just curious. how many of us have oursig-others in the shop

[Jim DeLaney]

I married a cabinetmaker's daughter... She's fully capable in the shop, and has helped out on many a project over tha past 38 years.

She does have her own hobbies, though, and prefers to spend her time on them, rather than in my shop. She's there to help whenever I ask her, though!

Actually, when it comes to the really small stuff, she's a lot better at it than I am - probably due to the fact that she builds prototypes in the engineering department at an electronincs manufacturing company. Four or five hours a day assembling hair-sized wires to dot-sized ICs under a microscope has made her pretty good at the details...

[Kevin Gerstenecker]

I am a lucky guy too, in many respects, but pertaining to woodworking, my wife helps out in many ways. She never declines a tool purchase, because she knows how passionate I am about woodworking. After all, I was a woodworker when we met, and she respects that. She helps out in the shop when I need help, and sometimes she just watches me work. She also realizes, like Bill mentioned, when a guy needs to be alone in his little haven he calls his shop, and she allows me to do that as well. She has tried turning, but she is not into woodworking........she has her hobbies, and I have mine, and we are both fine with that. Actually, it was my wife who suggested that we build a dedicated shop and get me out of the basement. It was I who nixed the shop plan for this year, until I can save the money to do it the way it needs to be done, the FIRST time. So, instead, she insisted I purchase the Oneida Cyclone, which is overkill for now, but will be great for a dedicated shop. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. The LOML is the best you could ever hope for, and I am lucky to have her................actually, I have had her for 20 wonderful years TODAY. Yep, it's our anniversary............I gotta go............stuff to do!

[Carole Valentine]

Well I am without a sig-other a the moment, but I would not have wanted either of my ex hubbys to try and do anything with power tools! They both were accidents waiting to happen if they were doing anything other than sitting in their Lazy Boys! Next one, if there ever is another one, is going to be a shop buddy!

I think a lot of women would enjoy woodworking, but like myself, they grew up in an era when "girls didn't do that." Now that I am an "old lady", I have decided that was a bunch of bunk. Men like to cook; I like to cook...some men like to play with wood; why can't I play with wood? I do have a few neighbors that huff and roll their eyes when they see me in my shop. Lord only knows what they say about me, but then you know what? I really don't give a rip!

[Ted Shrader]

All -

My wife enjoys coming out to the shop. She helps with sanding and finishing and generally keeps me company. She is now taking lathe classes - gloat in the making - and asking more questions about the other tools.

Oh, AND!! she thinks sweeping up sawdust is great fun. Gotta love her!

Ted

[Mark Stutz]

I, too, am a lucky guy! Although my wife doesn't really have an interst in the process, she enjoys the end results, and is extremely supportive. She will always lend a hand when asked, and I frequently seek her opinion on design questions, and critiques of mock-ups, etc. Most of all though she understands how much my shoptime means to me as a way of relaxing and getting rid of stress.

[Don Abele]

My wife enjoys coming out to the shop and asking if she can help. I am a loner in the shop and don't know what exactly to have her do. So she'll sit out there with me and watch (and keep me straight). Kinda like Tyler said...hard to be a worker and foreman at the same time. Anyway, she's extremely knowledgeable, she watches all the ww'ing shows with me and reads all the mags I get (the ww'ing ones - get your minds outta the gutter). She helped me frame and drywall our basement in a previous house and loves doing it. So why isn't she out there more - ME Guess I need to learn to share more. Maybe I'll get more toys that way!!!

Be well,

Doc

[John Miliunas]

Can't say for sure, but I think LOML may be related to Kent C.'s wife! Described Jill to a "T"! I will add, however, she's usually pretty understanding about my tool purchases, especially when she sees house-related improvements coming off of them. (The SS was a bit tougher to get by!) She's always looking for bargains and keeping an eye out through all the newspapers for tools I "might" need and even for deals on wood! Really not much help in the shop, but she makes up for it in the house, as she likes to paint and decorate in general, so I rarely touch a roller or paint brush. My recent bathroom cabinet project was her general conception of what she wanted. I just added the details and the grunt. All in all, it works out pretty well. Quite honestly, I'm pretty much a "Lone Ranger" in the shop, anyway. Except when my daughter decides she'd like to try something, then I switch to "Dad & Teacher" mode!

[Christine Tiede]

Hey guys..... and Carole!

