Do you belong to a woodworking club in your area? If so, in what ways has it helped you?
If not, is this something you have considered? Why? Why not?
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Do you belong to a woodworking club in your area? If so, in what ways has it helped you?
If not, is this something you have considered? Why? Why not?
Do You Belong To A Woodworking Club?
Do you belong to a woodworking club in your area? If so, in what ways has it helped you?
If not, is this something you have considered? Why? Why not?
Yes....I was quite active for 5 years, but then had a bit of "falling out" with some of the leaders. I don't participate much anymore.
Charley
Charley
I enjoy meeting other sawdust makers. I've reached out several ways, but have little luck.
I find humor in that a couple I tried to make contact with never dropped around, until a year or two after I talked to them. After the first time, they started dropping by more regularly. Each time, it was the same thing, they were expecting some guy with a Craftsman radial arm and a bandsaw. My wife and her sister were around and were laughing at the reaction of each of them. It involved something to the effect of "holy s____t." Part of that may be because everyone thinks my shop is just the house next door.
In effort to meet others with similar interests, I joined a turning club in a city about an hour away. It meets once a month.
I learn a lot from meetings and demonstrations. If can be fun other ways too. Though I'm an amateur turner in comparison to a few of the nationally known turners, it can be fun or at least interesting being underestimated, based on that I am a newbie to turning. Many seem unable to understand some of us have been working wood for a half century, even though we've only recently started running a lathe. Often, there seems to be a small amount of shock when I share things that can be applied to detailing turnings and such.
I find humor in that a couple I tried to make contact with never dropped around, until a year or two after I talked to them. After the first time, they started dropping by more regularly. Each time, it was the same thing, they were expecting some guy with a Craftsman radial arm and a bandsaw. My wife and her sister were around and were laughing at the reaction of each of them. It involved something to the effect of "holy s____t." Part of that may be because everyone thinks my shop is just the house next door.
In effort to meet others with similar interests, I joined a turning club in a city about an hour away. It meets once a month.
I learn a lot from meetings and demonstrations. If can be fun other ways too. Though I'm an amateur turner in comparison to a few of the nationally known turners, it can be fun or at least interesting being underestimated, based on that I am a newbie to turning. Many seem unable to understand some of us have been working wood for a half century, even though we've only recently started running a lathe. Often, there seems to be a small amount of shock when I share things that can be applied to detailing turnings and such.
The only club I know of around here is really a community college class. The hassle of registration is not my favorite thing. When I'm in public, I'm a very social person, but I like and enjoy my private time so woodworking is not a club thing for me. This site is made up of some really great people, and I enjoy the hell out of everyone here. But I'd be a little intimidated if some of the really great woodworkers here were in the shop with me.
Well, I don't have a shop so there's no club knocking on my door. And if I did have a shop, I'm not sure I'd answer the knock at the door. I'd rather learn from you guys.
I am not in a club. I have no desire to be in one. This forum does just what I need, knowledge sharing, and support of what we love to do. You can work at your pace, and not be bothered with someone who annoys the .... out of you. If people keep coming around for something, I will never get anything done.
I may like an in person club.
Last night my wife took us to dinner at her girlfriends house. The kids all played in the back bedroom while the four of us sat in the living room socializing. Most of the time I was thinking about the project I had been working on when she said "time to go to .... house"
Now if her friend's husband has been a woodworker...
Last night my wife took us to dinner at her girlfriends house. The kids all played in the back bedroom while the four of us sat in the living room socializing. Most of the time I was thinking about the project I had been working on when she said "time to go to .... house"
Now if her friend's husband has been a woodworker...
We have one here in town but I am not a member. I went to one meeting and it was not for me. I am in noway saying any thing bad about the club.
For 2-1/2 years now I have been a member of the Charlotte (North Carolina) Woodworkers. A great bunch of people, good equipment, and a lot of members with woodworking skills, and willing to help and teach if asked. Free woodworking class' for all levels.
And due are a whopping $35 per year.
And due are a whopping $35 per year.
I was in one a few years ago but dropped out. They had a national speaker each month which was nice but it was held pretty far from where I live so I never attended. They also offed classes during the year but for those you had to pay. I would have liked to go to a couple of them but for the most part it was stuff I already had done a million times before.
I'm THINKING of joining the one that the community that I live in has, only because when I moved I had to part with some of the power tools that I had. So to make up for the downsize I'm investigating the communal woodshop.
Having said (typed) that, some of my wife relatives have their own shops set up in the same community but the organized community woodshop has tools that we collectively don't have. Also the skill levels that some of the woodshop members have is just plain AWESOME.
Downside--- time restraints -- the shop is only open at such & such hours-- unless you're a "Golden Member" and then you get a key to the door. Projects are limited to what you can transport in your vehicle. Mine's a car so projects would be small.
Upside--- combined experience-- you can tap others know how almost instantaneously. Learning experience--doing a craft/skill that would take you years to decipher. Discounted price for materials.
No mess at home so SWMBO is a happy camper.
Cost is minimal about $20/yr
Rules ?? (I don't like rules)
You must go through a course ( probably a safety course--liability issues I'm sure) before you can be turned loose on the machines.
All in all I'll probably join just for the heck of it and see how it goes.
Having said (typed) that, some of my wife relatives have their own shops set up in the same community but the organized community woodshop has tools that we collectively don't have. Also the skill levels that some of the woodshop members have is just plain AWESOME.
Downside--- time restraints -- the shop is only open at such & such hours-- unless you're a "Golden Member" and then you get a key to the door. Projects are limited to what you can transport in your vehicle. Mine's a car so projects would be small.
Upside--- combined experience-- you can tap others know how almost instantaneously. Learning experience--doing a craft/skill that would take you years to decipher. Discounted price for materials.
