Just Play

After spending a significant time building furniture and other commissions sometime I get weary of following plans or working to fulfill certain concepts that are desired by my patrons and others.

So I make it a rule that every so often at least Once a month I just Play. Whether that is trying a new design or just pushing my hand tool skills as far as I can through experimentation or after reading an old woodwork book and try to emulate the craftsman of old.

I find the sojourns into the past very revealing and satisfying getting in touch as it were with the essence of the craft. Where speed and machine exactness are not the priority. But more of a hindrance to the object of the exercise. Below is the result of the most resent playtime.

All done by hand tools it involved the use of Draw-knives, Chisels, Mallet, Saws, Scrub Plane, Jointer, Jack and Smoothing Plane as well as a small Block Plane, Spoke Shaves and Carving Chisels.

3 days for the construction which involved Dressing Timber from scratch and planing to thickness.

1 Day for the carving.

So that is the pleasure and the results of playing not only is there a wonderful hand made piece at the end. I use it for a Smoko chair! The real benefit is that I am becoming more competent with the use of Hand tools which brings me in closer contact with the material, process and real skill of what it is to be a true woodworker.

On a sobering note based on my hourly rate and the time taken plus materials. To make it a financially rewarding exercise I would have to charge $3067.50 so if you do know of anyone that really has to have one that's what it will cost or they can have this one for a round $2500.00 because I've sat on it.