And then there are the prizes. I realized as I was entering my project that I didn’t even know what I was competing for. When the challenge was announced I didn’t pay attention to the prize list. Why bother if I wasn’t going to win? Yet, since I did enter I figured that I should probably see what I was competing for and if it was something that I could even use in my shop (Yeah all tools are good tools, but some I simply don’t use).

It occurred to me that if I wasn’t the only one who didn’t expect to win, then I probably wasn’t the only one who didn’t know what the prizes were. Then I had to ask myself, “Self, why are you competing if winning isn’t in the picture?” After all, the purpose of a competition is to determine a winner. And, if it’s clear that won’t be you, why bother?

And the answer is, “Because.”

Because in my time here there is a certain peer pressure, a certain temptation. Those whose skills exceed mine are constantly pressuring me to be better. Some overtly, but most with expert subtlety. You know the line, they say things like, “Great job,” or “You’re getting better,” or other such encouragements that lead you down the path of improvement. You mention your mistakes and they take it in stride telling you that next time it will be even better, all the while convincing you that you can acquire the skills necessary. There are quite a few “pushers” here who addict you to quality and improvement.

And then come the challenges. You see the challenge and as a result of all the positive talk, you believe you can do it. You believe that you can participate and meet the requirements of the challenge. You know your skills do not match the masters, but you believe you can accomplish the task set before you.

As it turns out, that’s the best part of these challenges; the opportunity to exercise your new found skill and confidence. The objective (for me at least) is not necessarily to win, but to compete honorably. To be able to do what has been asked of you. The prizes are for someone else, but the challenge is for all.

So while I don’t expect to win, I’ve had the opportunity to participate. I’ve entered because I wanted to show me that I had progressed. It’s actually a pretty good feeling.

There was a gate in our backyard that had seen better days.

It was kinda standing when we bought the house, but has since gotten lazy. The Mrs. proclaimed, “It’s ugly, can’t you do something about it?” Eventually, I built the new gate you see below and the Mrs. was happy for a time (That’s the way things work).

Well, the old gate sat hidden behind the new gate while I decided what to do with it. Then along came the LumberJocks Summer Challenge 2008 and there was hope. All I needed to do was come up with something to make. So, I carried the old gate into my shop and just looked at it for a while. (You can look too.)

Pretty ugly, right? So I tore it apart, which was a relatively new experience. It was nailed together and I had to find my hammer which I don’t use a whole lot these days. Then I had to remove all the nails, ain’t that fun! Of course, some nails had the head rusted off and they just weren’t coming out. I’m not using that wood. But I got it torn apart and started cleaning it up and this is what I’ve got to work with.

The challenge is about repurposing junk, or something percieved as junk. I do believe this gate is not only percieved as junk, but truly is junk, so I figuring this will cover one side of the challenge. Now, I need to make some serving thing for outdoors to cover the other side of the challenge. That will be the trick since I’m an indoor kinda guy.

I’m now off to the races. Gotta clean that wood up a bit more and figure out what it’s gonna be when I’m done. With any luck, it might just make it in time for the challenge.

The second pen-turners swap is under way and I am enjoying watching it as much as the first one.

Intarsia, veneering, bending, carving, bowls, spindles … All fascinating stuff. I have never done any of it. But I’d like to and Doug’s marquetry just reminded me of all the skills and techniques that I still have to learn. And brings me to just one more reason to continue to come to this site.

Since being here I’ve been introduced to so many different things that can be done with wood. I’ve seen projects that run the gamut of skill and interest. I have been shown so many things that I want to try and so many skills that I’d like to add to my short list that I have been forced to realize that even with Daylight Saving Time, there are not enough hours in the day to do what I want to do.

Now I’ve been told that if I lower my expectations, my satisfaction will increase dramatically. I’m not buying it.

So, the point of this particular ramble is to tip my hat to the LumberJocks here who continue to present skills, techniques and ideas that keep me moving forward in my woodworking development.

Oh yeah, there’s a lot of really good jokes here too.

Until recently, that was my only experience with a hand plane. Since hanging about LumberJocks I’ve read all kinds of stuff about the joy of hand tools. It all seemed fascinating, but I wasn’t sure I was ready. Still, the number of folks singing the praises of planes and scrapers and chisels prodded me to eventually purchase a few starter tools.

