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Steven Ricks — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:19:49 +0000

St. Johns

Steven Ricks — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:18:55 +0000

Sometimes you have to Scrape By

Steven Ricks — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:28:27 +0000

Last night I was helping my son build another Long Board deck. He had done his first board using veneer and and needed to remove the veneer tape. So we went to the trusty scraper which I have only used on rare occasions.Of course is was as dull as dull could be. I thought of all the lessons I had learned on sharpening scrapers and all the books and articles I read. I even remembered sharpening scrapers myself a few years ago at MASW. However, that usual feeling of “this is too complicated to do right now” over came me. I was sure that I didn’t have the tools to do the job right. So I thought for a few seconds on what other options we have and paced the shop floor a few times.

Then, all of the sudden, I decided even if I couldn’t create the perfect edge, it would be better then anything else I could do at the moment. So, I grabbed a file, some light oil and an old chisel and went to work. Did I do it with the speed and agility of a Marc Adams or a Christopher Schwarz? No. Did I use the perfect burnishing tool and the right file? Probably not. But, in the end it made a pretty good cut and got the job done. Was the angle of the bur right? The first time, no. So I went back and did it again. This time it worked a lot better and my son learned the joys of using a scrapper to remove veneer tape.

So what did I learn from all of this?

Just because you think the situation is not perfect, doesn’t mean you can’t do it “good enough”. Did we have to work harder, because we did not have the perfect edge? Maybe. Or did we have to try a couple of different angles? Yes, but it was a good learning experience and next time we will get even better.
You don’t have to have all the right gadgets and gear to get the job done. The problem with going to classes and seeing demonstrations is that you are told all the “Best ways” to do things. Most of the time they are the best way to get it done, but don’t let that stop you from experimenting with what you have. We all can’t afford the latest gadgets and tools, and for hundreds of years people have been making due.
You must know the important principles of the process. Even having the best tools in the world will only get you so far if you don’t understand the process. For me, it is more important to understand why and how a tool works, then to have to buy the best thing on the market. Yes, some tools are junk and can turn you off from doing the task, but if you understand the process even some really bad tools can be made to work pretty good and you will understand it is the tool, not the process or you that is the issue.

In the past, I would have let this issue stall the project, but last night for some reason, I had a break through. Not only did we finish a project, but I learned that doing the best with what we have is better then doing nothing at all.

Four reasons to not give up woodworking

Steven Ricks — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:56:41 +0000

I have spent the last 30 years acquiring tools and gadgets in order to become a better woodworker. Over time I have improved, and I have built several utility projects and maybe one or two legacy projects. Now it is time to get serious.

I spend a lot of money on tools and lessons, and yet I have never really taken the time to perfect my skills. There’s always one excuse or the other; family, friends, community service, work is too tough, the weather is too cold or too hot, or I just don’t feel like it. Well, it is time to put up or shut up! Either I am going to be a real woodworker and strive to truly understand the tools that I use, and practice the skills to use them, or I am going to close up shop and move on.

So, why do I want to be a woodworker?
1) I love to build things and be creative. Nothing makes me feel prouder than seeing something that I built or having someone else enjoy something that I built.

2) As Chris Schwarz would say, “I am an Anarchist”. I buck the system because I no longer want to live in the world of short lived cheap products. It comes down to, I would rather own fewer high quality items than topurchase any more low quality ones. Why buy something that will last less than six months if I can build it and it will last for years to come. In the book “Story of Stuff”, a statistic is quoted that says less than 1% of all consumer goods are still in use in six months. That is an amazing statistic! First that is a lot of money just wasted on crap, and second, that is a lot of crap filling up our landfills and polluting the planet. I don’t want to contribute to this. I want to buck the system and build as much of my everyday items as I can. I want to build what I can, and strive to find high quality items or just go without the items I can’t.

3) I believe that there is a growing need for craftsmen. People who can do quality, creative work are going to become more and more in need. I believe that we need to teach the next generations how to carry on the traditions and create new skills to keep craftsmanship and the arts moving forward. In addition, we need to teach these same young craftsmen how to run a business. My oldest son seems to have both the hand skills and will needed to do good work. I want him to have the benefit of a good education in both skills development and business development. Something that I did not get until I was much older. Who knows, maybe he will be the next Sam Maloof.

4) I believe woodworking could be my second career. I would like to think that one day I would be good enough to make a living doing woodwork. Maybe not selling the actual work, although that would be nice, but teaching others what I have learned. I already have a lot of skills in adult education, writing, blogging, photography, and making videos. Maybe there is a way to tie all this together, to at least pay for this hobby of mine, if not allow me to retire early and work for myself.