Age of woodworkers.

[Dave Lehnert]

I was talking to a person who worked for a woodworking power tool manufacture and he said their biggest problem is the lack of younger woodworkers. Said their market is older and they have less of a need for new tools. They tend to buy replacement parts. This was at a factory event and I was the youngest one there by a long shot. I'm 39

So I was wondering what is the average age of us woodworkers on here.

[Glenn Howard]

41 here...but then again, I'm a noob so that may do more to confirm their theory than not.

[David DeCristoforo]

It's right around 99...

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Pushing 60.....

[Ron Dunn]

I'm 48.

Without knowing the manufacturer, I think they should be looking in the mirror rather than at their customers.

Where is the innovation in woodworking machinery? Why, for example, is there no replacement for the Inca thickness planer? Instead, every manufacturer has a clone of his competitor, often all made in the one small set of factories.

Where is the innovation in sizing? I know it is popular for people in these forums to recommend bigger, heavier, more powerful machines; but market demographics and housing are changing, and people need smaller, portable or benchtop equipment. Most of what is out there SUCKS.

Perhaps they need to look at the quality of their equipment. Older users may be prepared to pay for HIGH QUALITY, ACCURATE machinery. "Fettling" should be a thing of the past, or an occasional maintenance task ... not something which requires 2-3 days of effort before a newly delivered machine starts to deliver good work.

Hmm. I'm ranting. But you pressed a button with that manufacturer's perception of a problem with his market, rather than his product.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

The fact that a lot of woodworkers are older might just be the natural progression of raising a family. I make above the national average salary plus overtime yet, while I had kids at home or in college, I couldn't have afforded to have the woodworking tools or the shop that I have now. Once we got an empty nest and got a few bills paid off, then I could afford to build a shop and outfit it with tools.

Prior to that we were too busy feeding, clothing and educating children and running them to their activities.

[Paul Snowden]

28 years old

[Mark Rios]

I don't see my category listed. I'm 167.

[Rick Fisher]

I agree with Ken.
I am 41. I have been woodworking for 6 years. During my 20's, I wasnt into it. Early 30's I couldnt afford to think about it. Mortgage took 45%??

Anyhow, as I got older, money became for fluid and I could afford to buy the odd tool.

The interest came about 5 years before the ability.

[John Schreiber]

That's me. I'm


too busy feeding, clothing and educating children and running them to their activities.

They are getting more independent now and I can actually spend hours at a time in the shop, but it's still a rare thing.

Since you asked 45 yoa.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I don't see my category listed. I'm 167.

Months?:confused:

[Seth Poorman]

Im 46 ! :confused:
I must be getting younger cause my wife says Im better looking than I used to be.....:D

[Seth Poorman]

Months?:confused:

Moons ... :D .... LOL

[Norman Pyles]

Fifty seven in a few months. But yesterday I was only forty.

[Chris Kennedy]

33. I pretty much agree with what's been said. I started earlier when I had a lull in my life, but now with wife and a kid and a mortgage, I am getting to spend less and less time in the shop.

Cheers,

Chris

[John Keeton]

Thought I was creeping up on 60 this year, but after a 3 day weekend with 6 grandkids, I find that I am running at breakneck speed toward 60!

Our children, although most live local, are so involved with their children's activities (soccer, other sports, etc.) that they do not have time for hobbies. Seems like there has been a dramatic shift in family dynamics. My parents were wonderful role models, but they expected me to create my own entertainment - we hunted, fished, built things (crudely, but methodically), and life just seems to be different now. The parents of today seem to be fully engrossed in "entertaining" the children.

When my son settled in his home about 8-10 years ago, I bought him a tablesaw as a start on woodworking - hoping he would take up my hobby. Not sure it has been turned on since. Also hoped we would spend some time in the woods together - he has no time! We have five children and between work and their involvement in the activities of their children, they are consumed. Not only does it take their time, it takes all of their available financial resources.

The focus seems to have drifted away from the creative hobbies.

