I hope this is not off topic. If it is, my apologies, but it comes in light of a discussion that has perennially been around, both here and other places.
I am by no means an expert in anything related to the subject of woodworking. In my area of study and labor, I trust I can hold my own and speak with some authority. I will not make the same claim in the field of woodworking. This is why most of my posts are limited to, “Hey, great job on that piece of furniture," or, "Here's my latest piece of furniture." There’s another reason, though.
What particularly interests me in woodworking is the end product – furniture. The beauty of figured grain, craftsmanship to know where that grain will best be shown off and how it can best be displayed, to know when “better” is the enemy of “good” – that’s what attracts me to woodworking. This is what I long to learn about. As a result, I view my tools as speech therapists, if you will. Their purpose is to get the wood to speak as clearly and as articulately as it can. Sometimes a lot of tools are required to perform this therapy, but the purpose is always the speech.
One of my favorite woodworkers is Kerry Pierce. He, if I’m not mistaken, is an editor to Woodwork magazine and an author of many articles and books. I recall reading Pierce’s book on chairs and noting that he used a modified craftsman lathe to produce his amazing Shaker rockers. He even discussed in his book how he could not afford much better than this and how he was always making due as a result of budget limitations. That has always stuck with me – some of the most common tools making some of the most uncommon pieces of furniture.
I’m all about iron and expensive tools. I, like many others, have tools that I certainly could do without, and some might argue that I should do without i.e. the Leigh D4 (lol). The tailless crowd might even argue that I should get rid of most of my tools, and that makes for a fun, fraternal debate. I’m all about tool gloats (I’ve made a couple), and I enjoy shop tours (I’ve even given one). But what attracts me to SMC, is what attracts me to FWW, is what even attracts me to Wood magazine – the beauty of wooden furniture – that fine craftsmen and women use their hands, in conjunction with their tools, to teach a crude tree how to speak with beautiful prose! That, my fellow woodworkers, is what it is all about (for me)! Hence, while I enjoy the “Tool Crib” mail call, the Moser mail call (M.M.C. for short) is a lot more inspiring.
In short, keep building that wooden eye-candy with whatever you have! Oh, and don’t forget to post it! The woodworker in all of us, wants to hear it speak!
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