Who are the masters? I want a list!

You decide. There’s no plaques being given out here, just a list to give people ideas on who to search out for expertise.

-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com

Jim C comes to mind.

-- Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.

OK, I think we have some “masters” here in lumberjocks. I start with a couple – GaryK, Trifern, and Andy.

-- Alan, Prince George

For me, its the Greene brothers, and then everybody else.

Nakashima
Krenov
Maloof
Stickley

There are so many more, several LJs come to mind as well. Some amazing woodworkers here.

I’m cutting dovetails with a giant straight 5/8” router bit this morning- and no jig. Does that make me a master or a moron? :)

-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com

I think you know the answer Stumpy!

I think the term master woodworker has different meanings to different people. Making a list of my own I would call the craftsman on it individuals who do or have done outstanding work. I think having such a list is helpful.

Here are some other interpretations of “Master woodworker” from wiki answers

The term “master craftsman” comes from the old guild system. In it, someone entering the trade would apprentice to, usually, a master craftsman for a number of years. (In today’s environment the apprenticeship is often done at a community college, where the instructors serve as the masters.) After passing your apprenticeship you become a journeyman and can work in the trade. After a period of years you can take a master’s examination and become a master craftsman. The test normally involves making something you’ve never made before; the item you made was called the “masterpiece.” (And now you know why it’s called that.) This is how it’s still done in Europe, but in America where we never had a guild system a master is basically whatever the master says it is.

The word master refers to the expert, the one who is expert in the field is called as master. The master woodworker is called when he does his work with lot of creativity and combines the woodworking business ideas in the work. Normally he delivers the products with the lot of creativity and the dedication, it is seen in the products that he sells

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

Tage Frid.

-- http://barbsid.blogspot.com/

To me (and for the sake of our list) “master woodworker” is a person to whom you would pay a significant amount of money to train under. Then you would consider it a resume’ enhancement to say you did.

Take the afore mentioned Curtis Buchanan. He’s a master chair maker. I have heard chairmakers say “I took a class from so-and-so, who trained under Curtis Buchanan…” Sam Maloof started out hiring a couple of shop boys. Before long he had a waiting list of people who wanted to pay HIM for the privilege of working for him.

If I had a list of “masters” like that, I can tell you I would search out every bit of information I could- try to learn from those who I may never get to meet in person.

Only on Lumber Jocks could you ask for a list of “masters” and get more debate over the definition of the word “master” than over who should be included on that list! :)

-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com

Frank Strazza-http://www.homesteadheritage-woodworking.com/craftsmen.html

Dan Mosheim-http://dorsetcustomfurniture.blogspot.com/

Martyn Brewer (aka Britboxmaker)-http://lumberjocks.com/BritBoxmaker

-- Beth, Oklahoma, Rambling Road Designs

I will nominate goldenhands here on lumberjocks. we have pm’ed much in the past, and his work speaks for itself. He is a master at what he does.
Dilo Marcio Fernandino , and MARCO AURELIO R. GUIMARÃES would also fir the category of master here on lumberjocks.

I would be honored to train with any of them

-- Junior -Quality is never an accident-it is the reward for the effort involved.

Just go to the college of the redwoods site, you got a ready made list there.. :)

-- Just because you’ve always done it that way doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly stupid.

Leave it to JG to come on here and spoil our fun….

-- It's the best woodworking show since the invention of wood... New episodes Wednesdays at: http://www.stumpynubs.com

How about a link Jorge

I’d like to see who I missed on my list

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

The two that I would list as masters that I would like to train under are Roy Underhill and Norm Abrahm. I
have their books and have watched their shows, and they have helped me along my slow journey. There
are also many here on LJ that have helped me and others learn and quietly shown us an easier or better way
to do work, or have just proven that the work can be done and challenge us to also do it. Thank all of you
for your help and Stumpy for being unable to just let us set around and making us do something.

-- As ever, Gus-the 74 yr young apprentice carpenter