New Forum: Special Needs Woodworking

[Mark]

New section is open, feel free to check it out and post your questions and input on related topics. Thanks to Mike for the idea for this section.

Link: http://www.routerforums.com/special-needs-woodworking/

Enjoy

[mftha]

Mark, What do you mean by "special needs"? I assume you mean woodworkers with challenges. Do have in mind those with mental challenges, those with visual challenges, those with mobility challenges, or others or all af the above plus others? Actually, no matter what you mean, I support the idea.

[Mike]

I thought the explanatory paragraph covered this well:
"This is the place to discuss special needs woodworking such as wheel chair accessible router tables, working with physical limitations or disabilities."

[mftha]

I somehow did not see the explanatory paragraph until after I read your reply to my posting. Berry is correct about the ambiguity of meaning and who has "special needs". Mark, I too stand (actually sit) in awe of Template Tom's teaching sightless people to use routers.

I am confined to a wheelchair and so have to adapt. My router table work surface is 69 cm (27 inches) high and there is no lower cross brace on the side where I sit. I also set bit heights before I replace the router in the table, and then double check. Due to a recent deterioration of my right shoulder from overuse of a manual wheelchair, I have to do many things with both arms that most people can do with only one.

I repeat my full and enthusiastic support for this new forum. As someone on this forum said, router work is too much fun to let "disabilities" get in the way;we just have to do things differently. I look forward to the growth of this forum and the many ideas that our resourceful and creative members will explore.

[Mark]

Thank you very much and I appreciate your kind comments. I really hope this addition will take and help spread knowledge and ideas to help improve the woodworking hobby for many of our users.