I Am a 73 and retired, and I've been woodworking for about 17 years. I've lived in Norway since 1971 with a 5 year interlude back in the States.
The first tool I bought was a wood lathe. My inspiration to try turning was a walnut bowl turned by my older brother in school wood shop way back when. The turning hobby led me to purchase a bandsaw which got me interested in general woodworking. I really enjoyed turning, but I started reading FWW magazine and became interested in large rectangular things. I don't regret this, because I learned a lot about woodworking in general. However, I am sorry that I didn't stick with the small stuff where I feel more inspired and creative and I also find that kind of work fits better into to my smallish 220 sq. ft. workshop.
I now have a fully equipped shop of tools acquired over the years which you can see in my workshop page.
If I were young and just starting out in woodworking, I think I would just buy good quality hand tools and stick with small projects before getting machines. There's a lot of joy to be found in that, not to mention the learning experience with both the tools and the nature of wood, which is easier to learn using only hand tools. It is also more economical for a young person starting out. The last but not least important part of my woodworking hobby is that my wife has always been very supportive and never discouraged me from using time or money on it, although I do try to not abuse this goodwill.
I am very glad to be able have a dialog with other woodworkers through this website.The LJs are a great bunch of guys and gals and after a short time I am already addicted to this site. What I like best is that it isn't about being best, but about sharing and enjoying each others work and words.
-- Mike, American in Norway
42 comments so far
Max
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55744 posts in 2469 days
#1 posted 1530 days ago
Glad to see that you have made Lumberjocks a part of your Woodworking experience… Welcome
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
Scott Bryan
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27253 posts in 2018 days
#2 posted 1530 days ago
Hello Stefang,
Let me welcome to LJs. I am sure that you will find being a member of this group to be both a rewarding and an inspirational part of your woodworking adventure.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
cabinetmaster
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10874 posts in 1755 days
#3 posted 1530 days ago
Welcome to LJ’s. We are here to help you with your woodworking endeavors. Feel free to ask for advise. But Be aware…this site can be very addictive…………..LOL
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps
Karson
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34396 posts in 2597 days
#4 posted 1530 days ago
Welcome to LumberJocks. Glad to have you aboard. †
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Todd Thomas
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4969 posts in 1645 days
#5 posted 1530 days ago
Welcome to LumberJocks….It will be a great resource for you and your projects. There are a bunch of great people here willing to help……have fun….Looking forward to your projects and posts….. WARNING: Visiting LumberJocks has proven to be addictive.
-- Todd, Oak Ridge, TN, Hello my name is Todd and I'm a Toolholic, I bought my last tool 10 days, no 4 days, oh heck I bought a tool on the way here! †
gjd
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18320 posts in 1848 days
#6 posted 1530 days ago
Welcome to Lumber Jocks! This is a great place to get – or give – advice about woodworking on the forums and the project posts are a wonderful source of new ideas. I love this site, I hope you will enjoy it too.
Look forward to seeing your projects and posts.
-- gjd Southcentral Wisconsin
stefang
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9725 posts in 1531 days
#7 posted 1530 days ago
thanks you all for the warm welcome and the warning (which is already too late). I won’t be posting anything for awhile as I had to redo my (entire) workshop to accommodate a new sliding miter saw and I’m not quite done yet. I’m just an old guy trying to make up for the lost years when I had to work for a living and didn’t have much time for hobbies. I’m an American expat living in Norway for over 30 years. My shop is pretty small (about 220 sq ft.) considering all the tools crammed into it. Most of my equipment isn’t prof caliber, but when I see some of the work done with just hand tools I really can’t complain. I don’t sell anything so I don’t feel any pressure to be particularly productive. it’s the experimentation and learning curve that motivates me. You could say I’ve gone wide but not deep, which is probably not a good recipe for anyone wanting to master something. I plan to post a picture of my workshop to start with and also plans for shop-made toggle clamps I designed and which are made from scrap plywood and are about the same size, (or as large as you want ) as the ones commercially available. Using a template and your bandsaw or scrollsaw these take about 15min. each to cut out and assemble and they work at least as good as the ones you buy. A lot of the projects on this site are really amazing and I’m looking forward to finding myself in the company of some really knowledgeable and talented people.
-- Mike, American in Norway
HallTree
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5661 posts in 1964 days
#8 posted 1529 days ago
Welcome. You have found the right place for woodworking. A great group of people willing to help. Looking forward to see your projects (that come from that new sliding miter saw) and comments. You will find a lot of ‘old guy’s’ here. Work safe in the shop and don’t forget to use pushsticks.
-- "Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life" Solomon
Grumpy
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17943 posts in 2047 days
#9 posted 1529 days ago
Welcome to Lumberjocks Stefan. This is a great community of people with like interests.There is much to learn here & you will have the opportunity to share your skills & ideas with others. I hope you enjoy LJ’s as much as I do.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
woodworm
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14105 posts in 1787 days
#10 posted 1529 days ago
Welcome to Lumberjocks!
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
Todd A. Clippinger
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8656 posts in 2296 days
#11 posted 1528 days ago
Welcome to LumberJocks – The best woodworking community anywhere!
I look forward to seeing your posts and projects.
Share the Love ~ Share the Knowledge
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com
ND2ELK
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13495 posts in 1970 days
#12 posted 1524 days ago
Welcome to Lumberjocks. The projects are an inspiration, the information is priceless and the people are supportive. The only problem is, the site can get addictive.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
spanky46
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969 posts in 1587 days
#13 posted 1518 days ago
Welcome to Lumberjocks! Lots of friends with lots of talent!
I look forward to your projects and posts.
-- spanky46 -- Never enough clamps...Never enough tools...Never enough time.
degoose
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6618 posts in 1551 days
#14 posted 1500 days ago
Nice to have you here!
-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ lazylarrywoodworks.com.au For lovers of all things timber...
Tuanie
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66 posts in 1398 days
#15 posted 1350 days ago
Hi Stefan, The tubes and the red plastic webs are all part of a jig. The tubes hold all the red pieces in specified distances in an upright position, and each wooden frame of the wings is held in the required vertical and horizontal plane, till the main braces are passed through the frames, glued and cured to form a full wing.
Hope I explained it right.
Best Regards,
Tuanie.
-- tuanie
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