15-06-2012, 10:20 AM
Hi,
Thank you Gary for such high compliments appreciated all the more coming from such a well respected radio restorer such as you.
Yes Gary that is exactly what I mean when I say anyone could do this type of project not only including an old guy but especially an old guy. Many people enter retirement and look for new hobbies as I did. These people could have quite a bit of disposable income to spend on such hobbies and with care it needn't break the bank to set up for woodworking. They have the time and if interested they will quickly learn.
It's easy to assume everything comes naturally to me Gary when in fact many tasks wind me up and cause me considerable frustration. I could wire an electric motor but my knowledge of radio/TV restoration was absolutely zero in fact I had never seen inside a valve radio/TV cabinet previously as I always considered them to be highly dangerous. I retired aged 53 and wanted a decent hobby that would stretch and challenge me for our 9 month long winters when I couldn't work outside.
Electronics was totally alien to me but to prove the point anyone can learn new skills I'm a good example; my mechanical engineering experiences were of little use as electronics was a whole new area for me to explore but by making many mistakes I slowly began to feel at home and more confident. I'm now approaching 65 years old and look forward to new challenges which bring along more techniques to learn.
It's all in the mind Gary; a child brought up being told he/she will be no good at anything has little encouragement and unfortunately this tends to carry through into their adult life leaving them with little self esteem. I have a great amount of confidence in my own ability but I'm certainly not over confident or I would soon be heading into trouble and possibly injury.
I don't know of anyone trying something new out for the first time ending up with 100% success; the more difficult the hobby chosen the longer it will take to learn the basics. I find once I break through and grasp the basics then I can relax and really start to learn usually by experiment to see what works for me and what doesn't. OK so I blow a big electrolytic up whilst playing with my electric motors or I cut a length of wood too short; its not the end of the world. I must have cut at least half a dozen biscuit slots in the wrong place whilst making this desk but I learn although it won't guarantee I won't make the same mistake again. Why take life so seriously; I'm no longer in active conflict in a job I dislike so I take a lot of time over my projects but enjoy every one gaining as much satisfaction as can whilst work is in progress. If I make a mistake at least I'm actually doing something in order to make the mistake.
I've said before that more and more lasses are leaning towards DIY and many are making a lovely job of what they tackle whilst lazy guys just want to sit around. Each to their own but nothing has come easy to me. I've had very little money for most of our married life but I haven't simply given up; I went out and bought scrap machines and restored them; yes my mechanical training was highly useful but how useful was this once the mechanics had been sorted and I ran into a brick wall because I hadn't a clue how to sort out the motor and starter connections whilst converting from flat belt drive to V belt drive and from 3 phase to single phase; if as you say Gary people are unable to learn new skills without a lot of background training how have I managed to not only sort out motors and starters but to go forward and play around with electronics and even install my own 3 phase which many electricians are unable to do?
It all comes down to wanting to do the work and without this it is pointless making a start. I'm widely read on all aspects of woodworking; no one taught me and I've been learning for many years and am still learning and hope to continue learning for a long time to come. Now take the old guy you mention who can't do such work? Of course he/she could and pick up the techniques a lot quicker than me because they can spend full days on projects whereas I always had long hours at work getting in the way so I was forever trying to pick up where I left off and spent as much time tidying up as actually dong any useful work. I had a shed to work in as a child then when I married I had a spare bedroom; I only had hand tools for many years with just a single B&D electric drill. This never stopped me doing my best at every project and I was always working on something whilst others were away on foreign holidays or paying to have jobs done.
I can do plumbing but this is one area I dislike intensely but it doesn't stop me doing plumbing jobs as the jobs crop up.
Unless a person is genuinely unable to do something possibly through some disability or illness then I maintain anyone can pick up new skills but only if they want to. There is a vast amount of information on the Internet and "You tube" is just brilliant for watching others do jobs first; by watching someone perform some task on video it is a great deal easier to pick up the information and techniques than any book will ever describe in text. Start on a small project and make the mistakes; waste some material whilst learning how to use hand and power tools; above all do not injure yourself and there is no excuse for buying a power tool and the first time it is used to end up in A&E. Many power tool suppliers will give free demonstrations on safe use.
I've responded at length Gary because to say I can only do this type of project because of my background training is incorrect; my training has been nothing more than a stepping stone; I have a genuine interest in what I do and once I make a start on a project it quickly turns into an obsession; many of my difficult projects keep me awake at night. The only unusual thing about me is that I'm not scared of having a go at something new; because I'm a mechanical engineer does this mean I can't cause a few blue flashes whilst trying something totally new that I've received absolutely no training in.
