Some general observations about Lumberjocks...

Some very interesting observations.

Thanks for taking the time to share them.

#19 Lumberjocks are willing to help solve other member problems and address their questions with good solid advice and examples.

You just saved me a whole lot of reading … for which I am eternally grateful!

Nice summation!

-- -- Neil

Interesting bit of analysis…..

I think the “snobbery” really comes from the fact that when you raise the bar on woodworking – from the week end warrior types to a hobbyist and above – you find that there are only a few premium manufacturers that give you bang for the buck….I believe any of us would buy cheaper brands if they were durable and precise – but that is typically not the case.

That said though…I find this site fits me better than any of the others that I subscribe too…I am definitely more active here….and find that there is more content here….more “meat” than any other sites. The reviews of projects here is very good…no one is intentionally rude or rapacious…and the same with the tool reviews…I find that almost every post I read has some usefull information…which is rare on some other sites…

Also, as you mentioned, there is alot of turners here (being one myself)....I really enjoy the projects and information that is presented here for turners. I also do other forms of woodworking and find there is just as much useful material on these forums as there is for woodturning…

Kudos to Martin for putting together such a useful and informative place for us woodworking addicts….

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

A very interesting list. I think you’ll find that one reason for #8 is #13. I own a Delta dust collector, but when I moved and bought a house with a two car garage, I found that the electrical in the garage could not support my dust collector running along with my bigger tools. So, I can have dust collection or I can have tools, just not both.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

Nice observations. I’ve found that most of the members here have a willingness to help with just about anything, without being condescending if you ask a stupid question (which I do more often than not).

I also love how diverse the group is. You get everyone from a weekend hack like myself to a professional blogging about a client build.

In short, Lumberjocks Rocks.

-- Premium firewood created daily.

Weekend and evening hack reporting in!

Oh, and I completely agree with Russel. I am pulling power from my dryer circuit for the dust collector because I can. A sub panel is on my wish list / todo list.

-- Trying to follow the example of the master.

Point 15 is due to the layout of this site. In a traditional forum, woodworkers wouldn’t enter the woodturning forum and woodturners wouldn’t enter the woodworking forums. Except for the minority who do both or are interested in getting into the other. Here it’s one big melting pot and it helps bring people together.

David,

I think the most interesting thing you noted was what Lumberjocks is not. I know the reasons why I enjoy LJ’s and there is no sense in repeating them, because you and everyone who has commented has pretty much covered the waterfront. I wasn’t that aware of the culture of other sites, however, but I been around too long not to have seen it in other of life’s activities.

Brand snobbery, meaning, I assume, if something knows you have a less robust machine than his he points it out and rubs your face in it, is definitely not present here, now that I think of it. In fact there are a few of us that just have fun making do with what we have, fixing it up, and making it perform well. Accepting a situation, and resolving it with interesting and at time innovative strategies. Not just throwing money at it. That’s part of the hobby too, like fixing up old planes. I am always amazed to see who is still using an old Delta contractor’s saw, like me. Maybe I will replace it some day, maybe not. I want to prove to myself I need more first, and make sure that this hobby is truly for me, since I am a newby. It fits me also, because I am not into pride of ownership, just interested in having fun, even if I never make anything wonderful. But I am not slighting those who want to spend the money to get the tool they really need to achieve their goals. The price and brand of machine just shouldn’t be a benchmark, to my way of thinking.

Non-acceptance of beginners is another what LJ’s are not. In most, but not all respects, I am surely a beginner. I thought it would be a universal to accept new folk into the hobby….guess not.

As a result, you can post a goof-up for comic relief. You can discuss how you worked through a problem with a less-than-great set of machinery and capabilities and still got a satisfying result at least for the one doing it. And you don’t have to make a masterpiece to display it and get interesting comments.

Great place.

