another Maloof style rocker

[khalid]

Excellent work.

[Brian Harnett]

Coming along nicely.

[scottp55]

Andrew, shot this thread to my Dad in an e-mail "The Shopbot is a tool---THIS is Craft". Just got a reply and Dad as a rule doesn't use profanity,
"This person is one h-ll of a good craftsman obviously working in one h-ll of a good shop.

Great to see." Thought I'd pass it on.

[Ajcoholic]

Andrew, shot this thread to my Dad in an e-mail "The Shopbot is a tool---THIS is Craft". Just got a reply and Dad as a rule doesn't use profanity,
"This person is one h-ll of a good craftsman obviously working in one h-ll of a good shop.

Great to see." Thought I'd pass it on.

I agree - the shopbot IS a tool... but, so are all my other machines, and also my rasps, chisels and carving tools, various knives, planes, etc.

That's one thing I have a hard time with - when some "traditional" woodworkers suggest using the CNC technology is somehow "cheating". I've hand carved too many furniture parts to know I CAN do it the "old way". I still enjoy doing it - when I can do it on my own time. However, when you are trying to make something in multiples, and for a customer to a particular price point - it makes 100% good sense if you have something to quicken the build time - yet the finish work is still done by "the hands" so to speak.

What I really need to do is probe my arm when I have it finished shaped. I bought the probe when I got my machine 2 years ago - never used it yet. Before I glue on these arms onto the chair I really need to figure out the probe.

Seats I find easy now. Backs are coming along as well.

More complex shapes like the back slats and the arms, I would like to model in Aspire - but I think probing would be a good option.

Tools are tools to me... been there done that Want to do it faster, cheaper, and make me more $$ at this point in my life!

Good conversation - I like discussing this stuff. No one around here I know is a real furniture builder but myself. Some cabinet guys (who I enjoy speaking to, dont get me wrong) but I miss spending time with my father, and the guy I used to work with (that now runs my old shop) discussing design, techniques, etc.

[ssflyer]

Andrew,

I had my probe for quite awhile. before I used it, but when I did, it paid for itself many time over, doing some reproduction lion and gargoyle corbels to match an 18th century wall brought over from Belgium. The probe takes a bit to use properly, and takes a long time to get an accurate, detailed 3D file from, but works well.

[ssflyer]

BTW, did I mention I'm somewhat in awe of you work? I sometimes myself sitting here, looking at your work and your shop, with my mouth hanging open!

[scottp55]

Ron beat me to it Andrew, Always look forward to your posts,but I know my patience level and skills and they don't begin to approach yours. You have a "Knack". This is my limit of patience. Keep up the good work and don't sell this one.
p.s., I can finish the small stuff, but notice 15 yrs later the doors are still on the floor on the barrister cases.

[Ajcoholic]

Well, thanks guys. But, I still think of myself as somewhat of an "apprentice". I may have been doing this for a while (gulp.. ill be 44 this year) but there are days when I feel like I'm just fresh out of college, and still hear my father's voice in my head asking what's going on

Scott - the best thing I can say is that like most things in life, you either have a passion for it or not. Custom woodworking is what I eat, breathe and dream of 24/7. If you WANT to do something, you just keep at it until you get it. I go to work looking forward to it each day. And in all honesty the biggest disappointment for me is that I know I will probably never come close to making even a small fraction of the things I want to try. I have so many pieces I'd love to try and build (for myself) but of course, when you have a shop to keep running - paid work for customers comes first.

Ideally I would love to prototype new furniture ideas, try new techniques, etc every day.

Ron, I will force myself to get the probe out and use it... I know it will pay off. Thanks!

[Ajcoholic]

p.s., I can finish the small stuff, but notice 15 yrs later the doors are still on the floor on the barrister cases.

Man, I thought I was bad for work at home...

I told my wife in 2007 I was doing our kitchen. I am just now actually working on it! I started in August last year, but had to leave it after casing the cabinets. A few weeks ago I said OK that's enough... and have a deadline of the end of March to get it finished. 7 years late, better than never!

[myxpykalix]

Yeah that Honey-do list always seems to come up last