If you don't want to take your woodworking Further Gary then that is fine if you are happy where you are but others do want to move up a level or two. I'd love to have a nice warm workshop that is well lit and full of all the desirable machines and tools. What I have is a cold black hole that is dark and the lights installed cast many shadows; my tools feel frozen and most of the year work is carried out with the doors closed so fumes and dust have to be considered. I own compressors and a number of spray guns but cannot use them as the climate is so terrible. I wear bi-focals which I hate and most times work in a coat which I was trained not to do especially whilst running big machinery. Only recently have I been able to afford to go out and buy timber for a project whereas for many years I obtained offcuts.
I can assure you Gary when I make my mind up to do something I won't let go until I succeed. Failure is not an option and I hope all my ramblings encourage at least one other person to have a go because getting off ones backside is the hardest part.
Well said Tony and thank you for your gracious compliments which again come from a very well respected radio restorer. I'm very fortunate to have you as a friend and to see your work in progress via email which is always of the highest calibre. I'm pleased Tony that you regard my work as an inspiration as it is meant to be so and is why I go to a lot of rouble in sharing my experiences. It does upset me when people try to belittle my achievements saying I can do this kind of work easily because I've had training in mechanical engineering. I would much rather these people to be honest and say they have no interest in doing such work rather than offer feeble excuses; I don't ask them to do similar work so why do they feel obliged to excuse themselves. By not spending many hours on forums I could use the time being more productive. I try to put a bit back and encourage others to have a go but I find little encouragement from people who assume everything is so easy for me.
Perhaps the modern guy is going to do his finger nails; apply lipstick and make-up leaving the modern lasses to take over more manual tasks involving work.
Yesterday I awoke to no mains water and it din't come back on for 5 hours; the number of times the water company has dug up the same patch of road beggars belief I think it's time they put a zip around it. In the afternoon I tidied the garage and put lots of small offcuts of timber outside ready to run up to the tip today. The compressor and airline left the garage squeaky clean and it's a shame to mess it up again. Today the offcuts are soaking wet; never mind at least I'm still here able to moan about it.
Kind regards, Col.
Thank you Gary for such high compliments appreciated all the more coming from such a well respected radio restorer such as you.
Yes Gary that is exactly what I mean when I say anyone could do this type of project not only including an old guy but especially an old guy. Many people enter retirement and look for new hobbies as I did. These people could have quite a bit of disposable income to spend on such hobbies and with care it needn't break the bank to set up for woodworking. They have the time and if interested they will quickly learn.
It's easy to assume everything comes naturally to me Gary when in fact many tasks wind me up and cause me considerable frustration. I could wire an electric motor but my knowledge of radio/TV restoration was absolutely zero in fact I had never seen inside a valve radio/TV cabinet previously as I always considered them to be highly dangerous. I retired aged 53 and wanted a decent hobby that would stretch and challenge me for our 9 month long winters when I couldn't work outside.
Electronics was totally alien to me but to prove the point anyone can learn new skills I'm a good example; my mechanical engineering experiences were of little use as electronics was a whole new area for me to explore but by making many mistakes I slowly began to feel at home and more confident. I'm now approaching 65 years old and look forward to new challenges which bring along more techniques to learn.
It's all in the mind Gary; a child brought up being told he/she will be no good at anything has little encouragement and unfortunately this tends to carry through into their adult life leaving them with little self esteem. I have a great amount of confidence in my own ability but I'm certainly not over confident or I would soon be heading into trouble and possibly injury.
I don't know of anyone trying something new out for the first time ending up with 100% success; the more difficult the hobby chosen the longer it will take to learn the basics. I find once I break through and grasp the basics then I can relax and really start to learn usually by experiment to see what works for me and what doesn't. OK so I blow a big electrolytic up whilst playing with my electric motors or I cut a length of wood too short; its not the end of the world. I must have cut at least half a dozen biscuit slots in the wrong place whilst making this desk but I learn although it won't guarantee I won't make the same mistake again. Why take life so seriously; I'm no longer in active conflict in a job I dislike so I take a lot of time over my projects but enjoy every one gaining as much satisfaction as can whilst work is in progress. If I make a mistake at least I'm actually doing something in order to make the mistake.
