Popular Woodworking 2005-10 № 150, страница 12

Out on a Limb

To Every Season Turn, Turn, Turn

One aspect of woodworking that never occurred to me when I discovered this life-long passion at age 30 was how it would continue to have something new to offer as my age, interests, and someday, I'm sure, physical abilities change. But now in my mid-50s, where over my shoulder I see the horizon where the sun rises, as well as straight ahead where it will just as surely set, I can more fully appreciate how wonderful it is that this abiding interest can continuously evolve.

I'm sure my experiences are familiar to many woodworkers. My early years in the woodshop produced the sorts of things a growing family needs, such as cabinets to rehab a kitchen and bath, a highchair for a small child, toy chests, beds, desks and bookshelves. As a young man, long days in the shop weren't tiring at all, no matter how strenuous the work. Tossing around sheets of plywood or manhandling heavy boards didn't get a second thought. There were no aching muscles or sore back the next day.

Then, as the kids grew, and outgrew their "children's" furniture, I entered what might be called the replacement and discovery phase. Just as the family matured so did my woodworking skills and interests. Early projects found their way to the attic. My home and family deserved better work than my early efforts, most of which was now a bit embarrassing for a woodworker who'd by now spent thousands of hours in his shop.

Good design became important and my eye sharpened to produce work that simply looked more refined. Making replacement pieces provided the opportunity to express a more mature sense of design and an evolving personal style. The focus in the shop changed from the building process to refining the design. "No" design from the early days begot Shaker style, which begot American colonial. Years later, in a complete turnaround, contemporary, mid-century modern was my

direction, fueled in part by a new interest in welding, and combining metal and wood in furniture. No doubt, the only description for our home furnishings today is "eclectic."

These days our home is on its second, and more or less final, round of replacement. The next home, a smaller one suited to a smaller family, may become a whole new phase. That remains to be seen.

In the meantime, woodworking for me has morphed into an entirely new and immensely pleasurable phase, lathe work. And it's a phase that suits a body that just doesn't seem to be as strong as it once was. Turning can be a deeply satisfying pursuit. Unlike "flat work," turning allows me to start and finish most pieces in a single session at the lathe thus providing instant gratification. "Failed" pieces are chucked into the firewood pile with little, if any, regret.

Of course, at age 56, this body isn't spent yet, and cabinet and furniture work still brings its joys. But I must admit that a recent, fairly large, built-in cabinet project reminded me of some muscles I had long since taken for granted. The string of weekends and evenings required to complete it left me longing for a session with my lathe.

As I look ahead, it's not hard to imagine the rewards woodworking will continue to provide throughout my life. After all, I see my father, now in his mid-80s with the limitations that age brings, in his woodshop several days a week, finding enj oyment there and still reaping the satisfactions we woodworkers are so fortunate to experience.

Be grateful your chosen hobby offers so many avenues of rewarding pursuit that can change with the seasons of your life. PW

Steve Shanesy Editor & Publisher

CONTRIBUTORS

FRANK KLAUSZ

In woodworking circles the name Frank Klausz practically is synonymous with hand-cut dovetails. For many years Klausz has taught countless woodworkers how to cut their first dovetails via seminars, videos and articles (such as the one on page 46). He is one of the most recognized craftsmen of our age and rightfully so. At the age of 14 Klausz entered the Hungarian trade school system, earned his journeyman cabinetmaker certificate and later became a master. Klausz's apprenticeship was tougher than most because of time spent working for an exceptionally strict master - his father. When not teaching Klausz is building fine furniture reproductions in his New Jersey-based shop.

BRUCE D. WEDLOCK

In high school Bruce D. Wedlock elected to take shop class in lieu of early European history much to the chagrin of the social studies department head. She went to Wedlock's dad (who was the principal) and said shop class was a bad precedent for college-bound students. Wedlock's dad said his son could do what he wanted and so Wedlock did. In 1952 Wedlock began studying electrical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), received his doctorate and then taught at MIT until he retired in 2000. Today he finally has a shop of his own where he enjoys building Shaker and 18th-century furniture. To learn how he wired his shop for 240 volts, turn to page 82.

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Popular Woodworking October 2005