Woodworker's Journal summer-2009, страница 14

craftsmen! What the craftsmen on that list are not are "icons."

At one end of the spectrum woodworking is simply a pastime; at the other end it is a source of income. At times, it will deliver frustration akin to trying to teach the family cat to fetch, but when it all comes together as you had envisioned it... joy, pure joy.

Bruce Thompson Port Angeles, Washington

If Norm only rates a 2 according to your Nebraska reader who obviously comports only with the gods, where does that leave the rest of us poor, ordinary mortals?

Thomas E. Jordan Newton Highlands, Massachusetts

Norm is good at what he does, but he is not a craftsman in the category of the great names that were mentioned in the original letter about Norm's award. Norm is a very good basic woodworker. He cannot be considered as one of the great craftsmen of our time.

Stanley Risk Crawfordville, Florida

To rate Norm as a 2 would be similar to rating all our schoolteachers K-12 as 2s. We all had to learn the basics. Norm has filled that space for thousands of woodworking wannabes.

Bill Wise Clancy, Montana

Even Maloof started by nailing two pieces of wood together.

Ron Popp Belgrade, Montana

The development of the SawStop mechanism, a table saw brake that prevents the blade from cutting fingers, brought debate on whether the device should be legally required to be installed in all saws. (SawStop now markets their own line of quality table saws.)

Where does Dr. Stephen Gass get off thinking legislating the sale of his SawStop brake unit product is in anyone's best interest? I'll admit it's a worthy goal to want to increase the safety of table saws. But to force manufac

Woodworker's Journai reader George Tritthardt won a WJ co-sponsored trip to spend the day at Norm Abram's shop— a prospect that would have thrilled at least some other readers.

With our readers' help, Woodworker's Journal selected Gustav Stickley as "The Woodworker of the 20th Century" — and noted that TV woodworker Norm Abram also received a large portion of votes from readers, who had much to say about this.

Seeing Norm Abram selected as one of the twentieth century's great woodworkers along with icons like Gustav Stickley, Tage Frid and Sam Maloof was a real slap in the face to all of the great master craftsmen who have dedicated their lives to teaching, designing and crafting great pieces of furniture.

Norm is an amateur compared to these talented craftsmen. If rated from 1 - 10, they would all be a 10. Norm, maybe a 2.

Alfred Petersen Fremont, Nebraska

I take great umbrage with Mr. Petersen's cavalier remark that "Norm's No Ten."

Mr. Petersen should try to understand that this is woodworking, not a cure for cancer. All of the woodworkers that he listed, including Norm Abram, are excellent, highly skilled

Norm Abram has been terrific for woodworking — by popularizing woodworking — much as Muhammad Ali popularized boxing and Arnold Schwarzenegger popularized bodybuilding.

I'm afraid my Neanderthal tendencies force me to side with Mr. Petersen, since I find it difficult to award a greatest woodworking award to someone who uses a biscuit joiner!

Rich Donahue Sierra Vista, Arizona

14 letters