It is an expensive hobby - it also takes space which is not often present in some of the homes of today. Most families have at least two vehicles and the garage is overflowing. Few have separate buildings available.

Ron Dunn has some valid points as well. It probably is a difficult market, but seems that those that do woodworking have the financial means and will pay for innovation - SawStop and Festool are living proof. If the manufacturers would concentrate on quality, not quantity and duplication, it could be a more fruitful endeavor for them.

[NICK BARBOZA]

sounds like so far im the baby.. im 24. but i act older!! i think... it just means that i have a long life of WW ahead of me.

Cheers,
Nick

[Matt Hutchinson]

Well, sounds like I am on the younger side also --- 28.

Hutch

[Charles P. Wright]

I'm 26. I get my WW time as a few hours on the weekend when my in-laws come so my wife isn't alone with the two kids. I have to split the time between home improvement and WW.

[Billy Chambless]

It is an expensive hobby - it also takes space which is not often present in some of the homes of today. Most families have at least two vehicles and the garage is overflowing. Few have separate buildings available.



I was about to post something flippant about people wising up and buying hand tools instead of machines, but the space issue might be causing exactly that.

I'd be curious to see what sort of sales trends Lee Valley, Lie-Nielsen, et al have been seeing.

[Mitchell Andrus]

Months?:confused:

Dog years.
.

[Jim Becker]

Very nice bell curve there...about what I suspected it would be, too.

[Jeffrey Makiel]

When I correct my calendar age for wear and abuse, I'm around 95. :)

-Jeff :)

[Lee Koepke]

I guy I used to work with ( in his early 50s at the time ) built scale model dollhouses for his grandkids. He was working on an exact replica of his own house. "how in the world can you do that detailed type of work" , his response was "age, and children, give a man patience. it takes patience to do precision woodworking" .... I see his point now. I am 42ish and have just started 'fine' woodworking. I have always built things, but never furniture type stuff. I now can take my time and be focused on the end result.

[George Sanders]

I'll be 58 in 2 weeks. I can still do everything I did when younger but it takes twice as long. I can bend down real easy; getting back up is the problem. Still, I don't mind getting older; considering the alternative.
I like older machines that have a lot of cast iron. They are heavy, solid, no nonsense machines that do what is asked of them without balking. There are very few manufacturers today that have not bowed to the bean counters and sacrificed quality for quantity. My old Craftsman table saw from the 50's is better than any aluminum top contractor saw I have seen at the borgs. My Parks planer can eat any benchtop alive. I have had the new cheap stuff and it is disappointing to say the least. The old heavy iron will still be usable when my grandson is old enough to use them.

[Larry Fox]

42 here. I agree with other posters on the points they make about the balance between creative hobbies and "life". I also can see the space issue as well. In some of these newer developments, even if you have the space there are some pretty hefty restrictions put in place, especially around noise, to maintain the "harmony".

[Brian D Anderson]

33 Here. Keep in mind this is an internet poll. The results should be skewed a bit towards the younger side, since a lot of them there old folks don't use the internets. :D

-Brian

[Rod Sheridan]

I'm 50, and have been woodworking since my teens. My children have completed their post secondary educations and are now making their way in the world.

I live in a townhouse, so the shop is in the basement, and space is an issue.

I recently sold a jointer and cast iron planer to purchase a Hammer A3-31, to get more capacity in the jointer, and more shop space.

I guess I began in the standard method, contractor saw, drill press, small jointer, then slowly purchased an Oneida cyclone, a General 650, a bandsaw, lathe, Hammer A3-31 etc.

As some members have indicated, it takes space, and many new houses have completely finished basements. In addition, many younger people don't have hobbies.

The economy may also be a factor, many people work longer hours, for less money than most of us did.

I work with people that are on average 20 years younger than me, and none of them have a hobby such as woodworking or vintage motorcycles (which consumes my single car garage).

I belong to a turning club, and both the men and women members seem to have grey hair and plaid shirts.

I don't think woodworking will die out, people will begin by remodelling their homes, then progress to furniture making as their interest develops.

Regards, Rod.

