I call myself a woodworker because I work with wood, but my projects are usually not furniture projects. I have built projects for the home like bookcases, barn doors, benches and mostly utiliitarian items, like shop furniture, but my main interest is building large scale trains. I build scale models of trains at a scale of 1-1/2” to the foot. The principal material used is wood (about 90%) and some plastics and metals are also used. The reason I bring this up is, any woodworking questions I may ask are train related. I don’t think there are many others on this forum who do what I do and train related forums don’t deal with woodworking. I’m sure those on the train forums think I’m a nut; who builds trains from wood; right? I don’t seem to fit in anywhere. There was a guy from Italy who builds full size car bodies from wood; not too many of them around. Where does he fit in? Anyway, I will try to limit my questions to woodworking as practiced by normal woodworkers. Thanks.
It sounds like woodworking to me, so ask away. With the size and scope of our membership, you might even be surprised to find a few people who know something about trains.
I’d say you fit in here fine MrRon. Look at the rest of us. I’m interseted in making Garden Train size buildings. Haven’t made one yet, closest I’ve gotten to it so far is a birdfeeder that looks like one. But I’m making up some stock to use, one day I’ll make one. I’d like to see some of your train pictures.
-- Darrell, making more sawdust than I know what to do with
Sounds to me like you build models from wood correct? Well that would be wood working in my book…
-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!
MrRon There are several LJ’s making unbelievably accurate models of heavy equipment,from dozers to ladder trucks. Everyone here benefits from the input of others skills and ideas presented in projects and questions. Welcome
Seems making your trains is as much woodworking as anything I’ve ever tried to do. You’d be surprised at what LJ members know and / or would be interested in… Don’t limit yourself to “traditional” woodworking topics.
Look forward to seeing your work. Remember, if there’s no pictures, it didn’t happen…
i think that your situation is what makes this site pretty special. Not everyone just makes furniture some make pens, some birdhouses, some cutting boards. I think you would amazed at how much cross over there is between all of these projects. To boot, id assume that 95% of the people here dont do wood working as a profession, so in some ways we are all professionals in different manners. Moral of the story … you fit in just fine!
-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty
you fit very well in between the rest of us lets see some trains :-) there is more than a handfull who makes scaled cars , truck, etc. etc. the only thing you risk is roses and to be more confused one of the things among many others that make this site unique is that there is many different directions of the woodworking trades newstarted amatuers and proffesionell with more than I can count to years of experience all these members mixed in one big pile of knowledge so welcome onbord enjoy and have fun while you share your trains and knowledge with us :-)
Seems like you should fit here fine. There are lots of questions about finishing, types of woods etc. that should be useful in your craft. Put some pictures on, who knows someone else may decide to do this also. BTW, if you ever get the chance to visit Warthers Museum at New Philadelphia ,Ohio it will be well worth your time. He carved trains out of Ebony and used real Ivory(before it was outlawed) for piping.
A lot of my woodworking involves the use of metals or plastics. May not be a train I build, but joinery technics would be the same, only the shapes are different.
-- Carpenter assembles with hands, Designer builds with brains, Artist creates with heart!
First let me welcome you to the best group of (people) woodworkers in the world. And look at me. What’s a Clown doing here. I did and am doing what you said you are doing. Building whatever you want. So welcome to Lumberjocks
welcome MrRon! some may not be interested, but I AM! i want to know about your trains, and see pictures of them, if possible. i have never ridden on a train(except a short fair-type excursion around town), but i am so intrigued by them for some reason. one thing on my to-do list is to take a long trip on a train. so, jump in, and impress us.
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