OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

4808 "Gary Ilmanen" <snick@m...> 1996‑08‑28 Snick's Biographical Self-Portrait
My name is Gary Ilmanen, but I am occasionally called "Snick". How
I got this nickname is a long story; basically it involves snoring.
(I am not affiliated with the Nickelodeon cable network, or their
lame "Saturday night on NICKelodeon" (SNICK at Night) promotion. If
they care to offer me my own show, I will consider it, though.) 

I was born in the Winter of '49. Guess that makes me a young
geezer. I have a wife who usually understands me. Our son is all
grown up now, did a stint in the Army, then finished college, and
went back into the Army as an LT. Sad to say, he is not very handy
at all. (He must get it from his mother.) I work for the Navy as a
"civil servant" Electronics Engineer at the Naval Warfare
Assessment Center, Norco, California. Although I never served in
active duty, I am an Air Force Brat. 

"Most of the money that I should be spending on old/new tools is
sucked up by a motley pack of Welsh Springer Spaniels," he said as
he casually plucked a dog hair from his lips. "Them and their
breeder, Sandi, that is. Look for her at the dog show, buying more
grooming scissors to replace the pair that she lost." 

[Warning: Flashback Ahead:]
 I diddled with woodworking when I was a
kid... helping the old man bend nails, miscut wood, and poke holes
in skin. I learned the basics from him, and he gave me some of his
father's remaining tools. I had an early interest in carving. When
I was in catholic school (explains a lot), I would occasionally
snitch a piece of chalk and carve it into a kind of Tiki or Totem
Pole. Then I'd put it back on the little tray by the board. When
Sister Mary Bronson-Eastwood picked up the chalk, and felt it, and
looked at it... well, you had to be there! From the responses, she
must have thought that there was a Voodoo curse on her or
something. (Kids, don't try this unless you aspire to become a
Comedian or Engineer.) 

I graduated to small hunks of wood made into various shapes, then
discovered girls, cars, and small animals were more fun. Just
kidding about one of those.
[End Flashback] 

After I got married, the Little Woman decided that she needed an
end table that would fit into an odd space. "Oh, I can make one..."
fell out of my mouth before I could stop it. I am surprised that it
has lasted all these years, considering that I knew nothing of
designing for seasonal wood movement. I give thanks for the
desert's low humidity every time I look at it! 

>From the humble beginnings of a Black&Decker circular saw and hand
drill, I have managed to put together a fairly decent shop. A
one-car garage is not the place to set it up, though. I have not
sawn through my Workmate, but admit having whacked it a few times
with a chisel. There's some blood on my tools, but I still have all
my fingers. 

A couple of years ago, I signed up for a class in carousel horse
carving in Pasadena. After spending beaucoup money on proper
chisels and stuff, what resembled a horse started following me to
and from class! Interspersed during this project, I did some very
nice jewelry boxes, a dragon, and other small stuff. 

So anyway, I've got a still-nearly-finished carousel horse stuck on
one end of my workbench. It's the biggest thing I have attempted
carving. (The nice thing about working in large scale is that when
you slip and make a mistake it is a "dimple" instead of "she lost a
leg". The bad thing is that it takes so darn long to execute. OK,
it actually would be long-finished if I didn't watch so much TV and
do "Armchair Woodworking" -- reading the wood magazines.) 

So, that's a look at what makes Snick tick, sortof. At least one
aspect of his multitalented persona. I tend to make light of
anything if someone leaves an opening, so try not to feed me any
straight lines if you are the deadly serious type! That's all for
now -- probably much more than you wanted to read, but I guess you
couldn't bring yourself to skip out. 

Gary/Snick 

--
KeyPuncher:  Gary "Snick" Ilmanen - Riverside, California, USA
Other Email: saga@l... & snickmeister@g...
My Website:  http://www.liberty.com/home/saga
Pithy Quote: The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
Disparate Quote: The secret of success is sincerity. 
Once you can fake that, you've got it made.



Recent Bios FAQ