P.S. The 3 motorcycle clubs I belong to have the same demographics, the BMW MOA club has an average member age of 53.

[Adam Cavaliere]

I am 27 and have for awhile felt that I was on the "younger" side of woodworking. The reason I have felt this is the amount of help I have gotten at my local Woodcraft and another hardware store near me that isn't a BORG. I call it the gray factor to my wife. I don't have it and they don't help me as much.

I have seen a change as I have kept going and they have seen me drop some pretty big coin on different woodoworking tooks lately.

As far as time is concerned, I am married, but no children yet. I think in another couple of years that will change. I am in an MBA program which takes much of my time, but when I get out into the shop, all of the stresses of work and school go away! I felt pretty lucky to be out there all day yesterday!

[Eric DeSilva]

43, but as they say, its not the age, its the mileage.

Some good observations here regarding funds for tools and space--until last year, I didn't live in a house that had room for a shop.

Even though I've been woodworking on and off (thanks to Dad's shop, must mostly "off" since it was a good hour away) for about 25+ years, the exuberance of youth led me to spend my free time engaged in endorphin-generating pursuits--rock climbing, ice climbing, skiing, single track mountain biking. While I tell myself that my new fondness for lower impact hobbies is because I have a new child and new respect for mortality, the reality is probably that between tendonitis, recurrent joint problems, and some serious scar tissue, I'm just getting old.

[John Schreiber]

. . . Our children, although most live local, are so involved with their children's activities (soccer, other sports, etc.) that they do not have time for hobbies. Seems like there has been a dramatic shift in family dynamics. My parents were wonderful role models, but they expected me to create my own entertainment - we hunted, fished, built things (crudely, but methodically), and life just seems to be different now. The parents of today seem to be fully engrossed in "entertaining" the children. . . .
I think that is an excellent point. The trend is toward children who's every moment is scheduled and who always have someone to tell them what to do and how. There's no opportunity to work things out themselves. As a parent of school age children I keep fighting this trend, but I'm also afraid to let my kids miss out on "opportunities" which other kids have. :confused:

Another big factor is the missing housewife. It now takes two breadwinners to maintain a middle class life and the house still needs to be cleaned. I don't care whether it is the husband or the wife who goes to work, but with both working, and even more responsibilities in the family, we are so busy we don't have time get anything extra done or even think a little.:(

[Tony Bilello]

It look like most woodworkers fall between their 30' and 50's. I would have thought it would be more between their 50's and 60's. When I lived in Little Rock, we had a small woodturners club that met at my shop. We always joked that nobody quits this club, we just bury them.
I think the decline in woodworking as hobby is partly attributed to a different financial status at different ages, but mainly due to lack of interest. Like most things us oldies did when we were younger have been replaced by newer high tech hobbies and toys. Some of the sports the younger generation is into would scare me to death. Lots of young people are into extreme sports and hobbies.
I guess each generation or so, has its own 'thing'.
God bless them all.

Tony B

[Eric DeSilva]

It look like most woodworkers fall between their 30' and 50's.

Hmm... I wonder whether there is a large sample of non-internet-forum-using WWs in the higher age bracket. SMC is sort of a non-representative sample.

[Ben Rafael]

This doesn't take a genius to figure out.
When I was in my 20's I was chasing girls. What 20 year old is going to waste their time woodworking when there are so many many hot girls out there?:D
In your 30's you start cooling down. In your 40's your wife probably wont take too kindly to her husband chasing girls, at that point the only smart thing to do is woodworking.

[Gary Muto]

The distribution is better than I expected and the average age is lower too. I just turned 45 and it seems like I'm younger than most people I see at my local stores and events.

[Steve Clardy]

I don't see my category listed. I'm 167.


Ok. Older than dirt huh. Lol :D




As Jack Benny used to say, I've been 39 for 39 years.


Nope, not my age, just something I remember from watching that old coot on TV.:D

[NICK BARBOZA]

Hmm... I wonder whether there is a large sample of non-internet-forum-using WWs in the higher age bracket. SMC is sort of a non-representative sample.

