Hobbies, being honest with ourselves.

[robinson46176]

I plucked this sig line from one of Jim Ramsey's messages but I see a lot of similar lines.
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"When people find out that my hobby is woodworking, they often ask what do I do with it. I tell them that I am very good at making sawdust and expensive firewood."
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On those occasions that I am honest with myself I am forced to admit that making wooden items is really a secondary activity for me. For me the shop and the tools are really the hobby... I thought about that a couple of days ago when we were sorting out some "stuff" stored in the house that is to become the new wood shop. It seemed that every time I turned around I was running across another old wooden item I had made over the years that had long since been relegated to the status of "stored stuff". :rolleyes:
The ability to make wooden stuff to me is more important than making wooden stuff. I'll bet Bill Mayo would make the same confession... :) It's a good thing that Bill and I do not live just down the road from each other...
My "condition" is made worse by the fact that I am also a metal fabricator and a mechanic which calls for two more shops.
I'm still flip-flopping on what to do with my fully equipped western boot shop which I was going to use to produce actual $$$ for retirement. I don't expect the wood shop to make any money of consequence and our horses sure won't.
I have a dozen other minor hobbies...
I think my main hobby is hobbies. :D

[foxtrapper]

"My main hobby is hobbies". That would apply to me as well.

[rdubbs]

Hi Farmer,

It says in the Shopsmith literature, and the Web site, that "Woodworking is the Unselfish Hobby". While I use some of the things that I make, I mostly just like making things. I'm also a Ham Radio operator, and with both hobbies what I mostly like is problem solving.

[JPG40504]

Although lately the restore bug has(is) nibbled/ing, I have to side with Farmer that the ability to make that stuff is most important to me. I use the goldie for far more than it was intended, and do metal machining that it will be insisted by some it cannot do.(improvisation very necessary).

When I look at some of the very old tools, I realize what CAN be done with a good understanding of the shortcomings and the mind power to overcome them.(sweat helps too)

[robinson46176]

Although lately the restore bug has(is) nibbled/ing, I have to side with Farmer that the ability to make that stuff is most important to me. I use the goldie for far more than it was intended, and do metal machining that it will be insisted by some it cannot do.(improvisation very necessary).

When I look at some of the very old tools, I realize what CAN be done with a good understanding of the shortcomings and the mind power to overcome them.(sweat helps too)



My father used to refer to our sometimes having to do certain work with out the "proper" tools as "Chopping with the back of the axe". :)
I spent enough years of my life poor enough that I became very good at it.
I'm not poor any more but if things fell apart tomorrow I could adapt back to it easily. I worry about how so many that have never had to do without would fare in such circumstances.
I have a granddaughter (we have 12 grandkids) that has a cell phone with unlimited anytime minutes and texting. It all means nothing to her, it is just there. Her mom pays the bill and she has no idea what the cost is. My son's son around the same age has a prepay phone with limited minutes and text and has to budget his use. It can be a little bit of a nuisance for him at times but I think he is learning a valuable lesson from it... :cool:

[fjimp]

How about pontificating as a hobby:D

[easterngray]

My Shopsmith, although used alot lately for home improvement projects, is mostly an adjunct to my main hobbies - hunting and fishing. I wanted to make landing nets, boats, bamboo fly rods, turn plugs, duck calls, decoys, a shooting box, and on and on... The great thing about the Shopsmith is that it allows me to do all that and more, and doesn't take up a lot of space. I remember Nick Engler once say that "The Shopsmith is really just a big jig" and I must agree. The potential uses for the Mark 5 are mind boggling. It's pretty tough to think outside the box with most tools, but the Shopsmith actually inspires one to do just that! In the craft of making bamboo fly rods there is alot of hand work involved in preparing the bamboo for the final planing. Many guys have overcome the tedious preliminary steps by designing jigs powered by router based bevelers, but I can use the Shopsmith to accomplish the same end and drum sand nodes, and turn reel seats and cork handles and even apply a sprayed finish with it!
Though restoring my Shopsmith was fun, it's not something that could develop into a hobby for me - I want to make stuff with it!! I really do admire the fellows that get deeply involved in the restoration process though - the results are often amazing, and certainly something to be proud of. Alec

[dlbristol]

Interesting thread, I think I may be one who enjoys the problem solving as much as anything. I like having something when I get done too!:)