About The Tool Contests

[Fred West]

Fred, my wife speaks English very well (and constantly), and isn't known for her tolerance. She can also be quite dangerous when provoked.

If I should suddenly disappear from this forum, you'll know something went terribly wrong with my plan. 

John
[/quote]

John, hmmm, woman speaking constantly AND not known for tolerance, why I have never heard of such a woman other than my first two wives.  Fred

 

[joraft]

John, hmmm, woman speaking constantly AND not known for tolerance, why I have never heard of such a woman other than my first two wives.  Fred

Fred, I'm joking about my wife of course (mostly). She has actually been pretty good about letting me indulge in my obsession with tools (and not just woodworking tools). Which is just one of the reasons we've been so happy together for 38 years. 

John

 

[monte]

to MIRKO and UNDERUSED.....

With regards to what you mentioned about pros not taking "progress shots"........I would wholeheartedly and emphatically disagree with you.
I design and fabricate furniture and architectural sculptural objects for a living, on a commission basis. 
I also work with architects and designers whose perception of how some their details within their projects and the reality of actually getting it done the way
they suggested are I would say "Out of sync with the nuts and bolts of getting it done without having a change order down the line"
Usually at that point in the conversation I would pull up out of my IPhoto on my laptop a citing a similar situation using "Process photos" of a past project.
and guess what? Their next words are "I'll get back to you with a redraw". Thank you and end of discussion.

Also, since what I get paid for a project depends upon how I bid a project accurately....... it sure does help when going through a particular operation and how much time
I will allot for that procedure.....Going back in time and seeing photos on how I worked out a particular problem  saves me from "assuming I know better"
in the future. .........and I also avoid repeating a mistake I may have forgotten about.

What does it take to keep up a photo diary? ..........about the same energy it takes to CLICK, CLICK open a Festool systainer and take out a tool.
It becomes just what you do during a job, a design process.......a matter of discipline which becomes routine.

Oh, by the way, SNAP, SNAP and the tool is back in the systainer / or SNAP, SNAP the image is on my hard drive.
Its that easy.

Monte

 

[greg mann]

Monte,

While I see the wisdom of your approach I am not sure it necessarily correlates with what Mirko and Underused are saying in the context of documenting for the contest. Progress shots are very useful in many endeavours and I am sure they do use them. They may not, however, have felt that illustrating a particular Festool usage as a 'progress shot' was important for documenting the job or to bolster a contentious point with an architect or customer.

Since Matt has accepted my offer to be a judge I can comment on the kinds of things I will be looking for and how I think they can be addressed after the fact, so to speak. If, for example, Eiji wants to enhance his contest entry but no longer has the opportunity to use a progress shot he can give a written explanation, possibly with a re-creation of the technique. Unless, of course, he would rather tear out the ceiling to show us the dominoes used in its assembly.

I think the long view of this whole exersize is to create another venue by which we can all learn new approaches and techniques while rewarding those who offer them up.

 

[joraft]

... Unless, of course, he would rather tear out the ceiling to show us the dominoes used in its assembly.

I think a series of photos showing Eiji ripping it all out, and then re-installing it, would make it a sure winner. 

Seriously, it seems to me that complete documentation is likely to be an issue only with previously completed projects. Anyone (professional or hobbyist) who is aware of the contest and starting a new project that has "contest potential" is sure to document accordingly. And I'm hoping this contest idea has a long run.

John

 

[monte]

Greg,

Point taken,

ok, maybe I got a "little sensitive" :  when Undersigned quoted Mirko when he said........
"I think Mirko has a point about pro's not stopping on the way to take pic's and make video's.  I hardly ever make progress shots,"

It just seemed at the time that I read it, he said it as a general statement of fact, which then flowed down to the contest scenario.
.......I just felt I needed to clarify the assumption.  The contest was actually secondary to the assertion about pros not taking photos.

everything else aside, even though I've been using Festools for about two years now I seem to still be taking photos of my Festools in action as much as my pet bulldog in action.
I don't know, call it misplaced puppylove.

 

[greg mann]

Monte,

I undertand your point. In fact, with the contest as a backdrop, there may be added encouragement for the pros to do a little more documentation, which could then lead to other previously unrecognized benefits. At my day job, we take photos quite regularly to archive pertinent info. The expression about "one picture being worth a thousand words" is probably the most used of any I can think of. And, in the digital age it can hardly be easier to put into play. Personally, I am still adjusting to the fact that I have a camera with me virtually every waking moment (cell phone). I can whip it out to document most anything and be back to the task at hand without missing a beat.