Well SMC might not be a "fair" sample but any young folk who are into WW are most likely pretty into the internet and it's extensive information base. Thus, the WW's who are not using the web based resources such as the 'Creek are pushing the true bell curve even farther to the "old" category.

at least thats my take on it...
Nick

[Tyler Howell]

55 years young!!! and gettin better every day:D:D

[Wright Woodall]

I'm 28 and a have very few friends or acquaintances my age that do woodworking or anything like it. Seems like most of them are hunting, golfing, or playing video games.. I have nothing against any of those, I just don't have time or money for too many hobbies. I'll stick to woodworking and fishing, thank you.

[glenn bradley]

At first I was thinking that younger people don't have the money for this hobby but I corrected myself. When I was doing the rock 'n' roll thing in high school and college I had way more money in music gear than I have invested in my shop. I am afraid it may be that many young folks aren't exposed to it to trigger the interest(?).

[Travis Lavallee]

I am the young one here at 23. I also suspect the results are skewed to the younger end because of the lack of exposure to the internet for some of the older crowd.

[Rick Levine]

I turned 62 last March, retired as an IT professional after 15 years and prior to that was a professional photographer for nearly 30 years. I have spent nearly 10 grand in the last 2 years on new tools. So much for only the younger generation buying new tools and not using the Internet!

[Lee Schierer]

So far the curve looks to be a normal distribution. Younger people don't have the wherewithall to buy equipment and have other things on their minds (dating, marriage, making kids & job).

[richard poitras]

Isn’t this thread against some kind of discrimination in some kind of woodworkers hand book? Or something like that ….just kidding 48 years here and have been doing it for about 31 years and loving every minute of it! :eek:;):):):)

[Brian W Evans]

Adam,

I know exactly what you're talking about. I have an independent woodworking store near me and, when I first started going in there 3-4 years ago at age 33, they all but ignored me. Not so with the older guys I'd see in there, or the cabinet shop pros. However, now that I've spent some serious money there, they go out of their way to talk to me.

Is this related to age, or would they do this to anyone who hadn't "proven" himself by spending a lot of money? I can't say. I did always feel like it was because of my age/experience level, however.

[Dave Stuve]

Damn - I was in my 30's two weeks ago, and now for the first time in my life I have to click the 40's box.... I may have to go back out into the shop to cheer myself up!

I think it was 4 years ago when I made my first bookshelf using a handplane, a Bosch portable table saw, and some glue. Now I'm hooked and send Lee Valley and Woodcraft most of my spending money...

I'm lucky in that I get to work from home most days, so I get to spend my lunch hours and 'commuting time' in the shop making lots of noise and sawdust.

Dave

[alex grams]

26 here. I am lucky to have a good education that got me a good job that allows me to have a house with the room and money to buy the tools I have.

I am married and no children yet. I worked in a family cabinet shop some when I was in High School. Then when college came around and right after college while living in an apartment, I had no time/space/money to do woodworking. When I got a house i almost immediately began working on it, and love every minute.

I look forward to long weekends with no plans so i can just smoke a brisket and work in the garage on projects.

[Shawn Honeychurch]

39 going on 20.

I have discovered that wood working actually reverses the aging process, the more sawdust you make the younger you get. :D

Also acquiring more tools assists this process.

Shawn

[Brent Ring]

45 and feeling older. I have not had the space, or the resources, but as my children start leaving, I am getting resources. Time is always difficult, but isn't it for everyone?
;)

[John Thompson]

61 in October.. After looking at the percentages in the poll.... I have "jockey shorts" that are as old as 25% and if you added shop tee shirts it would be closer to 50%.

Where has all the geritol and viagra gone? :)

Sarge..

