Woodworker or ....something else?

Hey, I’ve got it! How about “lumberjock”??!!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Charlie “Hit the nail on the head.”

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

How about ‘woodie?” :)

-- Chip -- Manchester, Connecticut "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."

I make lots of stuff, some good, some not so good, hence I call myself a wood hobbyist.

Lee

-- Lee

Woodworker, woodsmith, wood hobbyist .. call me what you want, so long as the check doesn’t bounce

-- Dan M, SW Suburbs, Chicago IL -- http://www.djay-crafts.com

There was (well, still might be) a baker who opened a shop locally, called himself the Breadsmith. I loved that name… then (I guess someone else was using it out of state or ???) because he had to change his name, had a contest and everything, settled on BreadChef. (I still wish he didn’t have to change, cause IMHO he settled for the new one.

I too flip flop about what to call myself, now that I’m no longer doing the 9-5 thing in an office. I’d say I was a cabinet maker or trim carpenter if either was true for the day job. Subcontractor is just too vague for me… sure I do things from soup to nuts, but I guess I spend more time with trim than building walls and such… at least when I’m home I’m a woodworker, not that it pays the bills like the home reno jobs do.

I think Woodsmith is great…. isn’t that also one of our magazines?

... I’m a Lumberjock and I’m okay….

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Why does it matter at all?

If you follow that argument, no one should be called a woodworker. A person who makes clocks would simply be a clockmaker, one who makes tables, a tablemaker, etc.

I think woodworker is a perfect term, especially when most of us don’t do just one thing.

-- Eric at http://adventuresinwoodworking.com

I don’t mind being called a woodworker. I don’t like it when someone says ‘Oh you do crafty things?’ I do much more than crafty things, but don’t like to be pigeon holed like that.

-- Berta in NC

Maybe it’s just me, but I like the title “Woodworker”. I think I’ve finally gotten to a point in my skills where I can have some confidence when I say “I am a woodworker” and not just some guy who makes stuff with wood. I’ve always thought of a woodworker as skilled craftsman, someone who knew and understood their medium and could create a quality product. While I may be just starting my climb up the ladder of craftmanship, I still like to believe that being a full-fledged worker of wood is something to aspire to.

-- Working at Woodworking http://www.VillageLaneFurniture.com

I just hate it when i tell people i build doors and they say “Oh, you’re a carpenter”...GRRRRRRR…I’ve been called worse i suppose.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

Yeah, that’s right! Reminds me of a joke….

Two guys are arguing….
One finally says, “You’re a liar!”
“I’m a what!!?”
“I said, ‘Your’re a liar’ ”!!

“Oh,” the other one says, “I thought you said Lawyer”.

-- http://newmissionworkshop.com

I suppose another nice term would be “Craftsman”, though I’m not sure people will always associate that to wood.

-- http://newmissionworkshop.com

I call myself The Timber Kid :)

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

Sam Maloof calls himself a woodworker…

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

it’s interesting how a word can take on different meanings for different people.
I guess in the end the only thing that matters is what you think of yourself and how you portrait that image to the world

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

I will take carpenter or woodworker as a title, there is no shame in either.

Mart

I have a number of hand skills developed over the years.

So far, I have always been referred to as just “big mouth”. ;-)

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

I don’t care what you call me, as long as you call me to dinner.

-- Thos. Angle

How about “StuffMakeOutOfWoodEr”

That’s how I refer to myself anyway.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

just don’t call me an ambulance driver…..lol

I work the wood sooooo I just that makes me a woodworker. But I like “Lumberjock” better.

-- Adrian ..... The 11th Commandment...."Thou Shalt Not Buy A Wobble Dado"

....and then again, I’ve been called//named many word-names by many folks, but at this moment in time, I see my-self as a….dream-maker!

Oh well, what shall I be tomorrow….;

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank

-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/

This one’s gonna take some thought…

Instead of woodworker would you prefer Joiner? Or Sawyer? Gluer? Realistically, Sawdust-maker is probably the best description of what we do as a hobby.

I know that officially at work I am a Certified Technician. Most people would call me “Mechanic” “Car Mechanic” or “Auto Mechanic.” But when asked, I tell people “Grease Monkey.” In the business, it’s referred to as a “Wrench,” as in “I need to hire two new wrenches. You know anyone looking for a job?”

“Wood wizard”?

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

I agree with RichardB. If you want a more technical term they are out there. Have been for 100’s of years. Not sure any of them are “nicer” than woodworker, but woodsmith would be just fine.

Adrian——Just about died at your comment. I have a very good friend who is an EMT and after she showed my 5 yo son the ambulance, an ambulance drive was all he wanted to be.

-- Jimmy, Oklahoma "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing milkbone underwear!"

I’ve always referred to myself as a piece of wood I work with on occasion …. STUD

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke". http://woodstermangotwood.blogspot.com/ (my funny blog)

“woodworker”...I’ve been called a lot worse things!

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Nice one Odie.
I wonder then if Woodworks is acceptable. I mean my business name is KOL Woodworks, but if I’m not a woodworker then does that business name make sense? Should it be KOL Craftworks? But then that says I do any craft, not woodworking, and could imply I do things like stained glass, blacksmithing, etc. So that won’t work. Maybe KOL Construction? But then that emplies that I do any construction phase, such as framing, drywall, plumbing, electrical, etc. So that won’t work. Maybe Woodworking by KOL? But that implies I do all the work and don’t have employees. So that won’t work. Hhmmmm. I am a woodworker. Wood is my medium, and it is all I intend on working with. Even though I can and have done stained glass and leather carving, I prefer to make furniture or art from wood. One day you can call me a Master Woodworker though ;-)

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

My Grandfathers and Uncles called themselves cabinetmakers, woodworkers, etc. I find no shame at all in calling myself a woodworker, but I’m not a cabinetmaker. Though I suppose after I make myself some cabinets, I can call myself a cabinetmaking woodworker.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Here’s a short little story: At a family reuion several years ago; I overheard an old grumpy uncle asking someone what I was doing since I have “grown up” (age 42 at the time). One of my cousins responed with a pertty good description of my job as a facility manager. Later he asked me what is it you really do? I responded with, “I make sure the toilets are clean”. He was satisfied with that answer. After a big ‘HRMPPPH’, he said it was good to see me.

Right now, I’m a Lumber Jock, and proud of it.

-- Hersh from Port Angeles, WA - Gotta Complete That Project!

I’m a LumberJock and I’m OK!!! I don’t think it really matters, I could be called a toy maker as well as a woodworker. It doesn’t bother me either way. Wood is my passion.

-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI