Kinda Stumped

This goes for a few things going on right now. The easy ones are about the new workshop, mainly, what kind of heat to install. I’ve been absolutely wrecked with a sinus infection for the last week and a half, including during the last half of the Temple chair class. And just the thought of putting gas fired blowers in the benchroom makes my head hurt. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is a sad mistatement, it should be more like “exposure over a lifetime will surely make you as delicate as a butterfly wing”, I’m beginning to think Darth Vader had the right idea. My new dust mask is coming today and I plan on wearing it.

I’ve been considering other heat options that don’t just heat and move air. I currently only have a 100 amp service to the barn, which limits my options for radiant heat panels, which is my second choice. I could run more service out there if it makes sense. I also plan on adding solar to the shop roof, which would be much nicer than buying gas forever. Putting radiant in the slab would be nice, but I don’t want to keep that heat sink going all winter. I’m probably going to reduce my teaching months from March through November in years to come, so there’s no need to heat the entire space. If anyone has ideas are experience they would like to share, I’d love to hear it. The mill where I currently have my shop has the Modine Hot Dawg Heaters, and they do a fine job of heating the air, but I hate the noise, dryness and unnecessary dust movement. I’ll open the comments to everyone on this post to get a broader view of the options

The other thing stumping me has been lingering in my mind since I was asked to give talk at the New Hampshire Guild of Woodworkers 2nd Annual Woodworking Competion.

Elliot Savitsky, who is the President of the group and a former participant in my classes asked me to give the talk. He mentioned their interest in speaking to young folks getting into the craft. You might have read some of my “Letter to a Young Woodworker” posts from my old blog or reposted here. If all I need to do is to convey my passion for the craft and happy place in it, well, that’s easy. But I’m concerned, not that I would paint too rosy or dark a picture of what it’s like to make one’s way in craft, but that my experience is simply no longer relevant. I’ve been watching the field over the past years, and can’t help but notice the new paths opening everyday. I’ve taken advantage of some (instagram, blogging etc) but have steered clear of others. When I see what some folks can pull for themselves in the way of opportunity, I feel I’ve let lots of potential slip by because I’m not putting myself out there enough. But the younger folks seem to get this already, they understand branding beyond the farm market/craft fairs where I started showing my chairs.

I got my first woodworking job in ‘93 helping a cabinet maker in Chicago by cold calling shops in the phone book. This fact alone makes me feel like a dinosaur, when did you last see a phone book? One distinct moment I witnessed while teaching at North Bennet Street really drove home the shifting landscape . One year, the students didn’t just sit down at their shavehorses and start shaving, first they set up their mini tripods and phones to capture the entire experience. Again, I’m not criticizing, I am just questioning what I would say to these folks. The advent of the internet has been a huge boon to interested individuals finding each other and the conveyance of all sorts of information. I’ve certainly benefited from this. But it’s a brave new world out there, and while I can make a chair, I don’t think I’m the expert on making a career in the craft today or the opportunities that exist. I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts, but please be kind, the world is moving fast and it’s an easy pitfall to confuse differences in experience with difference in motives.

For those following along, here are some shots of the barn project. It’s starting to move along. I am feeling lots of decision fatigue, but I can stay underwater for a few more months, it’ll be worth it.

This is after they put in the gravel to level the ol barn.

And after the pour, we lost some height, but it’s still plent for full use in the center and lots of storage on the sides. Jeff, who did the work on the outside of the house is siding this barn as we speak.

Meanwhile Chris has been stripping the planks off the south barn.

We have space in Bern Chandley’s Lowbow class in early December, it’s a beautiful chair and of course, Bern is the best. Email info@petergalbert.com to claim the space.