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View Full Version : creeker interview: Tyler J. Howell



Zahid Naqvi
06-14-2006, 10:43 AM
Ladies and gentleman, I’m honored to partake in this Bio.
For now I want to focus on the upgraded equipment I’ve recently acquired and develop some level of skill.
For many years my passion was working on my home. I love to tinker and claim the title “WW” very loosely. Working with heart and hand I want to do projects without standing on a ladder or rolling in insulation.

1. Name (and nick names)
Tyler J. Howell, T, Sugar Bear, and Captain Yummy.

2. DOB
2/20/53

3. Location (present and previous):
Born and raised in Minneapolis MN. I spent 9 months working in Africa. A lot of time in Oklahoma City for work, back packed and sailed in many parts of the world.

4. Tell us about your family:
My two best teachers are my daughters, Kirstin (med student) and Lyndsae (biomedical engineer/IT specialist). Harley’s my shop dog although he prefers to spend most of his time at a former SO’s house.
My dad was trained in carpentry at the local VoTec. He couldn’t get an apprenticeship. That was the way during the 40s in Minneapolis.
Mom was in nursing, physical therapy and an anesthetist. She worked with Sr. Kenny doing innovative work during the polio epidemic back in the 40s.
The most valuable WW lesson I learned from my dad was how not to care for your tools. (He let me play with them). My great grandfather on my mom’s side was a carpenter. He was said to be able to estimate to the nail the number needed for the construction of a house. Never had the opportunity to learn from him but I know his spirit is with me.

5. How do you earn a living, woodworking or other, any interesting previous occupations?
I’m a manager of technical operations for the FAA. I have 15 airports and 5 air traffic control towers to oversee.
I work in EMS (emergency medical services) in many capacities from provider to instructor. I’ve worked on 3 continents and five countries sharing important information on patient care. I specialize in heavy rescue and extrication.
I’m a PSIA certified ski instructor and former member of the National ski patrol.
I do some boat deliveries, installs, and rigging on sail boats.
I play a little music on the side. Great way to meet people.

6. Equipment overview (hand tools and other):
I am accumulating a nice assortment of planes, chisels, hammers and jigs for hand work from my on going rust hunt. I would tell shop keepers I am a student and they would fall all over themselves to help me out. I’ve learn to rehab and fettle my planes to produce some pretty nice light and fluffies
Electron burners. PM 66, DJ20 Jet14 BS, Jet DC, Perfomax 22/44 and a DW735, 16” Delta DP, and some too nice Festool long tailed wonders.

7. Describe your shop:
I have the whole basement of my home, about 800 sq ft. and I built a 22X24 garage that I use to dimension and store lumber.

8. Tell us about the hand planes you own, and your favorite one(s) to use:
I scored some Stanleys 3,4,5,6,7,8,& 80. LN, & LV planes including a LN 102, LN 60 ½ rabbet block, and York pitched # 4. I have a LV med shoulder plane, & LA Jack
My favorites are 1) LN 102, 2) Bedrock 506C, & 3) LV LA Jack,

9. Your favorite chisels:
I have some Erwin blues and some old Cmans.
I’m acquiring some very nice Iyoroi chisels from Japan.


10. Your favorite handsaw(s):
I prefer the eastern style but must admit I haven’t tried a good western saw.

11. Do you use western tools or Japanese, why do you prefer the ones you use:
Yes. Still learning.

12. Do you have a woodworking home page:
No

13. Do you have any influences in your work? Certain styles or designers you follow/prefer:
I’m most inspired by the tools and products of the common man. America and civilizations long before were built with hand tools

14. Do you have any ancestors who were woodworkers that served as inspiration?
I spoke of my G G Dad., My G dad was a jack of all trades and impressive to watch.
My dad maintained our home and that of his mother and aunt. He didn’t have a lot of tools but did the best he could with what he had.

15. What is your favorite neander project, or part of a project, you have ever done and why:
My only completely neander project is the one in progress. I’m making a Shaker table that should look like the one posted. (Demo table from the Neander Class I took last winter) My table is still a stack of parts. I have used the chisels, back saws and planes to cut, pare and shave trim work for my remuttling projects.

16. Do you believe there is any spiritual dimension to woodworking with hand tools?
Absolutely, the sounds, smells, aches, pains, and satisfaction can be nothing more than a spiritual experience.

17. How much of your work is done by hand tools.
Still a student I’m using the best tool for the job. A lot of my neander work is practice to learn the tools and their abilities. Our instructor emphasized that it was much easier and faster to grab a cordless than, set up a power tool, find an extension cord, do the task then clean up all the saw dust.

18. What is your single most favorite tool, and why.
The LN 102 makes me smile whenever I see it. The fit finish and results never fail to satisfy.
40817

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Ken Fitzgerald
06-14-2006, 11:08 AM
Nice to know more about you Tyler!

