[Woodworkers] Share Your Tools and Experience

Thu Jul 2 16:20:13 PDT 2015

Herb, 
What a neat story. I'm looking at retiring in the fall and have been wondering how I can do some volunteering .
 I had already thought about Habitat for Humanity but not the Boy Scouts.
What a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Gary Williams

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail

-----Original Message-----
From: Herb Treuil via Woodworkers <woodworkers at lists.sawdusters.org>
To: woodworkers <woodworkers at lists.sawdusters.org>
Sent: Tue, Jun 30, 2015 01:02 PM
Subject: [Woodworkers] Share Your Tools and Experience

<div id="AOLMsgPart_1.2_b292fa04-aae0-4791-b805-c4ba4e6f1274">

<div dir="ltr">
 <div class="aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:'comic sans ms',sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,102)">
 Friends,
 

 I have enjoyed following your blog and seeing some of the examples of fine woodworking. I have been thinking about sharing some of my personal experience with you in hopes that you might come to share my views.
 
 Some time ago I visited a friend who had been asked to come and clean out a deceased in-law’s workshop. There were woodworking tools of all types and vintages. He knows little about woodworking and is inventorying the stuff in his garage. It was sad to see good tools rusting without purpose. It made me think about the individual who owned them and the lifetime of skills that passed away with him. 
 

 I am not a gifted craftsman, but I have built some basic furniture and after 30 years have collected my share of tools. I do not want my tools and interest in woodworking to end with an advertisement in Craigs List. After retiring I started focusing on woodworking projects for individuals who appreciate them. I volunteered for work at churches, schools, Habitat homes and needy families in the neighborhood. 
 

 Several years ago my son and I got involved in a large area Boy Scout troop. One of the requirements to achieve Eagle Scout rank is to develop, fund and complete a project for an nonprofit organization. Many of the projects require a woodworking component. Over the years we have built a bridge, worked in an airplane museum, a soup kitchen, a home for battered women, a home for challenged kids, churches, schools, parks and most recently a residence for homeless kids. We have built cabinets, shelving units, benches, swim platforms, beds and a variety of structures to house everything from custom printers to fired pottery. 
 

 Most of these projects are made out of ruff framing lumber and plywood. There were a few "finished" projects. To date I have been involved in 45 Eagle projects. My son graduated the program as an Eagle Scout a couple years ago. Friends ask me why I continue to volunteer. 
 

 After some thought here is why I would recommend it: There are few things more rewarding than seeing the “I made that.” look of pride in a teenager’s eyes when he finishes his first wood working project. The boy completes each phase of every project. We normally make the first item as a prototype. I supply jigs to keep things square and screw holes aligned. We use a table saw, chop saw, cordless drills, circle saw, routers, planes, orbital sander, grinders and other tools in my collection. Along the way we talk shop safety and I pass along some of the wisdom my dad gave me. 
 

 The boy does the work. He meets with the nonprofit organization, determines their needs and the project scope. He works up a contract with the organization representative. He gets funding and meets with the big box stores to get discounted materials. He learns basic wood working skills and has a requirement to teach at least two others what he has learned. He tracks costs and is accountable for bringing the project in under budget. Parents get involved. Photos are taken throughout the process. The final delivery has to be approved by the nonprofit organizational representative. In every case we have exceeded their expectations. 
 

 I continue to build "finished" furniture. It is a good way to push yourself and improve your skills. There is a lot of satisfaction in sharing those skills with the next generation. There is also value in teaching young men to work in the service of others. 
 

 There is a whole generation of young boys who could profit from what you know. Few of their parents have your skills or life experience. If you are looking for your next woodworking challenge I would recommend that you contact the Scout Master of your local Boy Scout Troop and offer your services.
 

 YIS

   <div class="aolmail_gmail_signature">
    <div dir="ltr">
     <p><i style="font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:16px"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:'Lucida Handwriting';color:red">Herb </span></i>
</p>

   </div>
  </div> 
 </div> 

</div>

<div id="AOLMsgPart_2_675a8197-56cd-4017-902d-a4eee8da77b1" style="margin: 0px;font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif;font-size: 12px;color: #000;background-color: #fff;">

<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt>_______________________________________________
Have you ever wondered how the
rock, paper and scissors settle an
argument?
<a href="mailto:Woodworkers at lists.sawdusters.org">Woodworkers at lists.sawdusters.org</a>

To unsubscribe from this list
-
<a href="http://lists.sawdusters.org/listinfo.cgi/woodworkers-sawdusters.org" target="_blank">http://lists.sawdusters.org/listinfo.cgi/woodworkers-sawdusters.org</a>
</tt></pre>
</div> <!-- end of AOLMsgPart_2_675a8197-56cd-4017-902d-a4eee8da77b1 -->
</div>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sawdusters.org/pipermail/woodworkers-sawdusters.org/attachments/20150702/24136e05/attachment.htm>