youtube on it.

-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher

You have to spend money to make money. The same applies to Finishing if you want to be a good Finisher you have to get educated.
I met Charles by internet abut 5 years ago and started asking questions. Went to New Market to a Finishing Class a almost three years ago. That was the best money I every spent to understand Finishing and have a hands on experiance with all the Finishing Tools. A Great Three days. He continues to get me out of trouble.
Charles has at least three Great DVD’s about Finishing. There is a brand new one that has just been released called Finishing Nightmares, which I am waiting to study. It’s about Finishing mistakes and Fixing them.
About Charles the person. He is what you see, a real Southern Gentleman. I count him a friend and he loves to help me and others and loves to teach all, so they can become better woodworkers and Finishers.
With all this said, work some over time and spend it on your woodworking Education you will not be sorry.

One of my favourite sayings is:

“If you think education is expensive, try the cost of ignorance”

-- I may have lost my marbles, but I still have my love of woodworking