Lee DeRaud
06-14-2006, 11:17 AM
The phrases "thong fetish" and "lathe envy" are conspicuous by their absense.:D :cool: :p

Glad to "meet" you, T!

Hank Knight
06-14-2006, 12:00 PM
Thanks Tyler, and thanks again Zahid, for the interview. It's nice to get to know more about the "regulars" here.

Cecil Arnold
06-14-2006, 12:11 PM
What Lee said, and I'm sure happy you included pictures otherwise you would never heard the end of it. Nice to meet you Tyler.

lou sansone
06-14-2006, 12:54 PM
nice bio and great to get to know you a little better
best wishes
lou

Dave Anderson NH
06-14-2006, 12:55 PM
I'm really glad you decided to post a bio/interview. I always enjoy learning more about our members, particularly active ones.

Thanks too to Zahid for initiating and continuing this great series.

John Miliunas
06-14-2006, 1:53 PM
Hey Tyler...Great to get a bit more "detail" on your life! You've got many great accomplishments under your belt, not the least of which is two wonderful daughters! Good job, my friend. :)

And for those of you who may have the tiniest question as to Tyler's involvement with Neander tools, you've not had the pleasure of seeing this guy walk into an antique store specializing in tools!!! Wow! :eek: Talk about a kid in a candy store!!! :D :cool:

Jim Becker
06-14-2006, 1:59 PM
"Captain Yummy"??????? :D :D :D LOL!!

Very nice interview, Tyler. I hope that we'll be able to hook up sometime when/if you visit your med-student daughter here in the Phila area. (Dr. SWMBO is soon to be teaching at Drexel School of Public Health, too)

Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan
06-14-2006, 4:05 PM
Nice to know you a little better!

Cheers!

Vaughn McMillan
06-14-2006, 5:00 PM
Nice interview, Tyler. It's good to know a bit more about the man behind the (Photo Police) badge.

... It's nice to get to know more about the "regulars" here.
I've seen Tyler called a lot of things, but "regular" (as in normal) usually isn't one of them. :p

- Vaughn

Don Baer
06-14-2006, 5:10 PM
Good to get to know you better and I'm sure glad that you didn't include any thong picture..:eek: . Now when are you gonna get that lathe..:D

Rick Schubert
06-14-2006, 5:27 PM
Tyler, Fun to learn more about you and your history! Thanks for sharing.

You forgot to mention the ceiling height in your shop is 5 feet 8 inches!! And that doesn't include all the stuff hanging down from the ceiling.

Rick

Jerry Olexa
06-14-2006, 5:46 PM
Nice interview Tryler of an interesting WWer. Really like your collection of planes AND you did provide pics:D

Bob Noles
06-14-2006, 9:34 PM
ah Tyler...... a nice interview indeed and a very interesting person in all respects. Good to know a little more about you. We always like have complete character background checks on those about to be pulled into the vortex :D

Jerry White
06-14-2006, 10:55 PM
Hey Tyler,

Really nice interview. Its a pleasure to know a little more about you. I'm impressed with all your activities. I know from personal experience that your day job is a demanding one, but I did not know about the EMT work. In addition you serve as Chief of the Picture Police! I'm glad you manage a little time for woodworking. I always enjoy reading your posts. Keep them coming.:)

Jerry

Mark Singer
06-15-2006, 12:16 AM
Tyler,
I love your humor and spirit! Great to know more about you!

Dan Forman
06-15-2006, 3:53 AM
Tyler---You are one busy and diversified guy!!! Enjoyed learning more about you.

Dan

Derek Cohen
06-15-2006, 6:13 AM
Hey Tyler

Great to know you! You have a busy, busy schedule. When do you have time for ww? Which countries have you worked in, and where about in Africa were you based?

Regards from Perth

Derek

Karl Laustrup
06-15-2006, 7:17 AM
Tyler, it was a true pleasure meeting you in LaCrosse. ;) :D

It's good to get to know you better through this interview. Hopefully we'll meet again in the not to distant future.

Karl

Roy Wall
06-15-2006, 11:01 AM
Tyler,

You deliver like no one else on SMC............keep em coming!!!!

Great Bio!!!

Michael Stafford
06-15-2006, 11:07 AM
Well, Sugar Bear aka Captain Yummy, I will just leave those particular terms of endearment alone. I figure anybody who has turned a thong into a woodworking tool is deserving of such descriptive appellations.....:o :D

Tyler, you are a man of many talents. It is always a pleasure to read your posts as it was a pleasure to read your interview.

Lee DeRaud
06-15-2006, 11:10 AM
I figure anybody who has turned a thong into a woodworking tool...I think Tyler would prefer the phrase "converted a thong"...
what you said has implications he is trying (futilely) to avoid.:D