General Interest Question - WW Heroes

[Guy Baxter]

Who are your Woodworking Heroes?

Some of you may be lucky enough to name your father, grandfather, or a woodworking neighbor or teacher. Some household names which come to mind right away are the Stickley bros, FL Wright, or Sam Maloof. Who would you say has had the most influence on your woodworking ambition / directions / techniques / vision / goals?

I'm just interested in discovering other sources of inspiration.

Thanks!

[scott spencer]

Well, without Pappy I wouldn't be here, but as far as wwing goes, "Norm" was first and foremost before I even got started. There are a few others I've come to admire over the years...even some who can probably cut circles around Norm, but I still enjoy his show and EVERYONE equates him with wwing.

[Keith Christopher]

By far my grandfather he was AMAZING. But I would have to say since his passing a few years ago it is David Marks.

[Nick Mitchell]

James Krenov; the spiritual master of woodworking imo.

[Corey Hallagan]

That guy at the shopping center 35 years ago who was using and promoting the Shopsmith. I thought some day I want to do that!

Corey

[Jim Becker]

For inspiration to dig in...Norm Abram. For inspiration toward project design, Thos Moser and George Nakashima with a few other folks thrown in for good measure. No known woodworkers "in the family" and I didn't start until in my 40s...

[Carl Eyman]

Ever since my first visit to Colonial Williamsburg in the mid eighties - and with every visit since - I come away from there full of energy and enthusiasm. The current crew of Mack Headley and associates is super.

[Roger Bell]

Nick Oprisu. Shop teacher in 6th grade. A required class for all boys. He made me start out with a cutting board sized piece of rough sawn ash. The job was to square it up on all six sides with a #5. The stated objective was to square up a board rather than to "make" something. It took weeks (if I recall right). Each time I thought I had it and asked for inspection, I learned that "close enough is not good enough"....(I am certain I recall that right). By the time I had it done to standard, it was perhaps 2" wide and 6" long and maybe half inch thick. But it was square on all six sides.

[Dan Forman]

Having recently read "The Fine Art of Cabinet Making", Krenov must be near the top of the list. I also like what I have seen of David Charlesworth.
Both of these men seem to approach woodworking with a warm reverence. Krenov in particular has a way of drawing in, including the reader in his musings, as if he were sitting right there having a conversation.

I'm just getting into woodworking, but an appreciation of what can be done with wood began when I got a look at some nice handmade guitars back in the seventies.

Dan

[Jason Tuinstra]

Without a doubt Christian Becksvoort!

[Bryan Nuss]

Next to my father, who introduced me to wood working on the Shopsmith in the late 1950's, I would say it would be R.J. Cristoforo.

The first book of his I read (Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone - published 1955) was on how to use the Shopsmith and all its attachments. It was extremely well written and illustrated. He subsequently wrote many good books on woodworking which I have found very helpful.

[John M. Cioffi]

Norm would be the initial,as well as continual influence.Also David Marks.

John... Learning a bit from all @ SMC.

[Bill Arnold]

Although I was exposed to a variety of tools from a very young age by my grandfather, uncles and father, they weren't 'woodworkers'. I butchered a few small items over the years and bought a few books, but finally started getting 'the bug' by watching Norm.

Norm inspired me to try new things, including adapting ideas and designing items to suit my wife and me. Then, along came David Marks to 'kick it up a notch (or three)'. Between watching these two guys and reading about some of the works of many of the 'masters', I'm attempting things I never thought I could do.

On a local and more personal level, I have Vernon Blackadar to thank for pushing me to 'go public' with some of my work. Vern is a very accomplished woodworker and has been featured in national publications. He's a terrific person and always has time to discuss projects -- his and mine.

[John Hart]

I never really had a mentor unfortunately. I used to like Norm until he used an industrial beltsander, the size of my woodshop, to sand the top of a dining room table. I would have to say that I've learned more on SMC in three months than I've learned on my own over the last 15-20 years. The accumulative knowledge here is astronomical.

[Richard Wolf]

Mike Dunbar(Windsor Chair guru). I was involved in woodworking long before this, but I happen to pick up his book on windsor chairs about 13 years ago, before his school really took off, and was very impressed and inspired by his philosophy and work. I have loved building chairs since then.