[Ron Bontz]

Well I just turned 50 this past year. I have been playing with wood since I was in high school. There are a lot of variables going into a company's decisions these days. Demographics are but one and yes with the onset of the electronics age: ie: computers, gaming etc. the younger gens. are just not being introduced to the "all things take time". It's too easy to go out and buy a "looks pretty" piece of junk from China or where ever. Use it for awhile and then throw it away. In fact our society has become so obsessed with having lots of goodies we have to rent storage containers. Grand ma would have the same table for thirty years or more. Lets face it, we as consumers have a lot to do with buy cheap and forget about quality. Not to mention that supply and demand curve. So long as there is a third world country to exploit, govt.'s and corporations will do so. Rather than worry about quality control, etc. It's all about the dollar at one level or another. Quality labor doesn't come cheap. If it did very few of us would have those nice tools to pass on to our children etc. Even those companies have to make a buck some where along the line. The cycle continues. Economics is a subject that could be debated for a very long time.

[Brent Ring]

the exuberance of youth led me to spend my free time engaged in endorphin-generating pursuits--rock climbing, skiing, single track mountain biking. ...the reality is probably that between tendonitis, recurrent joint problems, and some serious scar tissue, I'm just getting old.

At 45, with similar experiences, I feel like Eric. 4 scopes on the RT knee, and tendonitis surgeries on both elbows make the harder core physical activities more difficult, and the smiles on others faces when projects get complete have made woodworking a bit more emotionally rewarding.

My older children like the completed projects, and one has an interest in the more "artsy" side of wood carving. I expect when they realize they can get better quality handmade, then that will change.

We live in such an instant gratification society, and that in and of itself makes woodworking a bit more difficult to find gratification in, unless you have patience and excitement for a "well-done", beautiful job, AND the journey it took to get there!

I love the journey!

[Peter Quadarella]

SO, if the average age for each age group is of the form, 24.5, 34.5, 44.5, etc., and we just take a WAG and assume the average for the above 70 crowd is 78, then I get an average age of 46 with the current results. Sounds about right to me.

[Kevin Stobb]

I am 26 years old and absolutely love woodworking. I was corrupted by the bug via my grandpa, and in high school. I just recently started a small woodworking business, and love every minute. I still work a full time job, and already am getting behind in the shop, so I am hoping that trend continues. I purchased all of my tools with money saved, so I figure if I do not make it as a business, I am not in debt to anybody. But as of now things look good, and I love every second I can get in the shop. I hope to pass the tradition on to my kids, and grandkids.

[Harry Niemann]

I'm 73,and I've had so many years to add to my collection that I really don't see anything new to buy. The more power tools I have, it seems that I find myself reverting to hand tools more and more. I guess for the challenge of it.

[Ed Breen]

I'm like Harry, in that I've been wwing for many years. I'm 79 years old, I get up every morning (except Fridays) and go to work. My woodworking slows in the summer. To make a bigger problem for the manufacturers, I just ended up with my FIL's shop on top of my own. He was also a long term wwer.
I don't buy much in the way of new tools but spend time trying to find a place for all this stuff!!!
Ed

[John Viola]

Damn - I was in my 30's two weeks ago, and now for the first time in my life I have to click the 40's box.... I may have to go back out into the shop to cheer myself up!

I think it was 4 years ago when I made my first bookshelf using a handplane, a Bosch portable table saw, and some glue. Now I'm hooked and send Lee Valley and Woodcraft most of my spending money...

I'm lucky in that I get to work from home most days, so I get to spend my lunch hours and 'commuting time' in the shop making lots of noise and sawdust.

Dave

I'm with you-2 weeks ago, I would have checked off 30s...40s just doesn't sound right yet!

[Walt Stevens]

64 and counting. The true measure of age is to lay flat on the floor and see how long it takes you to stand up (without grabbing the sofa, chair, etc.). Also, look in the mirror in the morning when you get up... that's how you will look all the time ten years from now. :)

[Fred Voorhees]

50 years old here in Ringoes,NJ home of the famous Stan "The Man" Ploski

[Brian Kent]

I had planned on taking up woodworking when I retire at 70.

I am 53 years old now so I am -17 in retirement hobby years.

I started woodworking at -20.

[Joe Mioux]

The curve looks pretty much as I would suspect.

I am 48 with 4 kids. All kids are active in either sports or music.