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

Well I am one of the brand snobs on this site. My shop is exclusively Delta/ridgid/grizzly/ryobi/bosch/portercable/milwaukee/harborfreight/jet/kobalt/etc. and I wouldn’t even consider buying any thing else but my trusted brand. I run one of the best forums on the net, but it has just about died. Almost no activity at all now and I don’t know why.

-- Dan-- Info for all @ http://www.hoistman.com

David,

By the way, could I commission you to determine if the cleanliness and orderliness of the shop is inversely proportional to work output? It sounds like you have already made some observations. Then I would have a reason not to clean it up, and could justify my slovenliness to my wife.

There are 10 attaboy’s in it for you…....................

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

LUMBERJOCKS is the bestest in the world. Thanks to Martin and his staff. The best and the most active.

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

David,

And re sharing the shop…......left the shop for a bit, returned finding a disassembled bird feeder and a bag of seed sitting right in the middle of the shop on my freshly cleared project table…..after carefully cleaning up and getting ready for completion of my benchtop downdraft table…... My wife said it was drying after cleaning it…..(at least she hadn’t placed in on the table saw). So I, noting it was dry, reassembled it just to be nice, and placed it in her work area…........................the kitchen!? Thought she would appreciate it, but she said i was just trying to get rid of her stuff and…......you know how those things go…...can’t win for losing. And I thought the intrusions of muddy garden gloves and wet caustic fertilizer bags on the table saw had ended for the season….....

Oh well.

Sharing brings a lot of different issues…....

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

Lumberjocks covers the whole spectrum of woodworkers, tool buffs, snooty people, idiots, business owners and section 8 escapees. However, what you get from this mixture is the most wonderful collection of real people who are truly the best human beings who appreciate and care about ALL projects that are submitted. Nobody at this site goes away with the feeling he is put down, on the contrary praise and good advice is your reward. New members of LJ’s are welcomed so much that anyone would think they were hard up for membership. Lj’s are genuinely appreciative of your medical, family and work area problems and are happy to offer good advice. This is like one big family sitting around a table and relating “this is what I did today”
We are serious, dedicated, compassionate and can have some fun without putting someone’s nose out of joint – which is the way it has to be. That’s why it’s the best woodworking sute.

Oh….... just one more item to add to the LJ’s prestige: It’s the site with the most cutting boards.

-- Roger, Rep. of Texas

Oh no according to your list I just don’t fit in. It’s like one of those horrible magazine test my wife tries to get me to take to see if we are compatible. We’ve been married 43 years that might be a good clue.
Whats a guy to do I’ll have to sell all my tools and start over. It’s like being in high school in my 60s and not being in the in crowd.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

a1Jim:

Ah shucks Jim, even though you have every tool ever made, were still gonna love you. Don’t worry. What I really want to know is about your…..., who are you giving all those gems to when, you know, well…....it happens to us all, yup, could you kinda, well perhaps, even…....just one or two…........

Seriously, thanks for being the stalwart around here, always with a word of appreciation, a keen observation, a greeting to the new ones, friend to us all…...LJ’s would be a lesser place without you….....

So don’t worry…...you can still sit at my table on prom night…..........

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

Thanks Jim us Jims have to stick together. Hows the wheather up there ?

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

papadan:

Don’t know if you have the longest list of brands, I don’t think I am in the running, too much Delta stuff, you know, the snob brand….some Craftsman…now there’s a hot one, lots of Skil from the old days, like over 20 years old…....aren’t they an industry leader?, Makita..you missed that one…Dewalt of course, Hitachi…got you on that one…..yup…....guess I am pretty typical for LJ’s, like you. Lot of brands.

I am sure there are people here that make my old tools look modern. I have a lot of tools over 20 years old, still working well. The hand held circular saw I used yesterday, 30 years old about, the RAS is 38 years old, used that today. Well not too many brands, but some good old honest stuff. Don’t think we would fit on those snob sites Dan…....guess we are stuck being LJ’s….......shucks…........sure am glad they got the snobs quarantined somewhere else…...................