Richard

[Steve Wargo]

Maloof, Nakashima, Krenov, Becksvort, Frank Klauzs (a fellow Hungarian) are a few of my favorites. I really like the work of the Seymours, but for this day and age, having actually gotten to see a a bunch of his work up close, Garrett Hack is top notch. Never have I seen such perfection. I went over a dozen of his pieces and just couldn't find a flaw in finish, execution, or design.

[Rob Overton]

Mr. Zindler, a Carpenter. He was working on the Shadids house in 1933, I think. He built a small desk for my Friend Kay. First time I had seen anything go from board to finished project.

[Jeff Sudmeier]

You know, I was thinking about this topic for awhile and I really can't think of any! I admire David Marks and do enjoy his show, but I wouldn't say he is my inspiration. My grandfather did woodwork, but he liked to be in his shop by himself. He didn't share his knowledge.

I guess I would say that I don't have a woodworking Hero, I started out woodworking because I couldn't afford the furniture I wanted...

[Ken Kimbrell]

I never really had a mentor unfortunately. I used to like Norm until he used an industrial beltsander, the size of my woodshop, to sand the top of a dining room table. I would have to say that I've learned more on SMC in three months than I've learned on my own over the last 15-20 years. The accumulative knowledge here is astronomical.

Sounds like me!:)
Through the years I've watched Norm a lot and those router guys a couple of times and read stuff by some of the others mentioned, but SMC has been my biggest education.

[Chuck Harris]

First My Dad. Second Mrs. Reed my 3rd grade shop teacher.

[Michael Gibbons]

Norm was the first from that fateful Saturday morning many years ago and in a very close second are the Shakers.


Mike

[Doug Shepard]

Dad, Grandpa, Norm, David Marks, Tage Frid, Frank Klauzs, Gary Rogowski, Mario Rodriguez, Ian Kirby - and others I'm forgetting at the moment - have given me tips, ideas, techniques. FWW mag has been a great source for ideas. The gallery pics especially - where you can see what's really possible if you put your mind to it.

Then there's Noah. Anyone who can whip up a supertanker sized boat with Neander tools and a few relatives on a short deadline and have it actually float has got to be some kind of WW hero. Anybody catch that show on DVD?;)

[Maurice Ungaro]

For design and integrity, my father, Nick Ungaro. He went to Pratt Institute of Design after World War II, and in the 1950's took a job in Louisville, Kentucky with the Kroehler Furniture Co. There, he became Chief of Design, and also won numerous awards for suits of furniture that ranged from Queen Ann inspired interpretations of colonial Bermuda pieces to contemporary/modern designs. In 1967, he struck out on his own and formed UDA - Ungaro Design Associates, and went on to free-lance for every major, and some not so major, furniture manufacturer of case goods in America. He passed away in March of 1997, and worked until the day he died.

For craftsmanship, there are two guys:
1) My brother, Pierre, who can literally craft anything from any material. He's also my "go to guy" when I have questions about tools and materials. I knew I had accomplished something, when my brother inspected some of my work, and was impressed.

2) John Shroeder. You'll never read about him in any book or magazine, but Mr. Shroeder was a classic carpenter. He worked on renovation projects for us, and would take the city bus to our house every day that he was on the job. He always wore a pressed white shirt and his grey fedora, and carried his wooden tote box of tools with him. In fact, I never heard an electric tool used when he was working.

[Matt McCormick]

Mine is............ Tyler Howell!!! He warmly welcomed me on my first post in the creek and I have been meaning to thank him for it. In a way I really mean it, I looked up some of his posts when he welcomed me and I see he is quite a guy and a good Woodworker to boot. Friendly and knowledgeable makes him a hero to me.

[Ken Salisbury]

WHO ELSE ? ?

BOB VILLA


http://www.oldrebelworkshop.com/roflmao.gif

[Scott Coffelt]

My dad and grandpa ultimately got me started.

