Do we play?

[Brent Taylor]

I know I will get a ton of flack for asking, but what word should I have used in place of "play" in a earlier post. One plays golf, poker or polo, right? Well then what do you say when it comes to woodworking? I have been working with wood (& other things relayed to said materials) for 40 years, almost 35 of those as a Pro, I have built schools, home & casket, with almost every material under the sun. I have had crews, shops & was even a Building Inspector. So I have had some time in this stuff. That said, when I see garages fill with every thing Festool sells & the person does this for a hobby, is play(or collector) the incorrect word?  Do not take this the wrong way, if I had the space & funds, I would maybe do the same thing. Here the thing I have done & still do a lot of work and I still see no need to have the whole catalog under my roof, I work with wood, metal & a lot of other things, I rebuild cars, boats & crazy crap that should be tossed. I play with this stuff, it's how I make my living, it's how I unwind & it's how I forget all the other stresses. I play, so someone tell me what is the right word to use? Thanks Forward. [smile]

 

[semenza]

    Well, we can't use the word 'play' millions of hobbyists will be in serious trouble from their significant others if those same SOs think they are only 'playing'.  [big grin]

Seth

 

[NHSP759]

Oh...I use the word "play". I'm not a pro and I have a job that is dangerous enough. When I'm home I "play" in my little shop with my pro tools! AND.....my Wife bought me a Domino to "play" with!!

 

[Birdhunter]

Google's definition of "play", in part, is:  engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.

This definition certainly fits my non-employment activities.

I do have far more tools, guns, watches, cars, etc than I truly need. Except for a couple of watches whose value has risen to the point I'm scared to wear them, I use and enjoy my toys.

 

[Staniam]

I definitely use the word "play" with my girlfriend when it comes to working with wood or building things. That being said, she knows that while yes, tools can be expensive (especially Festool) they are also an investment whether you use them to make your regular salary or as home project tools. I use my tools to build her furniture, build my friends and family furniture and also to do handyman jobs on the side for friends and family. I enjoy what I do on the side and while I make money woodworking, its definitely a hobby I enjoy as my primary "extracurricular" activity.

I definitely get what you're saying though, and where you're coming from.

 

[Gary in Texas]

For me at times I find it relaxing to get out and make something, take the mind off of the other stuff that fills my day.  Even for a hobbiest, I'm not sure "play" would be the best terminology.  I think many hobbiest take up woodworking as a means of building furniture or shelves for home or friends, rather than buying cheaply made furniture.  My hobby turned into a means of making additional $$$ building unique boxes and other furniture, so while I wouldn't consider myself a pro it's far from "playing".....

On a related note, once you go down the road of turning that hobby into a money making business, it does or can take the "fun" out of woodworking.  While a hobby, you can come and go as you please, build what you want when you want, but once commissioned by a customer to build something, you then have deadlines and commitments to adhere to, and that situation in most aspects doesn't differ from the pro or any other type business.

 

[Birdhunter]

I totally agree about commission work taking the fun out of woodworking. When I make something for my home, my wife and are the only ones to either like or dislike the work.

If it is a commission piece, having to please the customer adds pressure to the activity.

If I place a piece in a gallery, there isn't any pressure. Either someone buys it or the gallery returns it.

My career had more pressure than most people could bear. Being retired, I really don't want the pressure.

 

[wow]

For me, being in the shop is therapy. I derive pleasure from seeing, having, and using my tools. I work with my tools, but sometimes I play at a project.

I prefer to call what I do an avocation rather than a hobby. Even though the words can mean the same thing, it sounds more important!

[big grin]

 

[Carl Prentiss]

I've seen some amazing work (some posted right in this forum) that will never be sold. To call these endeavors "play" seems just wrong, but in answer to the question, although I have made some nice pieces, mostly I play.  [big grin]

 

[KGB pilot125]

I make things, sometimes I give them away on craigslist sometimes to family and friends and sometimes I even keep them.  I look at it like I did when I had a couple of welders, benders, and bandsaws.  Its just fun to make things, I am not good enough to do it for a living and not sure I would want to because then it would be a job and not nearly as fun.  In my line of work i deal with people, cars, techs and corporate all day so to come home and be able to build something with my own 2 hands is real pleasure.  Also always looking to be better at something is a great driving force.

 

[Brent Taylor]

To add some personal insight to the question, I have been very lucky in that I have found a way to earn a living & enjoy what I do. There are time when it's tough or boring,but those times are few. Most of the time I'm lucky & find stimulating project that test my abilities. And besides that I'm my own boss & if I need time off because of my health or family needs, I can take it(it does not happen to often, but it does happen, sucks getting old.). I have great quality control & get to be the mixed medium artist I set out to become, just on a larger scale sometimes. For me a bad day in the shop beats a great day in the office. [big grin]

 

[Gary in Texas]

I will chime in once more.  As previously mentioned, woodworking is both a therapy and a way to make extra money, the latter to fuel my funds to buy even more WW tools.

However, sometimes you are forced to go to the shop and make something.  Like today, my wife came out to the shop/garage, and told me "you HAVE TO MAKE something".  She has expectations that seemingly expand in a like ratio to the expansion of my tools and equipment.... [eek].  Last night, she showed me something she wanted me to build, with an inlay, prompting the question "you know honey, I could make this very easily IF you will consent to me buying that CNC machine I like.  It only costs about $12K, which I think is reasonable for cost of doing an inlay.....".  I got "the look". 

So, five weeks removed from knee replacement surgery, I've been instructed to get off my rear end and be productive.  I guess I will go make some saw dust and shavings now.......

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

It's always fun until you are forced to make something for money.

 

[JBBenson]

This is a question that comes up all the time for me. I design film sets for commercials, having started in the early 1990’s when I lived in Hamburg, Germany and am now working in Los Angeles.

I am lucky enough to have found a career doing sort of what I would do anyway, creating spaces and environments, so getting paid for it makes it much more fun. I am mystified by those who think having clients pay them makes it not fun. Weird.

I started doing the work myself, for the most part, but now hire those I need: carpenters, scenic artists, set decorators, metal workers, special effects people, etc. etc.

I am more of a dilettante, and I really admire (and am dependent on) really skilled craftspeople, and Hollywood has really, really good people here, who know their stuff. I enjoy talking with them, solving problems, and working together with them. I am their client, and I in turn have clients of my own to answer to.

In German, the highest compliment you can give someone, no matter what kind of job they have, is to say “Er ist ein guter Handwerker”. It is something we do not generally value here in the States. It’s too bad.

I spend so much time in front of a computer, that I do like to do my own building projects. A recent one prompted me to spend a bunch of money on new Festool gear. I first saw Festool in action in Germany, when my Bauleiter (sort of like a construction foreman) brought his gear (then branded “Festo”) to the studio. I always admired the systematic way they were designed, the dust collection, and also the neat way they packed up in stacking boxes.

I am an “order” freak, and if I were to design a set of tools, I would make something like what Festool does. Luckily, I don’t have to do it, I just have to buy it….

So, yeah, I play, and most of the time, I get paid to do it. Unless I am playing polo, which I also do. Don't get paid for that.