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

a1Jim:

It is 33 degrees and overcast, right now. No snow yet, and we frequently have it fly before Halloween. Haven’t put on the snow tires yet, still looks like rain instead of snow this week, but Anchorage weather is notoriiously unpredictable due to the mountain ranges, that surround us. You’re down Oregon way I believe, I spent a couple of weeks there last month, might have told you that already. From the beaches all the way out to nearly the Snake, so we covered a lot of territory. Stayed for 5 days near Waldport, over a hundred miles from Riddle I suspect….......

Well, it is off to bed, another day at work tomorrow…...............

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

dbhost- good observations. My hobbyist shop definitely falls within, but it is in the process of some upgrades.

great list of observations! I appreciate the time you took to “look” and to research and to compile the data. Fascinating.

Jim B. – i’m still chuckling at the “her work space” comment. Did you enjoy the doghouse that night?

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Debbie,

Well, the kitchen isn’t my wife Sherie’s only workspace, but that is where I put the feeder. Actually there is no place I could have put it without ending up in the dog house. I should have left it in the middle of my shop….probably for a week, cause my true love kinda flits from thing to thing at times, so has a lot of things goin’, complicated by teaching a pile of knitting classes recently. Above all, I couldn’t ask her to move it. That might be cause for divorce, because it would imply that I thought she wouldn’t be timely and considerate, and why would I ever….......you know. Course leavin’ it there…..it has a tall glass piece, that would roll if on its side…....so I couldn’t jostle the table…well you get the drift. I really couldn’t put it in her woman-cave, home of three sewing machines, a long-arm makes it 4 machines, loom, computer, shelf upon shelf of yarn, fat squares, with newly installed light colored carpet….....in other words, no place to put an outdoor item. If I put it in her outsized potting shed…well…she wouldn’t have found it for a week. So…...the kitchen.

To give Sherie her due, she recently retired, again, from a 50 to 60 hr a week job, and is now enjoying her free time, as she should. But I did end up in the dog house….........was this a no-win situation?

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

ah the creative soul :)
what an honour you have to share space with her!
and yes… a no-win situation :) unless of course you had asked where she wanted you to put it while you did your woodworking ;)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

That’s what I was afraid of….....that she would tell me where to put it

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

I’m a newbie… and I feel welcomed and cared about. Might sound cheesy… but it’s the truth. I’m getting the best support and kindest comments from some really nice people. Problems are getting solved… and mishaps are getting laughed off. I’m having fun… and nobody made me feel like a loser because my garage was a trashy mess when I finally got pressured into posting a picture of my “shop”. HAH!

Thanks everybody! You make this place a delight to visit everyday.

Also… There’s females around here too! AWESOME!

-- Lisa Chan, custom cafts and yarn accessories, http://www.grippingyarn.com

Lisa,
Guess I am a newbie too, and a newbie to woodworking as a hobby, although it already feels like home. Espicially since I got the same henpecking from MsDebbie that I get here in Anchorage (-:

So far, everybody is enjoying my madcap adventures in the shop, and I have followed yours. But you make things….......I just have great plans. Actually I am about to present, well not a true project, but a benchtop (clamp it down) downdraft table tomorrow. I am really nervous. Think I’ll just put it in the blog…....maybe nobody will notice…...................................

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

Oh we’ll notice Jim, you wont get away with nothing. LOL

-- Dan-- Info for all @ http://www.hoistman.com

Wow, now that’s some cool data collection, I would love to see your spreadsheet.
Later,
Doug in AZ.

-- If you need craft books - please visit our small business at http://www.wittywife.com

henpecking! HEN PECKING.. I’ll show you hen pecking ;)
into doghouse again!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Yup, feels like home….......(-:

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

LJ’s has been such an interesting forum that one can’t help but checking in and coming back often to see what’s happening. Not only are the projects and blogs constantly updated, but the knowledge that lurks behind the numerous members who have decades of experience or even the long-term hobbyist or newbie who are willing to share their wealth of knowledge and also mishaps are absolutely priceless! I’ve learned so much from just reading and observing and I feel encouraged to share my projects.