The chisels were pretty easy. Especially when I figured out how to sharpen them. The card scraper I have yet to figure out, but I’m still working on it.

Not long ago Rockler had some planes on sale. They aren’t the top of the line, but I figured I didn’t want to learn on something expensive so I bought three: a low angle block plane, a #4 smoothing plane, and a #5 Jack plane; all made by Groz, and all for under $100. They required some tuning up and sharpening, but I expected that.

Well I fiddled and fooled and read and played and fiddled and fooled some more. Then Betsy took a vacation and the excitement that came through her blog series was contagious and I fiddled a bit more.

Today, I experience the pleasure of planing. I had cut a couple of uprights for a cradle I’m making and thought I might just try this plane thing to smooth the tapered edges. I wasn’t expecting much, but when I started and the blade sliced through the wood and the shaving curled so pretty I couldn’t help but say, “Wow, this is cool.”

Now I guess I’ll be looking for other opportunities to use these neat tools and increase my skills to the point where I think I’m ready to go for the good stuff. For now, though, I think what I’ve got will do me just fine while I learn. Thanks to LumberJocks for introducing me to such a pleasure.

A while ago, I had a conversation with a friend who was considering home-schooling. He believed that because he and his wife had college educations they were more than qualified to teach academic subjects through high school. My response was to tell him the story of my own, misguided, attempt to equate myself to the pros based on slightly related experience.

I had been in a couple bands in high school and even took extended course work in music theory. While performing with a community choir, I had the opportunity to perform with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra—- that was cool. However, when we got to rehearsal, I found that the pros are expected to know, not learn. The conductor went through the score and said, “At measure 127 I want a slight increase in the horn section, okay, let’s hear it.” We did about 10 measures and then it was on to the next piece. We never went through the whole program. It was assumed that we knew and to go through it in detail was a waste of time.

Here on LumberJocks, there has been a bit of conversation about what pros do, or should do. For the most part, I’ve tried to keep my nose clean (and it has been hard), since I ain’t no pro. How the pros use the site is not my call, but one for Martin and those he looks to for input. And, until the pros start telling me I’m not welcome here, I’ll hang around because you can’t do better than learning from a pro.

The professional has authority to say things that I cannot say. I do things that work for me and some of those things are good and some of those things are less than desirable. However, I have no real risk. I have no reputation and what I do is for my enjoyment and education. The pros on the other hand have not only their reputation, but their livelihood on the line. The result of this situation is an awareness of consequences that I need not concern myself with. An experienced professional wil typically encounter more situations and oddities than any hobbyist. Unless they’re stupid and arrogant, this gives the pros a distinct advantage and an acquired wisdom that deserves deference on my part.

The professionals on LumberJocks add a legitimacy to the site that does not exist in hobby forums. The professionals provide wisdom that can only be had by engaging risk. The professionals speak with authority that most of us can only dream of. I, for one, appreciate the pros.

Now this is simply my observation, but I’ve seen it often enough for it to make an impression. The question is, “Why is that?” Does “art” mandate non-traditional? If utility is the objective of a piece, can it still be “art?”

This second question is the result of viewing many beautiful art pieces that seem terribly impractical and it would appear that their purpose is to look pretty. Nothing wrong with pretty, but it frequently is separated from utility.

But back to the original question. It seems to me that an artist would need to be an accomplished craftsman. Can someone be an accomplished craftsman without being an artist? Is there really a difference between the two?

Oh the dangers of an idle mind …

I have been a member here at LumberJocks for a bit more than 6 months and the membership has effectively doubled since I joined. When I joined, the goal was to get to 2000 members by year end. We kinda left that one in the dust.

I tried to make it a point to look at all the projects and read all the posts. I love to read and like looking at pictures. At one time I thought I couldn’t get enough to read ... I was wrong. What I found it that there are not enough hours in the day to keep up. Particularly if I bother to go to work.

I also found that I was spending less time in the shop while spending more time reading about shops. Too much theory and not enough practice makes a rather stagnant Russel. So I decided to get off my ever increasing behind and get out and work some wood.

For those that might be interested, over the last two weekends I have spent approximately 24 hours in my shop. During that time, I have turned on my power tools for less than 4 hours. I have spent my time sanding, gluing, chiseling and sawing. My it’s been quiet lately.