I've said before that more and more lasses are leaning towards DIY and many are making a lovely job of what they tackle whilst lazy guys just want to sit around. Each to their own but nothing has come easy to me. I've had very little money for most of our married life but I haven't simply given up; I went out and bought scrap machines and restored them; yes my mechanical training was highly useful but how useful was this once the mechanics had been sorted and I ran into a brick wall because I hadn't a clue how to sort out the motor and starter connections whilst converting from flat belt drive to V belt drive and from 3 phase to single phase; if as you say Gary people are unable to learn new skills without a lot of background training how have I managed to not only sort out motors and starters but to go forward and play around with electronics and even install my own 3 phase which many electricians are unable to do?
It all comes down to wanting to do the work and without this it is pointless making a start. I'm widely read on all aspects of woodworking; no one taught me and I've been learning for many years and am still learning and hope to continue learning for a long time to come. Now take the old guy you mention who can't do such work? Of course he/she could and pick up the techniques a lot quicker than me because they can spend full days on projects whereas I always had long hours at work getting in the way so I was forever trying to pick up where I left off and spent as much time tidying up as actually dong any useful work. I had a shed to work in as a child then when I married I had a spare bedroom; I only had hand tools for many years with just a single B&D electric drill. This never stopped me doing my best at every project and I was always working on something whilst others were away on foreign holidays or paying to have jobs done.
I can do plumbing but this is one area I dislike intensely but it doesn't stop me doing plumbing jobs as the jobs crop up.
Unless a person is genuinely unable to do something possibly through some disability or illness then I maintain anyone can pick up new skills but only if they want to. There is a vast amount of information on the Internet and "You tube" is just brilliant for watching others do jobs first; by watching someone perform some task on video it is a great deal easier to pick up the information and techniques than any book will ever describe in text. Start on a small project and make the mistakes; waste some material whilst learning how to use hand and power tools; above all do not injure yourself and there is no excuse for buying a power tool and the first time it is used to end up in A&E. Many power tool suppliers will give free demonstrations on safe use.
I've responded at length Gary because to say I can only do this type of project because of my background training is incorrect; my training has been nothing more than a stepping stone; I have a genuine interest in what I do and once I make a start on a project it quickly turns into an obsession; many of my difficult projects keep me awake at night. The only unusual thing about me is that I'm not scared of having a go at something new; because I'm a mechanical engineer does this mean I can't cause a few blue flashes whilst trying something totally new that I've received absolutely no training in.
If you don't want to take your woodworking Further Gary then that is fine if you are happy where you are but others do want to move up a level or two. I'd love to have a nice warm workshop that is well lit and full of all the desirable machines and tools. What I have is a cold black hole that is dark and the lights installed cast many shadows; my tools feel frozen and most of the year work is carried out with the doors closed so fumes and dust have to be considered. I own compressors and a number of spray guns but cannot use them as the climate is so terrible. I wear bi-focals which I hate and most times work in a coat which I was trained not to do especially whilst running big machinery. Only recently have I been able to afford to go out and buy timber for a project whereas for many years I obtained offcuts.
I can assure you Gary when I make my mind up to do something I won't let go until I succeed. Failure is not an option and I hope all my ramblings encourage at least one other person to have a go because getting off ones backside is the hardest part.
Well said Tony and thank you for your gracious compliments which again come from a very well respected radio restorer. I'm very fortunate to have you as a friend and to see your work in progress via email which is always of the highest calibre. I'm pleased Tony that you regard my work as an inspiration as it is meant to be so and is why I go to a lot of rouble in sharing my experiences. It does upset me when people try to belittle my achievements saying I can do this kind of work easily because I've had training in mechanical engineering. I would much rather these people to be honest and say they have no interest in doing such work rather than offer feeble excuses; I don't ask them to do similar work so why do they feel obliged to excuse themselves. By not spending many hours on forums I could use the time being more productive. I try to put a bit back and encourage others to have a go but I find little encouragement from people who assume everything is so easy for me.
Perhaps the modern guy is going to do his finger nails; apply lipstick and make-up leaving the modern lasses to take over more manual tasks involving work.
Yesterday I awoke to no mains water and it din't come back on for 5 hours; the number of times the water company has dug up the same patch of road beggars belief I think it's time they put a zip around it. In the afternoon I tidied the garage and put lots of small offcuts of timber outside ready to run up to the tip today. The compressor and airline left the garage squeaky clean and it's a shame to mess it up again. Today the offcuts are soaking wet; never mind at least I'm still here able to moan about it.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
