Woodworking - Seasonal? Work? Fun?

[peter halle]

I have always been under the impression that the interest in woodworking is higher in the cool / colder months for hobbyists.  As someone who generates a large percentage of his income in the renovation / repair aspect of the genre, I don't tend to do much woodworking for fun.

So my questions are:

1.  For those of you who do it for fun, do the seasons have an influence?  If so, why?  If you lived in a constant climate location, would it be different?

2.  For those who do it for a living, do you also do woodworking as a hobby?  If so, are the times that you do so tied to seasons?  Do you do similar work as a hobby or different?

No right or wrong answers here - this is meant to be fun.

Run with it.

Peter

 

[tvgordon]

Peter,
Woodworking is a hobby for me and it seems like I spend more time in the shop in the colder months. I would say it would be because there are fewer thing to do during the winter. For instance, yard work (unless snow needs shoveled) and more recreational outdoor activities. Also, winter is when I make a mad rush to finish all the Christmas gifts in time.  [big grin]

Tom

 

[rmwarren]

Hobbiest here. I work in the shop mostly for fun but also because nobody else can to it right my way, and I have a need to do everything myself. I work in wood, have some machinist tools, welding gear and dabble in electronics.

My prolific times are less tied to weather-seasons and more tied to seasons of my soul. There are times when my head is clear and things just seem to work right and I am very productive and focused in the shop, I will spend day after day in it. Other times my spirit is dark, my head is noisy and I cannot seem to do ANYTHING right and I leave the shop and don't return for weeks.

Sometimes I start on something, get sidetracked, decide I need to make the jig to hold the thing I need to cut to make the part I need for the jig to make the thing and pretty soon I just light a cigar, open a beer and stare at the confusion.

Then there are times I don't even try to do any work, I just turn on some music and fondle some of my favorite tools.

Sadly, I think my wife is starting to catch on to all this...

 

[Eli]

I have the good fortune to have a small shop on the way to the house from the street, so I'm there at least once a day coming or going. My main work in my past life was in the film biz, there's usually only one big job or less a year here.
During the summer I rig music festivals, and typically have 2-4 building jobs over the winter. So seasonal/hobby for me I guess.

 

[WoodChuckWoods]

I do it for fun right now and pretty much only in the winter. I work construction all summer and don't get many days off to wood work, but hopefully my wife will be able to support me soon and I can do it as a full time hobby!

 

[jonny round boy]

My prolific times are less tied to weather-seasons and more tied to seasons of my soul. There are times when my head is clear and things just seem to work right and I am very productive and focused in the shop, I will spend day after day in it. Other times my spirit is dark, my head is noisy and I cannot seem to do ANYTHING right and I leave the shop and don't return for weeks.

Very elequently put! Sums me up too - that's part of the reason why I gave up woodworking for a living. Some days I struggled to motivate myself, and other days everything just seemed to go wrong. Successful, productive days were occasional, probably 50% of the time. The other reason I gave it up was because my body was letting me down. I had severe problems with my feet and couldn't stand for 8-10 hours a day.

Now my time in the workshop is more hobby/DIY related. TBH in recent months, I've spent more time in the workshop making things for the workshop than I have making things for the house!

At the moment though, I am working on some commissioned furniture prototypes, so I do still occasionally do a bit of paid work too.

Then there are times I don't even try to do any work, I just turn on some music and fondle some of my favorite tools.

Sadly, I think my wife is starting to catch on to all this...

Again, that's me too. I have a TV in my workshop, and sometimes I go down there just for time to myself. Then if I hear someone coming, I'll quickly grab a broom & pretend I'm tidying up!

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Interesting thread.  When I lived on the east coast, I asked a hobby-oriented tool/lumber store owner if his business was seasonal.  He said as soon as the golf courses opened, his business went down by a third.

