What do you do it for?

[ByronBlack]

As the title says really.

Do you do woodworking to escape your regular life, or in the hope to make it a career? Do you do it for the challenge, or the satisfaction, or out of sense of duty..

Do you ever get so frustrated that sometimes you wonder why you sink so much money in it? Do you ever feel like giving it up completely?

What keeps you coming back to woodworking?

 

[MikeG.]

Sanity!

 

[HeathRobinson]

I'm sure everyone's will vary. Here are mine.

• Can create things exactly how I want them without compromise.
• Commissioning the same would cost an arm and a leg. Not sure doing it myself is much cheaper but the other points make up for that!
• Hand tools and reclaimed woods are environmentally friendly. Wood itself is a renewable resource.
• Enjoy working with my hands. Not something I get to do in the day job.
• I knew no woodworkers before I started here. It's a whole new world to explore for me.

Simon

 

[shim20]

job

 

[John. B]

I do it because I love to create, because it's stimulating, and because I can. :wink::wink::wink::wink:

Strange thing. I used to hate woodwork at school. Much preferred metalwork.

John

 

[wizer]

Very similar to HR. There's something about wood that really attracts me. I'm just a v.slow learner.

 

[Shultzy]

I just love to create things, and any hobby has to be the greatest stress reliever ever .

 

[MIGNAL]

It was a serious hobby that turned into a P/T income and occasionally Full time. I think the challenge is always there, otherwise it becomes boring pretty fast. One thing that I have learnt from the experience so far: there is always some **** who is better. That's when the self doubt sets in.
We plod on.

 

[thomvic]

It gives me an excuse to join the other lunatics in this asylum!

Seriously - I just like it. I used to do a little when I was working in a sometimes stressful job and found it theraputic. Now I am retired I don't need the therapy (not the woodworking sort anyway) but still like to make a little sawdust and have more time of course.

Richard

 

[Gower]

After a lifetime with dirty hands (truck repairing) still working with my hands with lovely clean wood is something I always wanted to do but never had the time. I'm amazed at what I can turn out but dare not work out the cost of it all. I know I would struggle to make a living woodworking so just as well it's a hobby. Love it!

Jim

 

[PowerTool]

I just enjoy working with wood (woodturning and woodworking)
It's a way to relax,and has different criteria to my work.It's a hobby that pays for itself,plus a little more,and stops me from vegetating in the house.
Never really had any low points,just lots of pleasure.

Andrew

 

[Philly]

I enjoy working with the material - it never fails to surprise with its unend ing variation. And the smells..... :lol:
I've gone from a serious hobbiest to making my living from wood - a strange and exciting journey, but one that I am enjoying.
Now if only I had an extra couple of hours each day I'd be fine...
Philly

 

[OPJ]

I started a Carpentry & Joinery course, purely for the sake of having "something to do" after my A-levels. Two years later, I had taken over the garage at home and slowly begun to mould it in to my own little workshop, where I now spend pretty much all my spare time! :wink:

I'm now looking to take things further and move this hobby in to a "career", if you will, in furniture making, even if it's only part-time.

Many of my other hobbies from when I was a kid (not that I'm that much older now!! :wink, I've lost interested in them. I don't see the same happening with my woodwork though.

Spending your time doing the things you love most is surely what life is all about, really!

 

[Eddie]

My reason is exactly the same as Jims (gower)

Eddie

 

[Paul Chapman]

I've always loved working with wood. As a young lad I would help my Dad make things for the house - he did DIY before DIY had been invented 8) I still have his Stanley #5 that my Mum bought him before the war.

I remember that when we had the builders in to repair the war damage on the house, one of them had a Stanley spiral ratchet screwdriver. That must have been when I caught the disease

At secondary school I had a fabulous woodwork teacher, Victor Gubby, and really loved the subject.

When we bought our first house in 1971, the only way I could afford furniture was to make it. Been doing it ever since.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Karl]

I work primarily with chipboard & mdf during the day, so it's nice to get a break from it and work with real wood. If a client wants work done with real wood, then i'm a happy chappy!

Cheers

Karl

 

[johnf]

Hobby I like the challenge of creating something and working out the problems of how achieve the finished article.
It also tests the old grey matter to it limits

 

[motownmartin]

for the first 25 Years of my working life I was in the manufacturing side of engineering, the next 10 Years of working has been more of machine minding, this is when I realised how much I missed fabrication and woodwork seemed to be the ideal replacement.

I don't think there is any chance of chucking it all in, i'm hoping I can improve my skills enough so I can supplement my pension when the time arrives.

 

[joiner_sim]

As the title says really.

Do you do woodworking to escape your regular life, or in the hope to make it a career? Do you do it for the challenge, or the satisfaction, or out of sense of duty..

Do you ever get so frustrated that sometimes you wonder why you sink so much money in it? Do you ever feel like giving it up completely?

What keeps you coming back to woodworking?

I first started woodwork as an apprentice carpenter. Worked on site for a couple of months, then got moved to a workshop environment. I've worked there ever since. Mainly it's all about the money, but its good to do something you enjoy also! I've setup my own very small private shop for at home when I want to make some personal items/pieces.

And yes, sometimes I do feel like givng it up completley, mainly at 6.50am in the morning! :roll:

I love my job though!

 

[Anonymous]

As the title says really.

Do you do woodworking to escape your regular life, or in the hope to make it a career? Do you do it for the challenge, or the satisfaction, or out of sense of duty..
?

My job is really fun and rewarding, but very much intellectual work and although it involves a lot of creativity in the academic sense, I need some outlet for my creativity in the physical sense.

I paint water colours, design and build electronic stuff, used to make silver jewellery, dabbled with clay sculpture (and clay jewellery :wink: ), made motorbike frames and tanks etc. (20 years ago now) for a bit for fun, but making furniture really 'does it for me'.

Half an hour on the workshop after cooking tea at the end of a hard day just makes the world a beautiful place

I just love making furniture and wooden boxes and I absolutely adore wood - unstained wood.


Would I do it as a career? Not in this lifetime!!!! Hobbys are hobbys and my job is just perfect for me - as is my hobby