1. Name (and nick names)
Leif Hanson
2. Age/DOB
40/1965
3. Location (present and previous):
I grew up in rural North Dakota, and have lived the last dozen years or so in North Idaho.
4. Tell us about your family:
Sandy and I have been married for 7 wonderful years. She has three children from a previous marriage, all grown and out of the house. My mother passed away just before Thanksgiving, so dad is now living with us.
5. How do you earn a living, woodworking or other, any interesting previous occupations.
Until recently I was employed as an architect with a local firm until dad needed my help - so I've started my own business so I can stay at home with him, but because it all happened so fast, I really haven't had much of a chance to get it off the ground yet. I'm still doing some freelance work as an architect.
I grew up working in the family business, which was a small town lumberyard/hardware store, where I also did a fair amount of residential design work. I spent a good part of my twenties living large and riding a motorcycle around the country, and worked my way through college as a finish carpenter in the west-central lakes region of Minnesota. I graduated with degrees in architecture and in fine art.
6. Equipment overview (hand tools and other):
One look at my tools would show I'm no collector - most have been gathered over the last 20 years as they were needed, and none are what I would consider highly valuable - though all (or at least most!) are of good quality. I have the standard array of both power and hand tools, though I do confess to having a bit of a thing for hand tools, hand saws in particular. I recently restored an old Foley Filer that I think is a pretty neat tool... What a Rube Goldberg device those are!
7. Describe your shop:
Right now, my shop is a 12 x 24 single car garage stuffed to the gills. I'm hoping to build something larger in the next couple years if I can somehow afford it, but who knows?
8. Tell us about the hand planes you own, and your favorite one(s) to use:
I have the standard assortment of Stanley Bailey type planes, block planes, spokeshaves, router planes, several shop made wooden planes, and a couple dozen old molding planes that were made by the Sandusky Tool Co.. I can't say there are too many favorites, but I do enjoy using the old molding planes when I can. I also enjoy using my old Stanley 45 on occasion.
9. You favorite chisels:
I have an old 1/8" Buck Bros. chisel and some no-name 1/2" chisel that I've thinned down to get into tight areas that I am always reaching for. Past that, I've got an old paring chisel stamped "Rich-Con" (or something similar) that I love to use. I really love the length and balance of that old chisel.
10. Your favorite handsaw(s):
I have this old 10" "Warranted Superior" backsaw that must be close to 100 years old that I've owned for many years that has been my favorite for a long time. Its handle is a bit of a club, though - so I don't use it as much now that it's not the only one I own.
11. Do you use western tools or Japanese, why do you prefer the ones you use:
Western tools, mostly - because that's what I was trained on, and that's what I'm used to. There are good tools in both camps, however.
12. Do you have a woodworking home page:
http://www.norsewoodsmith.com
13. Do you have any influences in your work? Certain styles or designers you follow/prefer:
I can't say I follow any one style. I love traditional, modern, post-modern - I could name all the different movements off, but so long as there is good design and it's well done, I'm a fan. Last week I was marveling over a particularly well-crafted Queen Anne style highboy, and this week I found myself perusing David Finck's web site and found his work quite inspiring. As someone recently remarked to me, I'm always amazed (and humbled) at how much more there is to learn.
14. Do you have any ancestors who were woodworkers that served as inspiration?
My dad, obviously. I grew up in his shop, tearing apart and putting together hot rods and Harley Davidsons, and of course doing woodworking. He learned from his grandfather, who started as a blacksmith and wheelwright, who later built houses and furniture. Another great grandfather of mine was well known for his lathe work, building furniture such as baby cribs and spinning wheels, all done on a treadle lathe, even after he lost a leg after hitting his foot with an adze while hewing some birch.
15. What is your favorite neander project, or part of a project, you have ever done and why:
I've got to say that making handsaws and other hand tools is a lot of fun. That's a task I took on for my own benefit a couple of years ago to teach myself more about the craft, and get more tools for myself at the same time! I also enjoy carving - any carving - even though I'm not all that good at it, it's usually one of the most fun parts of any project. I think it's working the wood directly with chisels and gouges that does it for me.
16. Do you believe there is any spiritual dimension to woodworking with hand tools:
Spirituality, devotion, that sort of commitment or experience - that's something that can be said of any craft - it's the point where the craft becomes art, at least for me. Imbuing one's individuality on the wood is the goal, and it's what separates the good from the great... something sorely missing from most machine made pieces. Not saying that it can't be done, but it's less likely to happen - you are more likely to impart the soul of the machine onto the wood rather than the hand of the artist.
Hand tools allow you to truly experience the wood you are working, and forces you to work in harmony with it - something I think is very important, and an aspect of woodworking often lost when working only with machines. They will most often find any one board's individuality a nuisance rather than an opportunity.
17. How much of your work is done by hand tools. Do you use whatever is best for the job or do you use hand tools even when they are less efficient:
Most of the prep work I do with power tools - ripping lumber by hand is a repetitive, laborious task, something machines are particularly suited for, for example. I still use power tools all of the time, when the task calls for it, and I'm certainly not ashamed to say that - but I find it way too easy to screw up with power tools (and I'm truly accomplished at that!), whereas I seem both more patient and more successful when I use hand tools, so they get the call more often than not. For me, there is a balance between them.
18. What is your single most favorite tool, and why.
I don't think I have a favorite past the one I have in my hand. Each tool has their use, and when you find any good tools' sweet spot, it all seems to come together. I do confess to having a certain fondness for tools that have been handed down to me from previous generations of woodworkers in my own family, though.
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