G'day chaps

Hi,

I appear to have had an account here for 3 years, but been lurking on and off until now. I'm a Brit married to a Tasmanian, and having spent 9 years in the UK together, we moved here to Hobart last year (2011).

I used to work as a programmer, and in IT support, then switched careers in 2007 to work with a furniture maker and joiner, where I learned loads. Then I stopped that in 2010 and worked for myself for a year hand carving wooden house signs. Now I'm here in Aus, working as a maintenance worker. I don't get to do much woodwork any more, but I've taught myself a lot about steelwork in the last year..!

I'm missing the sawdust, so am currently setting up a workshop in the in-laws basement. I'm on the lookout for a decent variable speed 1/2" router, a drill press and a planer/thicknesser (or could get away with just a planer or thicknesser). I have some hand tools (also looking for a No. 7 jointer), and most portable power tools. Just got hold of a carbatec 8" table saw, and I have a small 3-wheeler bandsaw.

The biggest project I worked on (woodwork wise) was a barn conversion - we did the floor (new floor structure in places near the stairs, and oak floorboards everywhere), stairs, furniture, doors, frames, windows, window sills, etc. We also did about 3-4 kitchens, all hand made, lots of solid wood worktops etc. Loads of windows and doors. Quite a few really nice pieces of hardwood furniture too. I made a very heavy, very old and splitty 12ftx2ftx4" block of oak into an awesome medieval dining table for a farm owner - lots of hand planing - pegged M & T joints, etc

Hardwood workbenches, cabinets, sideboards, etc. I have a load of photos, none of which are organised, I will try to post them here gradually.

Some of the trickier projects included a chess board, electric guitar, I made a small circular double glazed window once, and a triangular one too, now that I think about it.

My latest fascination is Matthias Wandel's home made woodworking machines. I want to build a horizontal boring machine for mortising and dowelling, I have the drawer slides and the motor. Our go-to system was the Mafell Duo-doweller, which worked well for most things, but they're pricey. I would occasionally make mortise and tenon joints, bridle joints or dovetails for some small projects, but the doweller got used 90% of the time at least.

Anyway - that's more than enough rattling on. Congratulations if you made it this far. Ask if you want to hear more about anything! In short, I love woodworking, and I've been missing it, need to get back into it even if it's just as a hobby! Why did I stop in the first place? :doh:

Cheers,
Craig

G'Day Craig
And a double welcome to you. First welcome to Australia....home of the free ........and the....(well you know the rest) and welcome to the Forum. You will have no problem unsolved now. I have been "doing things in wood" all my life and became a Carpenter because of the interest. Four years ago I did a 12 month Computer Course at TAFE. I am glad I did it , because it helps to do this sort of stuff but I sure do love to select a few nice pieces and go to work to fashion them into some thing. I feel at home with my shed and machines and really struggle in the IT environment.
Good luck with your "new shed adventure" (all be it in a basement) and I will look out for more of your stories

Welcome to the land down under Craig, this is a fantastic site and great blokes.
Robbo37 (More lurker than poster):B

Hi Rod,

Thanks for the welcoming message.

I really understand what you're saying about feeling at home in the workshop. I feel like I can achieve so much more useful stuff when let loose in a workshop (with some tools of course), much more than I have ever been able to in any office or meeting room. And equally the time spent after moving here, with no access to a useful work area, and no tools, I have felt useless!!

And I'm trying to learn electronics at the moment, and it all seems magical and mystical (probably the maths involved), so I'm really out of my element. Such a different area to programming and software design. I am persevering though!

I still don't really have a decent work area, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I might post some pics of the workshop outfitting as it happens. I have some "before" pics from last year.

cheers,
Craig

Hi ,

Thanks for the welcome :)

cheers,
Craig

Welcome aboard Craig

cheers
Rumnut

G'Day & Welcome back to a top forum "Craig"
You'll find a heap of helpful and knowledgable blokes & ladies of the forum all willing to assist with almost anything.
Make sure you show off your handiwork as everyone loves photos, especially WIP photos with build notes.
Enjoy setting up your new workshop.
Enjoy your woodwork.
Enjoy the forum.
Cheers, crowie

Welcome to a top forum

Thanks tdrumnut, crowie and JJF!

Welcome to the forum. As you will discover there is more then just wood working to this site. Browse the other sub forums post comments or questions.