Hi guys and gals:

I have posted some on this forum after reading much if not all.  This is who I am.

I started in construction in 1983 picking up on construction sites and went up the ladder into the construction world up to the point of being a project manager for a major retailer who is now defunct.

In 1995 I went into the occupation of managing community and homeowners assocaitions.  In 2000 I left to serve as general manager for a small company.  In 2001, due to an injury - not caused by a tablesaw - I started my own company that specialized in exterior renovation of homes.  I have had to shift with various tides because of demands and economics, but as I write this I am expanding my horizons and am backlogged 3 months.

Additionally, in 2002, in response to  to requests from former clients, I formed a company that manages communuity and homeowners associations.  It has been profitable from day one.  Do I have a villa in Italy - heck no.

My reason for being here is that I have invested my funds from 1983 on towards the best tools that could benefit me.  My collection of the Festools is growing - Bob Marino:  more orders to come - based on  my needs.

Per wrote about the life of a professional finish carpenter in another forum and nailed it on the head.  As a professional you get involved hoping to make the money but instead you get hooked on the art of it.  Maybe those weren't his exact words, but I believe  those were his feelings.  I dream about it at night.  I give myself the pep talk in the mirror in the morning.

I have read a million articles and regularly reread them.  I may have 25 years under my belt but I haven't experienced all.  I frankly have Festools that I bought based on anticipated needs but haven't used them yet.   I hope that you as forum members will accept my offers for advice on those things that I can hlep with and on the reverse will accept my pleas for help.

Thank you for having me.

Peter

Welcome in, Peter. I would say you should make a good fit around here, based on a couple of your posts that I can recall. I can relate to your being hooked on the craft. I once made a similar observation to a friend in the same business as I, machining. Both of us sometimes got taken in by the challenges and took work too cheap because our customers cried poverty. After 40 years of it, I no longer feel like I need to prove myself. Glad to know there are others who get to that point as well.