I do woodwork strictly for fun.  I take on commissions some times, but turn down anything that doesn't look like fun.  Ah retirement is wonderful. [big grin]

Since fun is always a good thing, I'm in the shop pretty close to 365 days a year.  I do have to work around the weather.  Our springs are extremely windy and dusty, so no spraying lacquer outdoors for a few weeks.  Ditto breaking down sheet goods outside - as heavy as they are, sheets of ply make excellent kites in 60 mph gusts.  But there's always some bench work to do or some machine to tend to.

I also use the spring to clean up the shop - I hate to throw away scraps so that only happens on a significant scale once a year.  Also, unused tools go on craigslist in the spring. 

I'm looking forward to the winds calming down.  Next project is a maloof style chair and I hope to learn how to shape wood with the RAS 115.  Early experiments showed that while dust extraction is pretty good, its still an outdoor chore.

 

[Mavrik]

Fun.
My workshop is a converted garage with metal roof.
Bit too hot in the summer & a bit too cold in the winter.
Do most of my hobby stuff in spring and autumn.
Like now.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

I do woodworking professionally all types of things. Wardrobes, pantries, boxes, , coffee table, pretty much anything that someone wants or that I might be able to sell on consignment.  I also build for myself but generally things such as desks, shelving, as opposed to artsy items.

The fun factor depends on how the job is going. But I get great pleasure from using tools that perform.

Seasons matter at the moment because I have an unheated, uncooled shop. I work through the winter as much possible, but when it get below 32 F it gets tough.  I need to find a way to get a better shop so that I can push business along more.

Seth

 

[Mac]

Interesting thread.  When I lived on the east coast, I asked a hobby-oriented tool/lumber store owner if his business was seasonal.  He said as soon as the golf courses opened, his business went down by a third.

I do woodwork strictly for fun.  I take on commissions some times, but turn down anything that doesn't look like fun.  Ah retirement is wonderful. [big grin]

Since fun is always a good thing, I'm in the shop pretty close to 365 days a year.  I do have to work around the weather.  Our springs are extremely windy and dusty, so no spraying lacquer outdoors for a few weeks.  Ditto breaking down sheet goods outside - as heavy as they are, sheets of ply make excellent kites in 60 mph gusts.  But there's always some bench work to do or some machine to tend to.

I also use the spring to clean up the shop - I hate to throw away scraps so that only happens on a significant scale once a year.  Also, unused tools go on craigslist in the spring.  

I'm looking forward to the winds calming down.  Next project is a maloof style chair and I hope to learn how to shape wood with the RAS 115.  Early experiments showed that while dust extraction is pretty good, its still an outdoor chore.

I'd LOVE to see WIP pics of this, Jess...please please pleeeeeeasseeeeee?   [smile]  I'm thinking of trying one myself soon.

For me, purely hobby and I'm in the shop whenever I can slip away from the kids or any evening when I don't have real work to do...doesn't matter the season, although winters are less enticing as the shop is largely unheated so gets pretty chilly. Like RMW so splendidly put, the seasons of the soul determine this calling, and when I don't have anything specific to make, I'll potter around in there with a beer, clean a few tools or machines, sweep up, or sit on a stool and just feel at ease, imagining I'm Henry David Thoreau in simpler times.

Cheers,
Rick

 

[Jesse Cloud]

......

I'm looking forward to the winds calming down.  Next project is a maloof style chair and I hope to learn how to shape wood with the RAS 115.  Early experiments showed that while dust extraction is pretty good, its still an outdoor chore.

I'd LOVE to see WIP pics of this, Jess...please please pleeeeeeasseeeeee?   [smile]  I'm thinking of trying one myself soon.

For me, purely hobby and I'm in the shop whenever I can slip away from the kids or any evening when I don't have real work to do...doesn't matter the season, although winters are less enticing as the shop is largely unheated so gets pretty chilly. Like RMW so splendidly put, the seasons of the soul determine this calling, and when I don't have anything specific to make, I'll potter around in there with a beer, clean a few tools or machines, sweep up, or sit on a stool and just feel at ease, imagining I'm Henry David Thoreau in simpler times.

