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Thread: creeker interview: Jason Tuinstra

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Plano, TX
    Posts
    2,036

    creeker interview: Jason Tuinstra

    1. Name (and nick names):
    Wm. Jason Tuinstra

    2. Age/DOB:
    35

    3. Location (present and previous):
    Hanford, California (for the last 1 ¾ years) via St. John, Indiana (10 years) via Jenison, Michigan (hometown growing up)

    4. Tell us about your family:
    I have been married for 14 years and have 5 children.

    5. How do you earn a living, woodworking or other, any interesting previous occupations.
    I am a pastor in the United Reformed Churches of North America. I sell some of my furniture, but most of it is given away or kept for the homestead.

    6. Equipment overview (hand tools and other):
    At the center of the shop is my Delta Unisaw. Other than this, most of my tools are hobbyist level. I have an open stand JET 6” jointer and a JET 12” bandsaw. I have the old DeWalt 12 ½” planer. They are not the best, but I’m comfortable with them and their limitations and would rather spend money on wood right now. To help out with flattening tabletops I have a 16/32 Performax drum sander. Within the last year I started to buying FESTOOL equipment and can’t say enough about their quality. Regarding hand tools, I have an assortment of chisels – nothing noteworthy. I have a small assortment of Veritas hand planes and a Lie Nielsen dovetail saw. Beyond this, I have the standard assortment of routers, sanders, bits and pieces that go into making quality furniture.

    7. Describe your shop:
    I have a two stall garage shop. Most of the tools are on wheels so that I can push everything out of the way when I’m done with a project to allow for some parking.

    8. Tell us about the hand planes you own, and your favorite one(s) to use:
    My favorite plane has been my low-angle jack plane. It leaves a beautiful finish and is a joy to use.

    9. Your favorite chisels:
    Which everyone is sharp and good enough for the job at hand. I use my 1/8” chisel the most with the hand cut dovetails I’m trying to master along with the 1/8” pegs that I like to use on my furniture.

    10. Your favorite handsaw(s):
    I have but one, so the process of elimination isn’t that hard – L.N. dovetail saw. Very comfortable fit in the hand and a beauty to behold.

    11. Do you use western tools or Japanese, why do you prefer the ones you use:
    I’ve not been exposed to Japanese tools and thus, have no opinion on the matter.

    12. Do you have a woodworking home page:
    I post pictures of my furniture to a picture hosting website. Nothing professional. http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/curc@sbcglobal.net/my_photos

    13. Do you have any influences in your work? Certain styles or designers you follow/prefer:
    I prefer the simplicity of the Shaker style and have built most of my furniture in this style. Thos. Moser, Christian Becksvoort, Ian Ingersoll, and Kerry Pierce are a few that have inspired me along the way.

    14. Do you have any ancestors who were woodworkers that served as inspiration?
    My grandfather was the head upholster for Hendredon Furniture when they were in Grand Rapids and has worked privately for such clients as President Ford. I attribute my love for fine furniture to his influence on our family. It was my grandfather who gave me the money for my first table saw when I was a struggling student.

    15. What is your favorite neander project, or part of a project, you have ever done and why:
    I would call myself and aspiring neander. Most of my tools still have tails. But I have been trying more and more to be liberated from them where it makes a difference in the quality and look of the piece.

    16. Do you believe there is any spiritual dimension to woodworking with hand tools:
    No, I do not – or at least not to the exclusion of other areas of woodworking. I believe that working with hand tools requires a greater skill set than exclusively working with power tools. But for me, the joy of woodworking is in the creation of something that previously was not. The whole process, electronically powered or not, is that of turning a rough medium into something that can be called “fine.” Woodworking as a whole has been in so many ways a metaphor for my life as a Christian – something rough and twisted being refined and made right.

    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: I believe that efficiency needs to be counterbalanced with quality and beauty. For example, it may take longer to cut dovetails by hand and be less efficient, at least in my case, but it adds a look of craftsmanship that is worth the effort. I try to keep that balance in mind and thus, wouldn’t use a tool just because it is hand tool.

    18. What is your single most favorite tool, and why.
    I think my ½” chisel is the single most used tool in my shop. From getting slivers out, trimming joints, to cleaning up the perennial glue in the corner, I can’t imagine life without my handy ½” chisel. My least favorite tool, by the way, is my square. Argh!!! Curse it’s honesty!
    The means by which an end is reached must exemplify the value of the end itself.

  2. #2
    Great interview. Nice to know more about you, Jason.

    Mike
    Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.

  3. #3
    Love your work...Nice to know you better Jason.
    Glenn Clabo
    Michigan

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Kincardine, Ontario
    Posts
    488
    Thank you for this interview. It's great to get to know the man behind the work a little. And the work is very fine! I was really impressed with the photo gallery. I aspire to do work as fine some day.

    Thanks
    Hans

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,685
    Excellent interview, Jason!
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Galiano Island, BC, Canada
    Posts
    99
    The Shaker cabinet is one of the nicest pieces I've seen. Congratulations.

  7. #7
    Thanks guys! And thanks to Zahid for asking me to fill out the questions.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Lewiston, Idaho
    Posts
    28,504
    Nice to know more about you Jason! Really enjoy viewing your work.
    Ken

    So much to learn, so little time.....

  9. #9
    thanks for the interview Jason, and please keep posting.
    I really admire your work !

    Howie

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Granbury, TX
    Posts
    1,458
    Jason,

    It is amazing to me that you are so talented at such a young age. I can only imagine the work you will be turning out 10 and 20 years from now.

    Here's hoping I will always be able to watch your work improve. (not that it isn't already fantastic, I just want to be around to see it)

    Your recent journey into handcut dovetails is an example of fine work becoming even finer.

    I am honored to view the marvelous works of your humble hands.

    You are truly an inspiration.

    Moser, Becksvoort, Ingersoll, and Tuinstra!
    Martin, Granbury, TX
    Student of the Shaker style

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
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    65,685
    Quote Originally Posted by Martin Shupe
    You are truly an inspiration.

    Moser, Becksvoort, Ingersoll, and Tuinstra!
    Yea...what he said!
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    N Illinois
    Posts
    4,602

    Jason T

    Jason, you are a guy we all respect!! And you are accomplishing your fine furniture results at an early age and with relatively humble (hobbyist level ) tools. Too many rely I think on the biggest and priciest tool to yield pro results. Your inherent skills shows through. Thanks for the interview..You are an inspiration to many of us....Now, if you'd only move back East/MW
    Jerry

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Laguna Beach , Ca.
    Posts
    7,201
    Jason, you are making great stuff! Your level of skill is amazing at any age and considering how young you are ....it is even more unbelievable. I really enjoy seeing your work....your approach....your care to fine details... You get it...we do it right because we love this work! I feel the same!
    "All great work starts with love .... then it is no longer work"

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Honolulu, Hawaii
    Posts
    99
    Jason,
    I really love the look of your Shaker Tall Cabinet. I can only hope to come close to building something like that some day. Thanks for the inspiration!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Savannah, GA
    Posts
    4,422

    Question

    Jason,

    Great interview, and great furniture! When looking at your pictures I noted that you show several chairs with woven seats. Do you do this work yourself? I have two rocking chairs that need to be reworked. They currently have woven raffia, which I haven't worked with before. I was thinking about using a Shaker web. Any tips?

    “Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy and chivalry.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Everybody knows what to do with the devil but them that has him. My Grandmother
    I had a guardian angel at one time, but my little devil got him drunk, tattooed, and left him penniless at a strip club. I have not had another angel assigned to me yet.
    I didn't change my mind, my mind changed me.
    Bella Terra

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