Dave's Bio

When I am in a contemplative mood I wonder how I came to the place where I enjoyed making things and enjoying the process of working with my hands to complete a project. Thinking of this always brings up the nature vs. nurture argument. 

My father was a life long tinkerer and self trained very successful auto mechanic.  So perhaps some of it is inherited but of course one could argue that since I grew up around my father I was influenced by his work and penchant for constantly having some project going or working on someone's car, watch or clock.  He was also a self taught watch and clock repairman.  He came by his mechanical ability at a young age having grown up on a farm with the need to self repair anything that needed it. 

I could make the argument that much of my enjoyment of mechanical things was inherited from my father but I can't deny influence of watching him work and sometimes helping.  In the beginning I was probably more hindrance than help but as I aged I was able to help out more than hinder. 

I remember as a young boy, him giving me a clock mechanism from an old alarm clock and a small screw driver for me to take apart and try to put back together.  I remember the frustration of trying to put all the parts back together and getting his help.  I soon learned that when he repaired a watch or clock he only took out the parts necessary to complete the repair thus minimizing the difficulty of reassembly.

I learned to make models of all kinds, mostly cars and planes.  My brother was the consummate model maker.  I assembled kits as he did but he also made models from scratch such as a moon rocket after seeing the movie "Destination Moon".  One of my first large projects was a Soap Box Derby car.  My brother and I both made cars and entered the local race.  Back then it was sponsored by GM through their local Chevrolet Dealerships.  My father worked for that dealer.  I didn't get any inside help because of that but it did make me aware of the race. 

We also built a club house in our back yard and a structure that was shaped like a pirate ship we used for playing pirates with the kids from the neighborhood.

My model building slowed during my high school days because I was very active in sports and extracurricular activities.  College didn't leave much time either what with studying when in school and working in the summer to pay for tuition and living expenses.

My interest in building things resurfaced after I married.  Living back in my home town I signed up for a woodworking class at my old high school.  I have always seemed willing to take on ambitious projects that a more prudent person would say was overreaching for my experience level.  I just enjoy the challenge.

An example is the Cannon Ball bed I made in this Woodworking class.  I didn't have a plan for the bed but I admired a bed I had seen in a furniture store.  I believe it was an Ethan Allen bed.  I don't think they make a bed like it anymore.  In fact I read that they and most of the US furniture companies now make their pieces overseas.  I have a picture of it on my home page.

Anyway since I didn't have a plan my wife and I went to the store and I surreptitiously measured the bed while she kept and eye out for any sales person the might come along and object to my activities.  They probably wouldn't have cared but I just didn't want to have to explain my activities and I certainly didn't want to tell anyone I was planning to build a bed like it for fear of being derided for my naïveté for attempting a project that would require woodworking skills of which I had no experience. 

The bottom line is that I did get all the measurements and made some rudimentary sketches and began the project in the school work shop.  The key to this project was access to a lathe with long distance between centers.  Being a beginning woodworker I didn't have a lathe at all let alone one that would handle the long legs of the cannonball bed.  I completed the project and my son used the bed for many years.  It was in storage for a time but is now being used by my grand son.  I also completed a Regulator style cherry clock in that class also. 

I relate this story to illustrate the idea of just jumping in and starting a project even if you don't have experience in the skills needed.  You learn as you go.  Don't let inexperience and fear stop you from digging in and getting the job done.  The Nike coined phrase "Just Do It" applies here.  I believe a strong influence on my confidence to tackle projects was my mothers unending support and confidence in me.

Another project that will drive this point home happened after I changed jobs a year or so after I completed the Canon Ball Bed.  We were living in the new town in a duplex and tired of apartment living.  We wanted to get a house.  We found a company that sold kit houses.  Kit is a bit of a misnomer in that it turns out the only thing "kit" about it was a book with all the steps necessary to complete the house and the fact that the lumber and materials was delivered on two truck loads.  About the only thing precut was the roof rafters and some of them had to be re-cut to match the others.  

The appeal was the down payment.  Get this, the down payment was $1.00.  Yes that is right, just one buck.  The rest of the cost of materials would be financed by the company until the house was complete and refinanced with permanent mortgage from local bank to pay off the building material loan.

Now mind you I had never built even a garage or storage shed and my only experience in construction was to watch my dad remodel an attic in my childhood home.  I was young and energetic and fearless and it was a deal we couldn't pass up.

We signed on the dotted line and found a lot in the same neighborhood where we lived and began the foundation awaiting the materials to arrive.  Building the house is a long story that I won't go into right now but with a little help from friends and family the house was completed in about 10 months.  Here is a picture.

The front porch was not included with the original house and is a design and build project that was added later. 

The point is, just go for it.