I got a none of my business question. I was curious. When you say you have been in cabinetry for 20 years, were you an adult when you started or a kid.
I would like to get into cabinet making one day, but am afraid I am too old. I am over thirty, but less than forty. Am I too old? I know I am gonna get flamed for saying that, but I don't know another way to ask. I promise this is not a troll. Can someone "get good" at making cabinets even if he didn't start doing it when he was five and grew up in the trade? Thanks.
I worked with computers and have been since I was 14, and that is where my intuitive skill set is. But I can't say whether I would be as good or not had I started older.
I'm not quite sure that this is the appropriate place to
> make this inquiry. If this is off topic, or offends anyone
> otherwise, I apologize.
>
> When people ask me what I do, I tell them I'm a
> cabinetmaker.
> I've been in the architectural woodworking/cabinetry
> industry for more than 20 years.
> The lions share of that experience being split pretty evenly
> between retail fixtures and high end residential work. As
> far as my recreational woodworking goes its mostly furniture
> making with heavy Arts & Crafts, Stickley, Greene & Greene
> influences.
>
> In the last eight years I've spent much more time in front
> of my computer designing/engineering than behind my tablesaw
> building. From my perspective, as far as tools go,
> computers are a necessary evil. Tablesaws are fun. Even
> though I've done quite well a self employed
> designer/drafter/engineer, my problem is this: I need more
> fun. This begs the question: What's fun?
>
> One thing that comes through these posts consistently in is
> the fun you're having. Most of you realize that for the cost
> of a decent used car, say $5k-$6k, you can set up a really
> nice home shop and enjoy a pastime that's fun, relaxing,
> rewarding, and cost effective too.
>
> My step father is a retired academic professional and one
> heck of a woodworker. His things are Windsor chairs and,
> more recently, carving. Two or three times a year he heads
> off to some class somewhere that flips his woodworking
> switches. Typically he'll spend a thousand to fifteen
> hundred dollars on a week long class - and come back jazzed
> about the experience.
>
> It's been suggested that I should consider some sort of
> woodworking school that would cater to the recreational,
> weekend warrior type woodworker. This makes sense in a
> couple of ways since, for me, building is fun and sharing
> knowledge is fun.
> Fun notwithstanding, bills still have to get paid. How
> potentially lucrative could such an endeavor be? Think
> about what's spent on golf, or tennis, or cooking lessons
> these days.
>
> Anyone have experiences similar to my stepfather's? Would
> you ever consider taking such a class? If so, what are some
> of the things you'd like to learn? Also, how much would you
> be willing to pay and what would you consider to be value
> for your dollar?
>
> Thanks for your time and input.
>
> -Mark-
>
>