My production of artisanal firewood continues 45 years strong
I was lucky to have my FIL as an educational source, a person who was lucky enough to have completed an apprenticeship in England before the war.
He was the last of that general type who was required to study drawing and sketching in the artistic venue as well as fabric making, painting, colouring and other arts as well as some architecture and of course furniture making.
Mornings at school, afternoons at work, part of your wages garnisheed for tools.
It gave him a different language and skills, he knew what the correct names were for every component of woodwork, whether for furniture or architecture.
I still laugh at him teaching me how to make dovetails, I came with every marking tool and aid known to mankind and proceeded to demonstrate my prowess at measuring and marking.
After a few moments he took the pencil from me, tossed it aside and said “nobody is paying for your drawing”. He picked up a chisel, rolled it across the board, counting the rolls. He scribed a faint line with a marking gauge, placed a few marks on the end of the board with the chisel.
Putting the board in the vies he sawed the tails with a rip saw in three strokes, two forceful which took 90% of the cut and one more careful cut to finish, chisel out the waste in very few operations and trace the tails onto the other board with a knife.
Same rapid work, then after a few minutes, a completed joint, I would have still been drawing lines. As I stood there, mouth agape he said “after your first thousand drawers you get better”.
That’s what’s been helpful to me, people, including those here who share their skills, that and making a pile of artisanal firewood.
Sadly, we lost him this year, his brass and wood folding rule he bought in the 1930’s sits in my shop drawer next to my digital calipers, I’m sure it would produce a wry smile on his face.
To all of you who helped me, and countless others get a little more proficient, thanks for paying it forward.....Rod.