I have to admit I was taken aback when I first signed in and had several very hearty “Welcomes” from complete strangers. I wasn’t sure if it was a marketing scheme but when I took the time to investigate the members and projects I realized that this was just a real friendly and easy place to visit and learn from others. There’s truly a feeling of family here and the best part is that everyone is willing to help and encourage each other.

I’m realatively new in the woodworking community and I was asked to be a guest speaker at a local wood worker’s guild and I don’t think I would have had the confidence standing in front of 60-70 strangers without having met the people I have encountered here. I told myself that it was just going to be like seeing all the LJ friends here, but in person. That strategy worked out well and I had a wonderful time and maybe someday I’ll get to meet my LJ buddies!

This place is like home!

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

This is great! Just saw the eMag that MsDebbieP puts out (Kudos to her!) and had to check this out…

It’s interesting to see how my shop compares… One of the things that I really like about this site is that I suspect that although the trends noted here are certainly true, there are very few of us who align more than 50% or so with these “norms”. This site is a unique resource and a viable, growing community of woodworkers who all share something, but are each unique in their own way.

I too would love to see your spreadsheet on this!!! I also wonder if you checked out my shop along with the rest…

For my own edification, had to compile the “Yup, that’s me” vs. “Not even close” summaries for these observations:

#1. It would appear the two most common table saws owned by LJ members that bother to post their shops, are Ridgid TS3650/TS3660s, and Delta Unisaws. —Nope, Craftsman 22124

#2. DeWalt DW735 planers are insanely popular, next seems to be the Ridgid TP1300LS. —Nope, don’t own a planer!

#4. There are more than the typical sparse handful of folks here working out of a small shed. —Nope, half a basement for me

#5. I thought I was a lone ranger aiming for bang for the buck, and building a shop leaning a little bit on the heavy side toward Harbor Freight equipment. —Nope, don’t have anything from HF, but I do get the catalogs!

#8. There are far fewer shops listed with dust collection than I would have expected. —Nope, have a small DC

#11. Really great stuff is coming out of some shops that look like a tornado just went through them. —Nope, I’m a neat-freak. (Maybe that’s my problem…? Should I let go? Maybe I’d spend more time woodworking, less time straightening/organizing the shop?)

#12. Lumberjocks seem to have a strange affinity for building workbenches, blanket chests, and baby cribs. —Yep! Workbench is in the works, blanket chest is on my project list! (Once the bench is finished…)

#13. Most LJ’s don’t have enough electrical service in their shops, and know it. —Yep! Two dedicated 20 amp runs terminating in a 2 gang outlet box is not enough, but considering the fact that I’ve got the DC on a separate circuit from all the “big” equipment, and I only run one tool at a time, I can get away with it!

#14. Very few of the shops are completely dedicated shops. Most of them are shared storage spaces that share their space with things like lawnmowers, cars, camping gear and whatnot. —Yep! Share with laundry and (unfortunately) cat litter.

#15. Compared most other forums / sites I have seen, LJs seem to have a higher percentage of woodturners. Or at least more productive ones from the projects listed. —Yep! Lathe was the third major tool purchase, after my first table saw and my miter saw.

#16. For the most part, LJs do not seem to take part in the brand snobbery that has turned myself, and more than likely more than a few others off of certain other sites. —Yep! No brand snobbery for me…

#17. Along with the near total lack of brand snobbery, there also is much more acceptance of the less experienced here. Generally speaking we can come here, and share our stupid mistakes, get advice, and even have a laugh over it. —Yep! And that’s what makes this place such a great community.

Thanks for compiling this!

-- Ryno

definitely—less cleaning and more sawdust!! :) lol

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

And just like the Monty Python Lists or the Spoon from the Matrix movie:

There is Noooooo…

#3

And that is how it should be :)

-- Cranc