GGs,
I've been hanging around the porch for about a month so I guess its time
that I introduce myself. My name is Paul., I'm 37, and the part of the
porch that I'm sitting on is in Berkeley CA, where I work at the
university.

It all started inocently enough. My wife and I decided to make a small
table for the kitchen to use for slicing and dicing, and to pile stuff on
and under. We started out with a cordless (p*w*r) drill, a cheap tenon saw
(modern Stanley) a pretty good cross-cut saw (D-23), a block plane, and a
small pile of red oak. Work began in the kitchen, using a bench hook on the
formica couter tops and sawing boards to length. Using handtools was a
natural, both because I'm just that kind of a low-tech guy, and because we
lived above the apartment manager and hand tools are quieter. The design
for the table was to mortice 1x4 rails and 1x2 strechers into 3x3 legs.
Some slatted shelves and a maple counter top completed the design. Well,
things went along in fit and starts until I was trying to clean up the
inside of a mortice (in the living room now) when the chisel I was using
(sharp but not SS) homed in on the index finger of my left hand. Three
stiches (and a scar to remind me about safety) later I was back at it, but
now working on my brand new workmut. To this day I wish I had a proper
workbench, but I'll tell you that there is a big difference between woring
on the floor (carpeted) and on a workmut. Anyway, things went along slowly
but steadily after that. Discovered that one of the great things about
working in a carpeted room is that its pretty easy to vacume up almost all
of the sawdust and shaveings. Dusting is another matter. Cut about half the
joints just right and about half just wrong. Glued on some shims where
needed and banged it (literallly) together. I was, I thinks, a watershed
moment. Legs, rails, and strechers all came together to make a rock solid
table base, and it was done with wooden joints not metal fasteners. Five
years later its still solid and still looks great.

And so this grandson of a carpenter was hooked. The next project was a tool
chest made out of Phillipine mahogany using the plans for the little chest
in Roy's book. For a first attempt at dovetails, it came together well. If
anyone else out there is planning on using those plans, however, you might
want to make yours a little longer. I discovered afterwards that its too
short to put my handsaws in. In fact, by the time I finished the chest
there almost wasn't room for all of the tools I aquired to make it. (This
was not a bad thing. As I have heard here, having to buy a new tool may
almost be reason enough for maiking something. Or thinking that you might
need it someday. Somewhere along the line this user had aquired something
like 11 planes, 7 saws, three squares, two drills, a box of bits, two
spokeshaves, three gauges, three squares, a dozen chisels and more.)

Other recent projects:
A walnut bow saw: Got some deep tear out using a Crapsman smoother that
subsequently went to a garage sale, but other than that is looks nice.
A white oak dart board cabinet: Made raised panels with a 1.5" scew rabbet
and found that surprisingly easy.
Aderondock chair out of redwood: Looks great, but no joints to cut. Just
saw and screw. Not too satisfying.
Put a patch in the sole of a wooden joiner and now it works great.

At the moment, not much. The current workshop is an 8'x8' deck that has
been under water for about two months. But as soon as we dry out...

OK, just for fun, a mini-gloat. Went to a store today that used to carry a
lot a nice hand tools but which has since decided that they aren't
interested. Picked up a new L-N hand beader w/o blades for $50.

Its nice to met all of you. I hope we can keep in touch.

Paul

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