I've been lurking around for a month or so, learning from you all. My household is entirely different than you describe yours to be! In my home, I am the messy one in general. I am the one who in the past couple of years fell absolutely in love with WW... sawdust and all. My husband, on the other hand, can't stand "all that mess" and I'm sure he doesn't even appreciate the extra money I bring in with my WW because he can't see the projects instead of all that sawdust!! (that pile of shavings in the yard from my planing yesterday is absolutely driving him nuts!! I don't have a shop yet, but perhaps next year, so the wood is always in the yard!!)

I would really enjoy the time together if he did decide to look past all of that mess..... but alas, he can't. I suppose that the good thing is that I am the one in the house who looks after the purse strings, so that when I want a tool, if it's possible I generally get it sooner or later. (it goes without saying that I'm not even in your guys' league in respect to tools and the quality or quantity of them!)

Well, that's my 2c. It's great to meet you all !
Christine

[Bruce Page]

Larry, my wife took up chip carving two years ago and since then, spends a lot of time in the shop with me. She is also very willing to offer her opinion, which is mostly a good thing . She has the patience of a saint which makes her a very good detail sander, and that is a very good thing!

[Earl Reid]

My LOML has always helped me in what ever I was doing. She is my best critic and has good ideas about some of my projects. When we built the shop she said to make it bigger, but I didn't listen and I still regret it. The only time she realy got upset with me was the time I made shelves and I used "finish washers", I gave in and redid them. Once in a while I tell her I'm going to use them on something, and she gives me that look.
She has attended many woodworking shows and has never complained about buying tools, only to buy better ones. We have worked side by side for
48 yrs , including building our first house. I couldn't ask for a better,wife,
mother, grandmother or friend. And , yes I help with the house chores.
Earl

[Ernie Hobbs]

My wife isn't particularly interested in the shop. Sometimes I can get her to hang out with me while I work but usually the shop is my space and she stays in the house with the kids. I'm sure that one day, she'll get interested in doing stuff. She has plenty of hobbies and likes to paint and do decorating stuff. Maybe when the kids get older (daugher 5, son 2, one due in Nov)?

I grew up in a woodworking family. My Dad and Mom were a team. My Mom was great with turning fineals for bed posts, and doing the staining. She also did a lot of turning of crafts on the lathe. Now, they have a bed and breakfast and Mom stays too busy with that to spend much time in the shop. However, I really appreciated having a Mom that could do so many things.

My Dad teaches furniture-making classes and has students from all over the country come in for week-long classes. He told me that one the best students he ever had was a Physician's Assistant from Greensboro, NC- Susan Ireton. I knew her well and can confirm that she can hold her own with any guy I know in the shop.

Ernie Hobbs
Madison, AL

[larry merlau]

The next day she helped me start moving everything around until now I have more room then I know what to do with (well almost ). MOst of it was her idea. She is always there when I need an extra hand. She lets me buy the tools I need and only complains a little. Yup, I guess I'm a lucky guy. [/QUOTE]

well dick you are a lucky guy for sure, i to have had some assistance in arranging the shop, and lucky for me i have a IND.engineer in the family actually still lives in the same house well she is my daughter and she took and completly changed my arrangement and i now have a good work flow and centrally located everything. its good to have the young thoughts help out the old ideas. and my mrs. norm is right there when i need her for most anything

[larry merlau]

Well my wife spends lots of time out in the shop. Sometimes she is helping me out, sometimes she is watching what is going on, and sometimes she is just keeping me company. One of the most valuable things she does is gasp! apply finish! Whe I am real busy getting ready for a show, or similar deadline, she is more than happy to take things out of the shop and varnish, paint, or whatever.

There are times though, when a man needs to be alone, and she recognizes that as well. Between her and the three daughters, the hormones can be flying thick and fast, and the house is no place for me to be. It is then that I announce in a firm voice that I am going to the shop, and will be back later.

Bill

well bill you definatly arent alone in that thought pattern, i have spent many hours out there for the same reasons 3 women are to many to handle at once and i can reclean a drawer or the floor or just set and think about the next project and be way more relaxed than entering the lions den with 3 hungry lions

[Dan Gill]

I have been dropping very broad hints to my wife about finishing. I REALLY wish she'd learn to do that so I wouldn't have to.

[Rosemary Steyerman]

I just read your thread and thought I should reply. I received my first tool about 2 years ago. It was a palm sander. Well since then boys, my tool list has grown significantly. Not only do I have my own tools, I have my own corner of the shop that includes, my scrollsaw, both drill presses, 12" band saw, oscilatting sander and disc sander. I help my husband with his woodworking adventures and he graciously helps me with mine. He even lets me use his tools, like his chop saw.