Jennfier (who happens to be a member here at SMC) is 12 years old and loves to use my chisels. She is always begging me to let her chop something.

Although her summer schedule includes a city league and a traveling league softball teams, and school year basketball, volleyball and track, she loves to hang out in the garage with me.

Nicholas would get into woodworking as well if I would just buy a lathe.

Both Nicholas and Jennifer want a lathe. I could only imagine the fights on who would get to use it.

joe

p.s. I do not own a lathe, however if I would get one, a second one wouldn't be far behind.

[Alan Greene]

I am 25 for the 26th time. Its still easier to count that way

[John Lucas]

71 and lovin it. I do keep young woodworking assistants nearby to remind me why it is so good to be alive and active.
Actually in the 60's when I got out of the Navy and married, I would visit parents weekly and use my fathers shop. He had built a nice one for his retirement days. Unfortunately, when it came time to retire his health wasnt good enough to do woodworking projects...so he would watch me. A great bonding time and a time of sadness and joy. It also has been a constant reminder to make use of every day even if you dont feel up to it. When I start to cut wood, even making mistakes, I tend to lose site of the ills of the day -- most of the time.

[Chris Kennedy]

Dog years.
.

In dog years, I'm dead.

[Peter Quinn]

This doesn't take a genius to figure out.
When I was in my 20's I was chasing girls. What 20 year old is going to waste their time woodworking when there are so many many hot girls out there?:D
In your 30's you start cooling down. In your 40's your wife probably wont take too kindly to her husband chasing girls, at that point the only smart thing to do is woodworking.

Sorry to tell you this Ben, but in your 40's most hot young girls won't take to kindly to being chased by a 40 year old man even if you can get your wife to accept it.

[Peter Quinn]

38 now, started when I was 9? I hear the last great wave of woodworking came in the 40's after WWII, gi's returning from the war? Small resurgence in the 70's? Hard to believe manufacturers think wood working is the exclusive province of old men done spending. I hope they are scaling back manufacturing accordingly!:D

When I was in my early twenties I barely had enough money to pay for beer and rent, often in that order. Do you suppose Festool is marketing to early twenty somethings? Perhaps the manufacturer in question would be better served catering to the market that exists rather than lamenting it.

[Larry James]

... 71 and lovin it. I do keep young woodworking assistants nearby to remind me why it is so good to be alive and active. ... John, I have visited you web page many times, and if I had "young woodworking assistants" like yours ...


... When I start to cut wood, even making mistakes, I tend to lose site of the ills of the day -- most of the time. ... You are the only woodworker I'm aware of that documents his mistakes on their web page. I love that!

Hope your feeling well John, hang-in there.

Visit John's site @ http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm


Larry
(On the downhill side of the bell curve at 66, and life is good. You curve climbers should live so long.)

[Colin Giersberg]

49 right now, but 50 is roaring up to the stop sign very fast. And like what was posted before, getting down is easy, but getting up is slower than I like. Oh well, age is just a number, right?

Regards, Colin

[John Lucas]

John, I have visited you web page many times, and if I had "young woodworking assistants" like yours ...

You are the only woodworker I'm aware of that documents his mistakes on their web page. I love that!

Hope your feeling well John, hang-in there.

Visit John's site @ http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm


Larry
(On the downhill side of the bell curve at 66, and life is good. You curve climbers should live so long.)

Feelin quite fine and thanks for your kind words.

[Ron Jones near Indy]

I'll be 62 in November--boy, it hurts to say that.:eek: I've been working wood in one way or another and in varying scales since I was 11 when I helped Dad build new kitchen cabinets.:) Actually before that--think I was about 5 or 6 when I supervised Dad building new hog houses.;)

[Jim Broestler]

I'm 35. Since I was 22 I've wanted to have my own woodshop, and now that I'm out of school, married, and a homeowner, I'm able to indulge myself. Thing is, we have a decent sized woodworker's club in Charleston, WV that I've been to once (can't go now b/c I work evenings), and other than one kid who's probably a grandson of another member, there wasn't another guy besides me under 40. My guess is the other comments are pretty accurate, but I do think that with the decline of woodshop in school, the advent of video games, and parents too busy to spend time with the kids, there is a risk of the hobby shrinking. Kinda like Model Railroading, which is another hobby I used to enjoy (don't have space for both).

