On 4/24/2014 1:50 PM, JAMES THOMPSON wrote:
> Don't get down off the soapbox. I have preached much the same sermon for a
long time. But preaching to the choir is often unproductive. Stay with it. I am
too tired to carry on the fight.
>
> On Apr 24, 2014, at 11:33 AM, Kevin Bock  wrote:
>
>> Pardon me as I ascend my soapbox.
>>
>> I think Sellers is a breath of fresh air.
>>
I've read much of what Jim Thompson has posted here and admire his class 
and work results.  Jim is the real deal!

It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to agree with him and with Kevin 
wrt Paul Sellers, although I have neither the class not the body of 
work.   I have had the pleasure of meeting Paul Sellers at the community 
in Elm Mott, Texas (about 45-50 miles from where I sit typing)  where he 
taught (and where I hope he will teach again).  At the time I met him I 
knew nothing about him except that he was the instructor for a 
woodworking class that was ongoing when we visited the community of 
craftsmen who share similar beliefs.

Paul Sellers has great class and great skill.  He, too, is the real deal.

We talked after he had finished answering questions for his students but 
kept his eyes going back to them to see if they were in need of 
correction or information.  We talked of woodworking, my desire to learn 
better skills, and my admiration for those who use simple hand tools, 
their minds, and countless hours of training and experimentation to 
improve their craft.  That he is one of those is without doubt.  The 
shop he was in was as open, spacious and clean as any wood shop I've 
ever been in, including the one run by Paul W. Waldrop who taught me 
shop skills in 1954-55-56.  I asked Paul Sellers about any prerequisites 
he might have for entry to his classes.  He said that there were none 
that were cast in stone, but that he strongly recommended that learning 
basics with hand tools was the best route, partly because he thought 
that hand tools teach the student more about the wood and the processes 
than using power tools does.

He was an altogether pleasant and nice man.  I am fortunate that I did 
not know his reputation at the time, for I might have been too much in 
awe to have felt comfortable taking up his time.  I regret that I did 
not take classes from him while he was there, but hope to have the 
opportunity if he returns.

Bob Hutchins
Temple, TX, USA