But back to the point, by going out to the shop, I’ve spent less time here on LumberJocks. And while I was gone the place exploded. There are so many new projects to look at. Additionally, there are blogs and forum topics to catch up on. The volume is overwhelming.

The good in all this is that the quality of the site has not diminished with the additions. Of course, that makes falling behind all the worse. So, I plug away keeping up as much as possible. But I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something.

Now, having said all that, the real question is what to do? Some folks can continue as they always have and not be swayed by the changes. An admirable quality that I wish I had … I never could get into the whole Zen thing. I, on the other hand, have an underlying fear that I’m going to miss something really cool.

So, am I overly obsessive? Can one be overly obsessive? How does one quench the never ending thirst? Of course, the question is rhetorical, but it seemed worth the ask.

I am quite the novice at this woodworking thing and I’m pretty pleased with my progress, and even more so with what I’m learning to do and appreciate. As it turns out, I am learning a craft, a skill. And in the process I am learning to recognize and appreciate the skill in the work of others. A few years back I could not have known how difficult and beautiful simplicity can be. It’s a different world being surrounded by skilled artisans who are more than willing to share their skills through demonstration and encouragement.

Now the “Not Just Any Box” and “Muti-purposed 2×4” challenge is my first attempt at being judged. I don’t expect to actually win anything, but the challenge to actually “compete” was quite daunting. So, I mustered my elementary skills and creativity and stumbled right on in. The process is it’s own reward.

Of course seeing some of the other entries let me know that my place was solidly in the background. Yet, I was okay with that. I know full well that I am not ready for prime time. And still I have received more positive encouragement than I could have imagined. (Have I mentioned that I love this place?)

Now, as the challenge moves forward, I find that my patience is wearing a bit thin. First, those that post teasers are driving my crazy! I have minimal imagination so sometimes I hurt myself trying to figure out what you folks are building. I fully expect to be impressed, but I’m getting tired of waiting. Hurry up already!

And, the waiting causes another problem. Looking at the currently posted entries I’m having a difficult time deciding how to vote. If there are too many more entries, I’m pretty sure my head will explode and I won’t be able to vote. That would be a real downer. This is almost worse than waiting for Santa.

All seriousness aside, I appreciate the time that’s taken to show what’s being made and the process involved. As I said, I’ve learned alot from the multitude of blogs, projects and forums. I’m eager to see the results, so on with the show.

In my travels, I have read numerous entries about the value of LumberJocks. The testimonials to it’s unique ability to combine professional and amateur seem never ending. The enumeration of benefits received and friendships found goes on and on.

Oddly enough, I seem to be missing all the negative stuff. There are comments about disagreements and mentions of topics that caused discomfort, but I have yet to find them. There was some intensity about whether or not donors should be recognized, but that was pretty mild and subsided rather quickly.

The only real negative I found was a complaint that there was too much praise on the site. That struck me as terribly fascinating in that the biggest complaint I could find was that people here were just too darn nice. The mind boggles.

So, this is just an observation, but I feel compelled to ask, “Is there any dirt?” What’s the skinny on all this niceness? How is it that over 2000 people from all walks of life, with varying skill levels from all around the globe get along so well?

Are you people hiding something from me?

Now, I’m not the greatest woodworker, but I do know a thing or two; certainly enough to pique the interest of young folks. Shop class (or Industrial Arts) is pretty much a thing of the past and I believe that there is a deficiency in the education of our kids as a result. The ability to work with your hands requires a type of thought that you don’t always get with Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic.

The recent posts about teaching and inspiring have impressed upon me the need and desire to pass on what I know and share the enjoyment that comes from a completed project. So, I hearby resolve to develop the resources; lesson plans, skills, etc. to establish a youth woodworking class.

My plan is to document the process here in the hope that when it is complete it will be useful for anyone else who might have a similar interest. Additionally, I plan to steal as much information as I can from the folks here because, well, there’s just so much expertise here. I will gladly take any suggestions, ideas, plans, pointers or anything this group is willing to give.

At this point in time, I have little but an idea. I figure by putting it here I’ve said something publicly and as a result will be held accountable for following through. Wish me luck.