Are we woodworkers or mechanics?

[Scott B.]

My wife and I watched a 90 minute documentary tonight on PBS about Dick Proenneke, a guy who retired at age ~51 (was a diesel mechanic) and moved to Alaska.  The doc was titled "Alone in the Wilderness", and was based on his 8mm film archives.

We were both in awe as the documentary unfolded.  He scouted a location for a cabin in remote Alaska, and cut down some timber the summer of 1967.  He moved there late spring '68 (Twin Lakes, Alaska) and built his 11 x 14' log cabin with dirt/gravel floor, outhouse, and food cache (tree house).  He did it alone, with only a handful of tools.  He built other tools, stands, etc on location.  The guy was a hand saw cutting machine!!!!  I doubt I could have accomplished what he did at half his age.

But to watch as he cut the notches in the logs, made the windows, and especially the way he constructed the doors with wooden hinges, was totally awesome!  Made his own furniture, in ground fridge, and huge stone (large rock) fireplace.  He then lived there, mostly living off the land, for the next 30 odd years, eventually moving back to California in 1999, at the age of 82.

There are a number of DVDs available including the above title of this man's life, or was it an adventure?  If you get the chance to watch the documentary, do so.  Quite inspiring!

I read the book this year, and watched the DVD series. Best book I have read in a LONG time. Inspired me to get out and get my son's tree house built. Which I intend to finish up over the holiday break.

 

[teocaf]

this thread reminds me of a famous quote:

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
— Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

 

[tiralie]

I just got a Laguna 14-12 bandsaw.  It had a lot of noise and vibration until I replaced the tires with Carter urethane tires. I've spent much more time working on the thing than I have cutting wood with it!  Not fun.

So don't get one or be prepared to modify it?
I want a small good quality band saw that I can put a thin blade on. I thought this might be the answer.
Tim

 

[greg mann]

I learned my problem solving skills from a true Renaissance Man. He was an auto mechanic in his day job but his wife always said describing him that way was. "Like calling Toscanini a band director." He understood electricity and electronics at an elemental level, economic theories, physics, you name it. He always felt that if some human being figured out how to make something (anything) he ought to be smart enough to fix it, and he did just that, over and over. He lived and worked in the middle of the Detroit automotive area and was called upon by engineers at Buick, Pontiac, Chevrolet to solve problems with new product launch issues that were vexing them.

Probably his greatest talent was as a teacher. He could explain complex things in simple to understand terms, which really enhanced one's ability to grasp solid tecniques for problem solving. Really, that is what this thread is about; how to problem solve. That is life's journey, I think, solving one problem after another. Who can predict what arena in which they will fall?

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I guess one bit of good news is that my Festools require darned little maintenance, which gives me time to fiddle with my bandsaw, jointer, unisaw, etc.  If Festool made those, maybe I would have time to do some woodworking... [big grin]

 

[CarolinaNomad]

I guess one bit of good news is that my Festools require darned little maintenance, which gives me time to fiddle with my bandsaw, jointer, unisaw, etc.  If Festool made those, maybe I would have time to do some woodworking... [big grin]

That is too funny.  That's how how feel most of the time.

 

[jonny round boy]

It's dead simple, really.

[attachimg=1]

[big grin]

 

[Davej]

It's dead simple, really.

[attachimg=1]

[big grin]

You missed out the hammer parallel to the wd40  [tongue]

 

[jonny round boy]

You missed out the hammer parallel to the wd40  [tongue]

I thought the hammer was a given, whether something worked or not...

You can't beat a bit of percussive maintenance!

 

[rmwarren]

this thread reminds me of a famous quote:

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
— Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

Lazarus Long, my all time favorite Philosopher!

RMW

 

[Tinker]

When we were first married, my wife asked me to teach her how to change a flat tire along the highway.  I told her to wear a short skirt and for backup, I wrote out a list of service stations that i knew provided road service.
Tinker

 

[WastedP]

I'm going to have to add a skirt to the behind-the seat toolbox in my work truck.

 

[rmwarren]

You missed out the hammer parallel to the wd40  [tongue]

I thought the hammer was a given, whether something worked or not...

You can't beat a bit of percussive maintenance!

Or when all else fails, get a bigger hammer???

RMW

 

[Stephen B]

You missed out the hammer parallel to the wd40  [tongue]

I thought the hammer was a given, whether something worked or not...

You can't beat a bit of percussive maintenance!

[size=14pt]
When my late father used a carpentry/building hammer outside of its proper use, he referred to it as an American Screwdriver!  [smile]

 

[Tinker]

You missed out the hammer parallel to the wd40  [tongue]

I thought the hammer was a given, whether something worked or not...

You can't beat a bit of percussive maintenance!

[size=14pt]
When my late father used a carpentry/building hammer outside of its proper use, he referred to it as an American Screwdriver!  [smile]

[thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up]

 

[jacko9]

I followed a very long and detailed thread on the Felder's users blog where they made a set of 8 (or was it 10) chairs out of magnificent wedge planks with CNC machining.  The woodworking craft showed up when the shop owner layer out the chair parts in chalk and then had his programmer (His daughter as i recall) write the code to cut the timbers.  The thread was very long and very informative and the resulting set of chairs were great!

Jack

 

[leakyroof]

It's dead simple, really.

[attachimg=1]

[big grin]

. Too funny