Cheers,
Rick

Hey Rick,
I'll post some WIP pics, but be gentle with me as this is the first "sculptural" work I've attempted.  In the meantime, here's a good thread on building a Maloof chair from the talkfestool forum.
Otami's Maloof

Here's a link to a YouTube that inspired me, many other youtubes to explore on the subject.
youtube on maloof chair

And finally, a confession... I don't usually buy plans, but for this somewhat intimidating project I bought David Brock's kit containing a video, a short book, and full scale templates.  The cool thing is that he uses Festool!  Here's a link to that:
Brock kit

BTW, I don't know if DVD's still have regional formats (dating myself here), but in the days we used to have different video formats for North America and for the "civilised world".

 

[dltflt]

I am a hobbiest that works through the winter only.  The summers are to hot to get out in the garage.

 

[peter halle]

I am a hobbiest that works through the winter only.  The summers are to hot to get out in the garage.

Don, Paul, and the other Arizona members - I understand!  I was born and raised in Tucson.  I was in Phoenix the day that they closed the airport because they didn't have the calculations done for a Boeing 737 to take off at 124 F.  Although I moved away almost 40 years ago - I still love and miss it.

Peter

 

[allen r austin]

ok; this is simple.
if you use a tool its work
if you use a rod its a hobby
note; sex and driving- only amateurs think its fun
Allen

 

[HowardH]

Generally winters aren't too bad in N. texas but summers are god awful.  No way to work in an unairconditioned garage. June through September forget it.  [crying]

 

[kfitzsimons]

I'm a hobbyist and I can only work spring through fall. My workshop is in my garage and I have only a 220 volt electric heater which doesn't do much to heat the garage. I'm working on a workbench that I can take into the basement in the winter. Then I'll be able to work on my hand tool skills.

 

[GPowers]

Here in Southern Calif I work more in the shop, in the cooler month as there is too much going on in the warmer months. Sports, yard work and other activities.

 

[dltflt]

I am a hobbiest that works through the winter only.  The summers are to hot to get out in the garage.

Don, Paul, and the other Arizona members - I understand!  I was born and raised in Tucson.  I was in Phoenix the day that they closed the airport because they didn't have the calculations done for a Boeing 737 to take off at 124 F.  Although I moved away almost 40 years ago - I still love and miss it.

Peter

I think I would move if I could find a place that did not have winter and that had a milder summer.  There probably is no such place that is affordable to live.

 

[Guy Ashley]

It is my work now and was previously but the firm went bust due to another previous recession so I had time out in public service.

Now it is my own business, in a recession again, (the circle of life) work longer hours for less money, have concerns about what the future holds, sometimes have to rob Peter to pay Paul, and have to juggle clients, but hey, if you love what you do you never work another day in your life! [smile] [smile]

We grumble about the taxman, clients and other issues but there are a lot of people in this world that HATE their jobs and would willingly swap with us for all the hassle a small business man or woman has.

[attachthumb=#]

This is my workshop, a 300 year old stable on an outlying farm yard, about 5 miles from town and next to Salcey Forest. In the summer it is a glorious rural setting and the stable having 24" thick stone walls is cool enough to be comfortable to work in.

In the winter it can be a bit difficult to get to, I live 3 miles away, but with a wood burning stove, it quickly gets warm and the walls absorb the heat and so even when its way below freezing outside it doesn't take long to get up to T shirt warm.

Here in the UK we don't have the extremes of temperature, or from recent evidence the violent weather, so it is unusual we cannot work due to the weather.

Having said that if any of you guys have a drought give me a call. I can guarantee without fail that if I am working outside as soon as I plug a power tool in the heavens open and it is torrential! [eek] [eek]

 

[Jesse Cloud]

...
Having said that if any of you guys have a drought give me a call. I can guarantee without fail that if I am working outside as soon as I plug a power tool in the heavens open and it is torrential! [eek] [eek]

Guy,
Come to New Mexico and I'll make you a rich man! [big grin]

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