I sent something similar to this out a while back, but apparently it didn't
reach anyone.

My name is Simon O'Connor, I am 25, single, originally of English origin,
though having lived in Spain for 5 years, and out here in L.A. for 3.

I work at a company called Digital Domain who do Visual F/X for movies. I have
been here since the beginning, and we have done a lot of movies, most notably
Apollo 13. (I did all the simulated camera shake shots, as well as some other
stuff..).

I recently finished working on the Luc Beson's new movie, the 'Fifth Element',
where I was one of the computer graphic supervisors.

I live with my girlfirend in a house in Topanga, up in the hills with our two
dogsm Otis, black cocker spaniel, and Milo a Rhodesian ridgeback.

I got into woodworking when we first moved to Topanga over a year ago. We had
no dinning room table, so I went down to local lumber yard and bought a bunch
of construction grade wood. I built a table in an afternoon using a backsaw and
portable hand drill I borrowed, and the table is still in use today...

After my success I then starting reading up on wood working and acquired a
bunch of pxxer tools, not knowing any better.

Several pieces and a few months later, I was cutting a raised panel on the
tabxx saw, when the wood decided to kickback at me. My index finger on my left
hand unfortunately got in the way....

Luckily none of it got lost (except for half the nail), tough the top bone got
smashed into about 12 pieces, and the bone below had the joint smashed. The
result of this is a non-operational top joint on my finger, a rather ugly
looking tip and pain (I am also left handed...)

During my rehab time, and initially to keep my girlfriend happy, I started
reading about hand tools. Suddenly this became an obsession, and naturally when
one gets into using hand tools, they are naturally led done the path to old
tools.

I learnt this the hard way, buying modern tools, and then being disgusted at
how bad most of them were, with a few notable exceptions.

Recently, in my quest for the ultimate hand tools, I attempted to build a
replica Norris infill shoulder plane. This actually worked out much better than
I expected, and I all I need to do to finish it is to heat treat and fit the
blade (I am making the blade from 1/4" thick oil hardening Starrett tool
steel).

Having been in the throws of a move, and also working 100+ hour weeks, I didn't
have much time to do more than look at my tools. However, the movie now being
thankfully over, I have nearly finished my first totally made by hand project.

It is a Paduak humidor, made with dovetailed joints (my first handcut
dovetails!!). It came out better than expected, which is more of a tribute to
the beauty of the wood than to my skill......

Anyway, there you have it...

Simon

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 Simon O'Connor,                   
 Digital Domain,                          
 300 Rose Av,                       
 Venice, CA 90291
 Tel: 310-314 2801 ext3325               Fax: 310-314 2866
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