My advice is find a son, daughter, grandkid, nephew, or niece, and get them in the shop early. It's no guarantee that they'll catch the WW bug, of course, but you gotta get the sawdust in your veins at some point if you're going to learn to love it. My daughter is with me in the shop quite often (2 years old), and I'm looking forward to the day when we can build something together.

[John Lucas]

I'm 35. Since I was 22 I've wanted to have my own woodshop, and now that I'm out of school, married, and a homeowner, I'm able to indulge myself. Thing is, we have a decent sized woodworker's club in Charleston, WV that I've been to once (can't go now b/c I work evenings), and other than one kid who's probably a grandson of another member, there wasn't another guy besides me under 40. My guess is the other comments are pretty accurate, but I do think that with the decline of woodshop in school, the advent of video games, and parents too busy to spend time with the kids, there is a risk of the hobby shrinking. Kinda like Model Railroading, which is another hobby I used to enjoy (don't have space for both).

My advice is find a son, daughter, grandkid, nephew, or niece, and get them in the shop early. It's no guarantee that they'll catch the WW bug, of course, but you gotta get the sawdust in your veins at some point if you're going to learn to love it. My daughter is with me in the shop quite often (2 years old), and I'm looking forward to the day when we can build something together.


Such good advice. and it reminds me of a story. I have an ex-Navy buddy who has done nothing but make big money for the past 40 years since the Navy...including be CEO of Gucci. I was visiting with him in his very expesnive home in California and taking a tour of his digs. I noticed two bookshelf speakers and said "Doug, are those the ones we made in the Navy shop?" He said "Yes, I couldnt bare to throw them out...they are the only things I have ever made other than money... "
What we do means something.

[Rick Potter]

I am pushing 66 real hard, but I could pass for early 70's. You whippersnappers better pay us old guys some respect, remember, we raised you.

Bought my first table saw for $25 when I was 26 and wanted to do a room addition. My first furniture was a floor to ceiling bookcase for that addition. Now, here I am doing it all again, for the fourth time, completely remodeling and adding on to the house. The difference is that now I hire out the hard stuff and just build cabinetry and trim.

Someday, when I am older and the new shop is done, I hope to build the stuff I want to build.

Rick Potter

[Tom Walz]

Magazines send me demographic information when they want me to advertise. The average woodworker who subscribes to magazines is 40’s to 50’s with above average income and education.

However, when I was in my 20’s and 30’s I was buying old houses and fixing them up but I wasn’t reading any magazines. I was much more likely to be replacing a bathroom floor or brick molding or stairs than the kind of woodworking usually described here.

Tom, 61

[Larry James]

...I am pushing 66 real hard, but I could pass for early 70's. You whippersnappers better pay us old guys some respect, remember, we raised you. ... ...Someday, when I am older and the new shop is done, I hope to build the stuff I want to build. ...Rick Potter

Rick, I'm pushing 67. Good to see you are so optimistic about the future. I need at least another lifetime to do and learn all the things I'm thinking about.

Larry

[Don Orr]

I'm glad this came up now as I can honestly check "40's", but only for a few more months ! I really don't think woodworking is going away any time soon though. Alot of us didn't get started til we were more "mature".:eek::D;)

[Carl Hill]

53. Too young for Medicare, and too old for Women ta Care.

[Charles Trout]

I just turned 28. I've been collecting tools and making sawdust for about 6 months now.

At this point in my life it consume a quite bit of my disposable income, but I'm single and have few other financial obligations, so it's ok.

I really look forward to the day when I can build a real shop on my own property, or renovate an old barn ala http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=89156

Until then, I'm building my skills in a two car garage below the townhouse I rent.

[Jamie Baalmann]

23 years young

[Russ Massery]

I started in woodworking when I was 35. I'm 48 now.