No mess at home so SWMBO is a happy camper.
Cost is minimal about $20/yr
Rules ?? (I don't like rules)
You must go through a course ( probably a safety course--liability issues I'm sure) before you can be turned loose on the machines.
All in all I'll probably join just for the heck of it and see how it goes.
I've never joined any woodworking club, nor do I have any desire to do so.
The only thing I can even remember along this line was a privately run club of sorts, which had all the machinery you might need. You had to pay by the hour, don't remember what that was. But the owner didn't just want you to cut out parts and go home, he also expected that you would stick around to glue things together. I could see that would end up costing more than an arm and leg, so I didn't pursue it any further.
This was many years ago now, some time in the late '60's I think. Now if I want to do something I buy whatever tool it is that I need.
To me, woodworking is a solitary activity. If I need someone to hold the dumb end, I can always ask the missus. :smile:
The only thing I can even remember along this line was a privately run club of sorts, which had all the machinery you might need. You had to pay by the hour, don't remember what that was. But the owner didn't just want you to cut out parts and go home, he also expected that you would stick around to glue things together. I could see that would end up costing more than an arm and leg, so I didn't pursue it any further.
This was many years ago now, some time in the late '60's I think. Now if I want to do something I buy whatever tool it is that I need.
To me, woodworking is a solitary activity. If I need someone to hold the dumb end, I can always ask the missus. :smile:
I belong to the Stateline Woodturners (associated with the American Association of Woodturners) at Rogers, Arkansas. We meet twice a month - second Saturday for business, instruction, demonstration & fourth Saturday at a member's shop on the bank of Little Sugar Creek at Pineville, Missouri for personalized help & practice - pure heaven. The drives are inconvenient, but the comraderie is worth it. I am a messy amateur so I keep my home shop private. SILENCE IS GOLDEN!!!
I helped start a woodworking club in 1986 and it is still going. We came up with a name KYANA Woodcrafters Club (KY for Kentucky / ANA for Indiana) and we are in Louisville, KY. We meet the first Thursday night of each month except July. I am the treasurer and when the club started I was the Program Chairman - coming up with new programs each month). In December for the past 26 years our members turn in toys that they have made to go to the Salvation Army for kids. Often several guys will get together for several months making the toys. There is generally over 1,000 toys.
We don't have equipment on site. Some meeting we have someone bring in hand tools to demonstrate. We have swap meet where folks can sell some of their equipment they want to pass on. We have show and tell. We had a father / son that brought in a 26 foot wooden canoe they made. We find it a good source to locate lumber and supplies. Also we find out if certain members make items that others are interested in (like I make funeral urns). We generally have 60-85 members come to each meeting.
Malcolm / Kentucky USA
We don't have equipment on site. Some meeting we have someone bring in hand tools to demonstrate. We have swap meet where folks can sell some of their equipment they want to pass on. We have show and tell. We had a father / son that brought in a 26 foot wooden canoe they made. We find it a good source to locate lumber and supplies. Also we find out if certain members make items that others are interested in (like I make funeral urns). We generally have 60-85 members come to each meeting.
Malcolm / Kentucky USA
Yes-I belong to a local club--about an hours' drive away in evening traffic. It's worth it once a month, as I get to meet with fellow sawdust-makers and trade tips and techniques, hear from accomplished experts as they make presentations, and go on tours of local placwes of interest. We also work together all year to make Christmas gifts for local charities, and that activity just makes you feel good. This year it will be over 1000 wooden gifts. All in all I think its' worked out well.
I also belong to a woodworking club. I joined app. 15 years ago, just after the club started. At the early days, we had a hand-full of members and met in a 2 car garage. Since that time, we have grown to 100+ members and have been active within the community assisting in many needed areas. The club has members who drive app.50 miles to the monthly meetings taking in many towns within our area. As a club we provide Christmas presents for the Salvation army, Make flag cases for the vets and have even provided urns for another non-profit group. We have started an off-shoot area for turning and another for scroll saw users. Within the meeting, a guest speaker (either within or outside the club) will demonstrate, or provide interesting information on a variety or topics.
I don't know if there is one in my area or not...haven't had the interest to look.
I like working wood, tools, jigs, etc... by my lonesome...it's my balance against dealing with the people I deal with on a daily basis.
Same reason I like sailing by myself, fishing by myself...etc... My dad had told me a long time ago, in preparing me for peer pressure, "When you're with others you wind up following them...when you're with somebody else you feel obligated to do what they want...if you want to do what you want then do it alone".
I am very sociable but right now I have enough friends in each of the different aspects of my life.
This forum is just right...comfortable, friendly, welcoming, extremely knowledgeable and very giving...it is more than I expected...the bar is set high...
I like working wood, tools, jigs, etc... by my lonesome...it's my balance against dealing with the people I deal with on a daily basis.
Same reason I like sailing by myself, fishing by myself...etc... My dad had told me a long time ago, in preparing me for peer pressure, "When you're with others you wind up following them...when you're with somebody else you feel obligated to do what they want...if you want to do what you want then do it alone".
I am very sociable but right now I have enough friends in each of the different aspects of my life.
This forum is just right...comfortable, friendly, welcoming, extremely knowledgeable and very giving...it is more than I expected...the bar is set high...
The Strathfield Men's Shed (Strathfield Men's Shed) is as close to a club as I need.
Good size shed, great range of tools/machinery, very friendly group.
The shed has wood work and metal work areas.
Even learned how to solder LED light strips yesterday....
Good size shed, great range of tools/machinery, very friendly group.
The shed has wood work and metal work areas.
Even learned how to solder LED light strips yesterday....
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