There is thread ongoing about 'how do you work'. I would not be suprised if someone posted that they "take pictures of everything"

 

[nickao]

I take pictures of everything.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

I agree that it would be unlikely that us hobbyist woodworkers could win against the likes of the pros who also belong to this group.  Oh well, such is life!  But did you folks know that the Woodwhisperer has a monthly contest sponsored by Festool that gives away a tool each month for answering a simple question about one of their products.  The answers are easily obtained by looking through the Festool product literature or watching one of their videos.  So there is a random giveway each month that rewards persistence.  Just thought I'd share...(LOL)

PS>  Here is the link to his site:  http://thewoodwhisperer.com
Marc Spagnuolo (aka the Woodwhisperer) is highly entertaining and tells it like it is.

I know all about The Wood Whisperer contests.  For a site like The Wood Whisperer, I think a random drawing works better.  It's difficult to do too much with visitor involvement on  a static Web site.  But for an active forum, it's better, in my opinion, to ask members to take initiative.  My hope is that a contest like ours will deepen forum project posts.
Matthew

 

[ampcabguy]

Matt,
        I think this is a great idea. I think that if you have a set group of judges this will work out wonderfully. Regardless of whether someone is a pro or hobbyist everyone has certain skills that they excel in. I build cabinets for amplifiers and I am good in the area of building boxes. But if I were to build furniture it would be a challenge. I like contests that are not just a drawing because if you challenge yourself you just might win. Unlike the wood whisperer's contest that I have entered every month and never won! 

Anyways it sounds like fun and I can't wait to see what people submit!

 

[Frank Pellow]

I take pictures of everything.

I, too, take pictures of everything (well, almost everything  :-[).

 

[Bill Wyko]

Well, I'm in trouble. I'm no pro and I'm terrible about taking pictures too. I never had this kind of incentive though so I'll have my daughter teach me how to take better pictures. ;D

 

[Brice Burrell]

Well, I'm in trouble. I'm no pro and I'm terrible about taking pictures too. I never had this kind of incentive though so I'll have my daughter teach me how to take better pictures. ;D

Bill, have you checked out the photography section on this site?

 

[Bill Wyko]

Thanks, I just noticed that. I have a great camera. My biggest problem is the connection between me and the camera ;D I'll start reading up pronto. Again, thanks.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Everyone,
Just a quick note.  As the judges work on choosing a winner for this month's contest, we are planning themes for future contests.  We have some exciting prizes for upcoming contests!

I just made one addition to the contest rules, which I am sure everyone will understand:
The project cannot be posted in another forum prior to entering the FOG contest.

I have edited the first post in this discussion to include this new rule.

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[Frank Pellow]

I don't understand the new rule Matthew, but you are free to make  whatever rules you wish.

Your last list of projects eligable for this months contest included two of mine.  They should now both be removed from the list.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Everyone,
Just a quick note.  As the judges work on choosing a winner for this month's contest, we are planning themes for future contests.  We have some exciting prizes for upcoming contests!

I just made one addition to the contest rules, which I am sure everyone will understand:
The project cannot be posted in another forum prior to entering the FOG contest.

I have edited the first post in this discussion to include this new rule.

Thanks,
Matthew

How would you know?

 

[Matthew Schenker]

I don't understand the new rule Matthew...

Your last list of projects eligable for this months contest included two of mine.  They should now both be removed from the list.

I do feel that the projects for the FOG contest should be original to this forum.  Don't you think?  Why would yours have to be removed?

How would you know?

Like a lot of things here, it's an honor system.

Matthew

 

[greg mann]

The project cannot be posted in another forum prior to entering the FOG contest.
Thanks,
Matthew

Matthew, with all due respect, I don't think I understand at all. From my perspective, I think it just might be nice if Frank, or someone like him, could go back to a previous thread elsewhere and bump it with a post saying, "I entered a contest over on FOG and won a new Festool XXX with this project."

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Matthew, with all due respect, I don't think I understand at all. From my perspective, I think it just might be nice if Frank, or someone like him, could go back to a previous thread elsewhere and bump it with a post saying, "I entered a contest over on FOG and won a new Festool XXX with this project."

I agree with you.  The thing is, it should originate here.  Then, of course, it would be wonderful to post it elsewhere announcing that it has won the contest here.
Matthew