The enforcers of woodworking justice are on the loose. They don’t want us encouraging folks to take up the hobby, and they don’t think anything you’ve ever built should be considered “fine woodworking.” Watch out!
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I couldn’t agree more…with you, not the guy who sent that letter to the editor. I read that same comment a week or two ago and my first thought was, “Hey, this is woodworking not golf 100 years ago. You don’t have to be an English gentleman to make a little sawdust. The more the merrier.”
When he mentioned not appreciating the fundamentals and things, I also thought he was way off base there two. I’m teaching my 7 year old to do a little woodworking so he’ll catch the bug. Am I going to start him off with half-blind dovetails? Hell no. He’s learning glue, nails and butt joints. As his capacity and understanding improve then we’ll add other techniques. If I told him he had to make a perfect dovetail he’d quickly get frustrated and lose interest. I think its the same for most adults too. Start with something easy and as the beginner gets more confident there will be more desire to learn all this other things that guy is so worried about.
He needs to chill out.
Good job and I’m in full agreement.
I too do not understand the need for people to create such a sense of elitism and exclusivity to woodworking…like they have been endowed with some mystical power that the masses can never posses or understand.
Woodworking is not a gift handed down from above to a precious few. It is a learned process. Nothing more. I do believe some people are gifted to perform feats that I will never be capable, but hand-cutting dovetails is not one of them. I will never run a 100m dash in 10 seconds no matter how hard I try, but I, like anyone else, can learn how to make a tight angled tenon with practice.
Similarly, woodworking is a hobby (leaving the professionals aside), and not a competition. There is no world series, there are no gold medals, and we are not here to beat our chests and claim to be king of the woodworking hill. As hobbyist, we should be doing nothing but encouraging and facilitating others to join in. Who amongst us can forget our first project and the joy and sense of accomplishment it gave us? Now, who amongst us turned out a masterful, heirloom-quality piece for our first project? Certainly not me…even now I rarely do! Nonetheless, my joy and accomplishment was there even if the craftsmanship or technique was not exquisite. And is that not what the hobby is all about?
I think anyone can do woodworking, just as anyone can operate a computer, how well and much you learn depends on the person, but there has to be a starting point for learning and the “You Can Do It” column provides that.
I have about 15 years of back issues of different woodworking magazines and there has always been one article or another in this beginners range, and a magazine that doesn’t provide that is doing a disservice to the beginning or future woodworker.
When I started my career as a carpenter the first project I was required to build was a Tool box, made with a hand saw and hammer and nails, then a set of saw horses, same tools. I think its called crawling before you walk. It helps to set the foundation of learning just like the “You Can Do It” helps to provide
I have been a carpenter and a cabinetmaker for a long time most times I don’t do Fine Woodworking, I do good woodworking, I have to do work within the limitations of my profession like most others, more than not I do what I call grunt work. what I’m told, when I’m told, how I’m told with very little room for to add much of my own ideas, I have seen house that the trim work that I would call fine woodworking, same with kitchen cabinets, I think that any woodworker who buts his pride, skill, love of the craft into anything he builds out wood is fine woodworking. I guess giving that thought I do, do fine woodworking along with most of the woodworkers I meet.
Joey
http://sleepydogwoodworking.blogspot.com/