Steve,
I respect your opinion.
But somehow, I think I got some words messed up. I think it's perfectly possible to put your soul into the work, even if it's made using materials that are suboptimal in your own book.
It may even be a challenge, to make something worth owning using substandard stuff.
Please don't get me wrong: I like a nice piece of solid hardwood as much as the next guy. But what you refer to as dignity, I call pride. Nothing wrong with that, but I think you should put pride in your work, even if the result can't be what you would like due to the materials used.
One could even argue that refusing to do such work for reason of the less than stellar results would be considered a case of arrogance.
I've seen Per's work in a couple of pictures he has shown. I's way beyond me, and I bow to his craftsmanship. I think that anyone with these skills doesn't really need the reassurance of others. He knows he's a good craftsman, and can put pride in that. Agreeing to do this kind of quality work for people who couldn't afford it if it was done in the traditional way with high-cost materials would be a sign of TRUE dignity in my book.
I don't think you cheapen the trade when you cheapen the materials, at least not by definition. I think you'll have to look beyond that. If anyone who's means are limited still feels the need to bring in quality craftsmen, even in times where money's short I would consider that a BIG compliment to the trade.
Then again, that's just me.
Regards,
Job
) the carpenters signed and dated the trusses. We have friends who discovered the plasterers signatures when they were renovating their old house. Those signatures are now framed and exposed behind plexiglass in their living room.