Since then I can say there have been many inspirations, but lately folks on this board inspire me the most... from the modern outputs of Mr. Singer to the totally inspiring work of Mr. Burch and all those in between.

Anyone who inspires to take a natural resource and turn it into something else is an inspiration.

[Vaughn McMillan]

My early influences were my grandad and eventually my high school shop teacher. Beyond that, it's mostly been pieces I've seen, not people I've met, that have inspired me to try building new things.

The latest addition to my list of inspirarions is the entire SMC group. The breadth and depth of the combined pool of knowledge here is astounding, and the fact that so many people here are willing to share their expertise (without the typical cockiness or holier-than-thou attitude) is inspirational.

- Vaughn

[Steve Ash]

Two people....first my dad who taught 4-H woodworking for years and his voice is always in the back of my mind (slow down son, take your time, this is finish work not rough framing :D ) He is still working wood at 80. The other is Charles Rasmussen, a guy who gave me my first job. He was a Residential building contractor ( and urged me to do the same) but he also had a very nice woodworking shop that he spent his time in during the winter. He always was more than recptive to let me do any kind of project I wanted to using his tools and advice. I'll always be indebted to these two men.

[Alan Turner]

Tage Frid was my initial inspiration to pick up hand tools. His books are still well regarded, and I had the privilige of meeting him at a weekend seminar in about 1980 or so and he was the complete gentleman. The Eighteenth Century makers, and esp. John Townsend, are well worth close study. The design ingenuity of their work is best appreciated in the context of building a piece of furn. based upon their designs. The total integration of design is not oft seen in today's work. The recently posted Goddard table by John Davidson is one example of a piece that totally hangs together, in all of its larger and smaller details.

[Dale Rodabaugh]

A good friend of mine,who I worked with for many years.He is mainly into carving,and making canes.Then a few years ago I stated watching Norm,when he was on HGTV every morning.Now HGTV has a bunch of younguns running around pretending to be remodeling specialists,nothing interesting at all.Oh well I guess thats progress.

[Frank Pellow]

I will restrict myself to one family member and one person outside the family, although there are many in both these categories.

The family member is Frank Rosseter, my granddad. He was a very busy man being both a civil engineer and an architect, but he always welcomed me to his shop, he was always interested in whatever I was doing, and he always took the time to demonstrate and explain things (of all sorts, but primarily woodworking and carpentry) to me.

The other is Jim Tolpin. I have read about and admired many of his projects, and, in particular, I like JIm's the book: "The Toolbox Book".

[Keith Starosta]

This is just about as easy a question to answer as I've run across at SMC. Without a doubt, it is my Pops. When I was growing up, he would always want me to come spend some time in the shop, but I always seemed too busy doing whatever young boys do. It wasn't until just a few years before he died that I started to show an interest in his passion for woodworking. Since his death, I've inherited his shop, and also his love of working wood. While I have learned so much from the members of this forum since I joined, my Dad was then, and always will be, my inspiration and my hero.

Love ya, Pops.....

Keith

[Mike Tempel]

Well, I too will vote for family members in my dad and grandpa. Both are wonderful men in their own right and both taught me alot both life and WW'ing. I will have to add that there is one person wading around here that I sincerely look forward to reading his posts and seeing the fruits of his labor and that would be Mark Singer. From everything that I have seen and read I believe him to be a good role model in many ways. I will resist the temptation to get all mushy but I have to say that this is one man that I have grown to admire. I wouldn't say that he is my "hero" but I do think he is a good man. My dad and my granddad were my heros.

[Jim Dannels]

While building construction and remodeling was something Pop was always doing and 6 sons were cheap labor.
The credit for my interest in furniture and woodworking goes to a guy no longer with us. George Hansel, taught woodshop at my highschool.
I thought he was a crabby old coot who had no clue. He did have some odd ideas.
I was more into Girls, Cars, and raising heck, thought I paid little attention.
A number of years ago when I got back into woodworking, I was amazed to find I remembered so many of the tricks he taught me in cutting Mortise & Tenon joints by hand and almost missed the pot of hide glue he isisted we use.
I truly regret that he probably died thinking I was his greatest failure.

Then of course there is Norm & Roy Underhill.