Woodworking experience - a poll

[gus3049]

Given that I seem to have forgotten half of what I learned about basic woodwork, I wonder how many woodturners come to the craft without any training at all and have to learn all the basics the hard way.

It seems to me that turning, of all the woodwork crafts, seems to inspire non-woodworkers to join in. I wonder if that is true.

I feel a poll coming on

 

[Wood spoiler]

By training I took that to mean a career allied to wood.

I ticked the no experience. I was the son of a chippy and as a lad was around wood and in deed at school got me "O Level" in woodwork. Always done DIY.

I took it up as something I could do at home as a hobby and not looked back having gone full tilt down the proverbial slippery slope. I did not realise just how engrossed and besotted with Turning I would become - but that's a good thing.

 

[RogerP]

I took the third option but in truth I've always treated turning as just a part of woodworking in general. But then most of my turning is part of a project not the project itself.

 

[boysie39]

I have been attacking timber for the past six yrs. four of them using a lathe. Will perserver until one of us runs out of steam.

 

[nev]

went for option 2.
no formal training
woodwork in school
brief YOP scheme (remember them? 'training' for £25 a week) where i had a brief introduction to the lathe.
then just DIY, hands on, head first and the rest is history.
that was 20 30 years ago
got lathe beginning of this year, its now my official hobby.

 

[gus3049]

Hmmm, so far my theory seems to be falling apart.

Straight three way split.

 

[RogerP]

Hmmm, so far my theory seems to be falling apart.

Straight three way split.

Give it time ... they're all too busy at their lathes

 

[johnny.t.]

None whatsoever, at my school(I left in 1990,that makes me 37 :shock: ) their idea of woodwork mean't little more than letting us loose with sandpaper, the H&S nonsense had begun to bite.........

I was busy on my lathe but the call of the cricket got me indoors!

 

[Silverbirch]

No woodworking experience, and sadly, no woodwork lessons at school before I took up turning and other types of woodwork. By that time I was well into middle age.

Ian

 

[gus3049]

I have just realised that I haven't voted myself!!

No 2 for me. I was chucked out of woodwork at school as rubbish (thank you for the no comments)
Part time kitchen maker and fitter for a good period then back to college to learn how to make musical instruments properly after I lost my interior design business in the 80/90's boom and bust.

Full time woodworker doing doors, windows and kitchens for four years, turning for just over one year. Love it as much as making guitars and thats a lot

 

[dennisk]

Started working during summer holidays from school for local house builders. Then after graduation from our grade school at the age of 18, started in the carpentry apprenticeship program and had my provincial and national red seal certificates at the age of 22 in1980. Started my own company in 1982 building custom houses, doing renovations on houses, and building kitchen cabinets and some furniture. In my spare time I have started on the slippery slope and dont get much time on the lathe( maybe a a few hours a month on the forum contest and some gifts) .

 

[Jonzjob]

Just a bit of tinkering, making the odd table/shelf, etc. until I took early retirement from IBM after screwing up my back at work (where have we heard that before?) and started making small wooden toys. That was till 'elf-an-safety' got silly as in a babys rattle coated in sunflower oil. " Will it catch fire" was the question from H&S? It's bleedin wood coated with oil! Of course it will catch fire! Dyke!

The turning bug was well established by then and been doing it, still as a hobby all being it a paying one, for about 16 years now.

I nearly forgot! I had a weekend course with Ian Wilkie. A really nice bloke and a very good instructor. I still have and use the 1/2" skew he gave me along with a load of info and a lovely memory of a very enjoyable and informative weekend at his lovely home near Heriford!

Thank you Ian!

 

[Melinda_dd]

Before I discovered the lathe, I had a very basic Woodworking Skills Cert. of Achievement under my belt (Very basic... like a taster of a carpentry c&g's)

But this prompted me to investigate getting some proper qualifications in carpentry. However working full time I was limited to evening courses. The only one in my area was a 2yr level 2 Diploma in site carpentry.....

I'm just about to start my 2nd year and am loving every minute. The first year was all bench skills... joinery and power tools, this year will be the site stuff... not exactly what I wanted but it's a start (on the off chance would love to get into furniture making eventually so anyone in the colchester, braintree essex area with a business hear my plee!! :lol: )

I also have done a weekend course in rustic carpentry which I loved it was right up my alley. It was working with coppiced hazel and made some lovely little chairs.

Hence I chose the some experience

 

[Lons]

I chose 2 but don't know if I should be voting at all as I haven't had a lathe for more than 6 years. ( Small metal lathe excepted ).

Had 2 years woodwork from age 11 at school before curriculum forced me to take latin instead :evil: :? so started at home from age 14 including a B&D drill powered lathe which I then motorised. Eventually bought a s/h Tyme cub and later inherited a Coronet elf which I couldn't use due to lack of space. Did a lot of hobby turning and sold quite a lot of it to fund new tools.

Have been a "woodworker" all my life (now 62) and made furniture, as well as marquetry pictures and woodcarving. Have renovated 7 of my own houses as well as the usual DIY stuff and repairs. My day job was non related until we took over a company which included tool and machine sales within my branch.

I set up a small building and home improvement company 14 years ago and apart from the significant amount of construction joinery required, I have specialised in semi bespoke kitchens and bathrooms but these days mostly buy in and adapt cabinets and doors as being more time effective and profitable.

No formal training except whilst lecturing part time, I fast tracked parts 1,2,&3 gnvq, joinery as it was a "free" facility for staff.

When I retire, I intend to buy a lathe again as well as return to furniture and carving projects. :-$ Don't tell the wife - she wants to travel the world :-"

Bob

 

[PaulH]

I went for 1 - no previous training at all, which is why I find this place so useful!

I have since had 1 day training with Billy Henry which was very useful and enjoyable. I just wish I had more time and space in the "workshop"....!

Paul.

 

[Anonymous]

woodwork (mdf mangling these days) is my career did an apprenticeship from 16 for one of the oldest joinery companies in the country (141 years old) , however not sure which one to tick as i have never ever ever picked up a turning tool, let alone tried wood turning in my life.

 

[gus3049]

woodwork (mdf mangling these days) is my career did an apprenticeship from 16 for one of the oldest joinery companies in the country (141 years old) , however not sure which one to tick as i have never ever ever picked up a turning tool, let alone tried wood turning in my life.

Hi Mark,

Welcome to the woodturning forum :lol:

Better start soon, its a great deal of fun.