Gathered Galoots,

I suppose it’s about time for me to update my Bio, too. Since I joined
the list, I think it was in ’98, I have enjoyed the opportunity to sit,
listen and learn on the Porch. I’ve acquired more tools than I will ever
get around to using and I’ve been lucky to be able to spend lots of time
out in the shop, I’ve probably averaged about 15 to 20 hours a week over
that period. I am also amassing a good library of furniture, woodworking
and tool related books. I can’t seem to get enough of these.

Somehow, I have acquired Woodworkers Attention Deficit Disorder (WADD).
I make a few furniture projects, then make a tool or two, then carve
several spoons, etc. My latest interest is Windsor chairmaking. I have
taken a course in chairmaking at Tillers in Kalamazoo and done
considerable reading on the subject. At the moment, I am just finishing
my first two chairs, a bowback made in the class and a comb back
highchair from plans of the chair that David Sawyer and Peter Galbert
demonstrated at last year’s Working Wood in the 18th Century conference
at Colonial Williamsburg. My taste in furniture still runs towards
simple lines such as Queen Anne, Federal and Shaker styles. Most of the
projects that I have built recently have reflected this. I try to stick
to small projects, because of WADD, such as stools, shelves, end tables
and coffee tables. My daughter, nieces and nephews are at an age where
they are just starting housekeeping, so they will keep me busy for the
next couple of years on projects for them. I have also have enjoyed
making sets of Shaker boxes as Christmas presents for the female family
members and friends over the last 5 or so years. I have made them a
different size box every year until they have a set. It has been a great
way to not have to venture out to stores during the Hoiday season.

I have acquired a good working set of tools over the last 10 years. I’m
sure that I have as many tools as I will ever need, but they somehow
keep following me home. Marking tools, carving chisels and backsaws are
my latest passions, though I will always have a soft spot for North
Brother products.

I have had the pleasure of making a number of tools. Many of these have
been the result of classes I have taken such as molding planes with Tod
Herli and Larry Williams, spokeshave, bowsaws and travishers with Gil
Chesbro. I’ve signed up for another travisher class with Gil on March 3,
2007 at John Wilson’s Home Shop at which I am hoping Gil will allow me
to make a travisher with a different radius on the blade than the one we
made last year. I have also made marking gages, a couple of infill
planes, a chairmaker’s devil and many chisel handles. I find making
tools is a good, short, fulfilling project. And there is nothing quite
like creating something with tools that you have created.

I have really enjoyed taking woodworking classes, attending tool meets,
joining woodworking clubs and going to gatherings like Galootapalooza
over the last few years. I think it is because woodworking is
essentially a solitary past time and these types of things brings a more
social aspect to the hobby. I have to say that it is hard to meet a more
generous group than tool collectors and woodworkers. They have been
universally willing to share their time and knowledge with me as I have
been trying to learn to work wood with handtools.

Jim Crammond in wet and soggy (but not white) Monroe, Mi.


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