Philosophical question gentleman...and ladies

[Fred Voorhees]

Had a small group of freinds over last night to enjoy the final day of 2007 and it got around to my woodworking and one or two people who had never seen either the stuff that I have built, nor my shop, were sort of blown away by things. Not that I'm saying that I am Norm or David Marks...quite the contrary, my point is that the regular Joe just doesn't understand. Let me explain and....on to the question.

I have always gone by the thought that I am not that super talented in woodworking. Yes, I can hold my own and I have, in my opinion, turned out some nice stuff, but to the untrained eye, the stuff is amazing. Back to my thoughts on the subject. I have said that it is all in having the right equipment and tools. If a person had the tools and the equipment to do the work, with just a little knowledge and the will to learn, in a short time, they too could be turning out some decent looking stuff.

One friend last night refused to believe that theory. He told me that it was a boatload of talent that allowed me to turn this kind of stuff out. Do you guys and gals really think that is the case? I'm not putting any of us down. Of course, there are some of us that are decades better than others, but we all have our levels of competence. But....is it more having the right tools and equipment - or is it actually some better skills at the craft that makes the difference?

I have always told people that if they wanted to spend some time with me in the shop, I could show them just how easy it is to get up to speed in woodworking if they had the right stuff to do it and were willing to learn. What are your thoughts?

[Chuck Lenz]

Good tools can make you more efficient with the knowledge you have from experience, period.

[Rob Watanabe]

I think it takes more than having the right tools. You also have to have good technique and some skill to handle that tool. Give me a drill and a piece of wood and I could drill a hole through it. If I were given a jack hammer to make a hole in concrete, I would have a hard time. Experience and an incredible amount of patience and to be very meticulous with attention to detail is also an asset in woodworking. Not all of us have that.

[Jesse Cloud]

Interesting question. I'm taking classes in Fine Woodworking at the local community college and from my viewpoint, it seems like some people have talent or aptitude - whatever you call it - and can make anything just about perfect the first time they try, and not with fancy tools.

On the other hand, there are those like me who hardly ever get it right on the first try, but keep on trying and eventually produce something worth while.

In my opinion, crappy tools are really hard to use. But once you get a decent tool, for most of us its more a matter of building the skills than getting better tools...

[Brian Kent]

What I mean by that header is that most people if they set their minds to a task and have decent teaching and tools, can do something beautiful.

In any field, there are some really talented people. What I mean by "talent" is that hard work and practice pay off. A talented musician still has to practice each day for years. If they are pretty good musicians, it means the hard work paid off. I tried to sing in choirs for awhile, but it is a lot more merciful for everyone if I just stick with drums. Almost no-one in any field is talented enough to have things work intuitively before the hard work.

So I think most of your friends could do great work with some excitement, coaching, access to decent tools, and practice. A few better just stick to buying your good work.

[Dick Bringhurst]

I agree with Chuck, but would add it pays to have a sense of adventure and a willingness to try new things. Dick B.

[Tom Quatsoe]

Fred - I think you hit the nail on the head with your last sentence. Like most things in life, it is all about desire to learn and a time investment to get into the details. Most of what we do can be broken down into some simple steps. Innovative and artistic design probably need an inate talent, but that is not a prerequist to turn out fantastic wood projects.

On the other hand, we should be telling our significant others that it is all about the tools in order to support the habbit.

[M. A. Espinoza]

I've always thought the corollary to this is musicianship.

One needs aptitude to play an instrument. Anyone can do it to varying degrees with enough practice.

However it takes talent and dedication to be a virtuoso. And it takes something special to create something superior. Coltrane, Hendrix, Beethoven, whatever example works for you.

But you could probably use cooking just as easily. Fry-cook vs. chef.

So I my answer is, no, I don't think it takes any special talent to use woodworking tools and follow directions. Just some aptitude.

Talent to me is something that involves superior physical or creative skills; or both.

Kind of like singing. Anyone can; but not everyone has talent.

[Rick Gifford]

I think with the right tools you certainly better your chances to produce a nice product.

I would think the most experience woodworker would have issues using the worse tools.

Some folks can make real art with the minimum of tools. Others can make good stuff only if they have a special tool for every cut and angle.

It makes me think of the saying a specialist on a show said about cancer prevention. 15% of the population will get cancer no matter what they do in their lives. 15% will not get cancer no matter what they do in their lives. Its the middle 70% that will be affected by their decisions.

I think its probably true in most aspects of life. Their are those who can do great things with very little, and those who cant do squat with everything available. Others rely on a balance.

My guess is you have talent. You better your work by using good tools. Therefore a balance. Probably true for most folks. Some may need better/more tools to get that balance.

People can debate the extremes - the artist vs the klutz.

I know people who cant hit a nail on its head to save their life. Doesn't matter how good a hammer you give them.

[John Zee]

Good tools are a plus, but understanding the machanics of a project is something else. All the parts needed and the cuts required to put them all together. That takes time, weather schoolling or the school of hard kcocks. Reading ( or just looking at the pictures ) the pages of FWW or FHB just takes time and for whatever reson, this technique or that style sticks in your head and when the time comes you have something to make it work out.

So, talent is big. I've been on the road doing trade shows I & D and those guys are magicians if I've ever seen. The show will go on and the booth built but something will always break. Fixing it however, sometimes is ingenious.

[Mike Cutler]

Fred.

It sounds as of you were paid an enormous compliment. You should be proud.
I think you may be underestimating the "average Joe". People can "see" quality. It's an intangible. If you were to put a piece of furniture,say a rocking chair, off of the IKEA showroom and set it next to a chair by Sam Maloof. People will see it, and know the difference. So yes. I do believe it takes a level of talent to produce fine woodworking.
The machines allow us to realize an idea. It takes talent to make it all happen.

Be proud of your work.

[Thomas Knighton]

Tools may make the man, but ability makes the craftsman. Most people are their own harshest critics. They know every flaw in their work, and know that it's far from perfection. However, the masses see the bigger picture, and see a beautiful piece of furniture.

I'm willing to bet that, while someone was complimenting some of the masters of years gone by, that master was thinking "yeah, it looks good to you, but I really screwed up that dovetail".

Tom

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I think it's a combination of natural aptitude, experience, education and tools. Good tools can make the same outcome easier but won't determine the outcome IMHO.....

A person with less aptitude can succeed but maybe not to the same level as someone with a natural ability that has experience and education. The less apt person is more likely going to take more time to do something as someone with more aptitude.

Experience is ,infact, part of the education process.

You look at some of the masterpieces of furniture that were done totally in the neander methods of yesteryear. Were the tools as good as some we have today? Depends on your point of view. From the neander point of view "As good as they get".....from the purest power tool users view... "No".

It takes a combination of aptitude, education and tools....

[Craig Earls]

There are two aspects here. The first is the technical aspect of milling the wood and finishing it. That is a skill which can be learned, and most people could achieve a very high level of proficiency in time. The second is the 'vision' that determines WHAT to execute using the technical skills. I think the vision is far harder to get. Many people gave up their imagination when they let fourth grade, it isn't very easy to regain...

[Ron Bontz]

I have to agree with Ken F. I believe it takes a lot of things including the patience and desire to want to learn. What I have learned has been predominantly from books, watching others, and trial and error. I'm great at making scraps and saw dust. I could never afford those wood working schools, but applaud any one who is able to do so. I have learned a great deal about furniture joinery by refinishing those old antiques. With regard to the newest and greatest tools... The craftsman of the past did not have access to them so they had to refine their abilities with what they did have. "making due". Some people are more handy than others. The modern day tools simply speed things up quite a bit. My 2 cents anyway.