OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

87192 William Claspy wpc@p... 2000‑12‑06 Introduction and Bio - William Claspy
Hello!

I've been lurking here (via the egroups.com archive) for a couple of 
months, and I've finally decided to join the fray in earnest.  Or at 
least to let you all know that I'm listening in.  The discussions on 
benches make me want to pipe up!

I've been interested in building things out of wood since I was a 
kid.  My dad dabbled in both construction (building a sizeable 
addition to our house) and furniture (building several pine hutches 
and cupboards.)  I joined in, when allowed, and put together my own 
collection of kid contraptions.  In fact, my first bench, standing 
about 28 inches high and built by my paternal grandfather, still sits 
next to my dad's in his basement.

More recently, I've done my own fair share of carpentry and a small 
amount of cabinetry.  The carpentry has all been in the form of 
renovation.  Since purchasing our 1922 American foursquare home 
nearly 10 years ago I've become quite comfortable with demolition, 
wall framing, dry walling, and practical plumbing and wiring.  It's 
also given me the chance to build a few cabinets and book cases and 
the like.

This past summer, we began shopping for beds for our two girls, with 
our eye toward twin beds that could be stacked as bunks.  What we 
could afford, we didn't care for aesthetically, and what we liked the 
looks of, we couldn't (or didn't want to) afford.  So I offered to 
build the beds.  After fumbling in my shop with the few woodworking 
projects that I've done (I know the WorkMate shuffle well), I knew 
I'd need a "real" bench first.  And a few tools. :-)

After looking at bench related web sites, I found myself lingering 
most at Bob Key's.  Bob's "first bench" would be the one I'd build. 
And build it I did (see 
http://www.cwru.edu/UL/pershomepages/wpc/bench.html to see the 
results.)  Through web surfing, and Bob's page, I also found myself 
slipping very quickly down the well-greased slope of Neanderthal 
ways.  I currently work with the assistance of several Tailed 
Apprentices, but find myself wincing each time I hear the 
ear-splitting scream of their electron-powered motors and see the 
clouds of dust being spewed hither and yon.  One recent purchase is a 
Stanley #48- no longer need I hear the whine when I need to make 
tongue and grooves.

But quite honestly, I think building this bench was the best time 
investment that I have made.  Between having the bench (and 
subsequent arrangement of my shop) and having Scary Sharp tools, 
working wood has suddenly become more of a pleasurable experience 
than I could have imagined.  And in the process, I learned oodles 
about some basic techniques that I'd never used before.

Since finishing the bench, work is progressing steadily on the beds. 
Each foot board and head board will have 11 flat spindles, each of 
which is mortised into the rails on the head/foot board.  That makes 
22 mortises and 22 tenons, times four head/foot boards, plus another 
22 for the guard rail for the little one's bed, makes for a whopping 
110 mortises and tenons!  My new Sorby mortising chisel and 
shop-built mallet will be getting a workout!

When I'm not working wood, I:  am father of two SWMBO'ettes; punch 
the clock as a reference librarian at Case Western Reserve 
University; dream of mountain hikes, backcountry cross country 
skiing, and catching wild trout on a size 16 Adams fly.

This has gotten long enough.  I have some questions to post to the 
list, but thought it proper to first introduce myself and send a 
short bio.

Cheers!
Bill



Recent Bios FAQ