Hello from Concord

[Mikeprice11]

Hello all...My name is Michael Price. I guess from reading prior posts that I am a youngin...well depending on who I am compared too...LOL. I am 26 years old and I am originally from Pittsburgh PA (darn... 2 strikes already). I bleed and will always bleed black and gold. I moved to North Carolina about 3 years ago and have been in Concord for about 2 years. I think Nc is a beautiful state. I am finally getting settled down and can finally start doing the hobbies that I want to do. I recently got back into hunting and went out a few times this past season. I always wanted to get into woodworking but never had the means or time to start. In high school I used to make speaker boxes for my friends...does that count? My wonderful girlfriend bought me a five piece cordless tool set for Christmas. BIG MISTAKE. That started the ball rolling. I picked up a Dewalt miter saw, table saw, sander, and Delta Planer and Jointer along with a buch of clamps. I have about a 6' by 8' shop but i guess you got to start somewhere. I am looking into buying a GOOD router(HELP). I read that you guys like pictures and I took a few of my first project. It turned out alright but it was a simple project and I had no plan. Its a plain jane oak shelf for the bathroom(over the throne). I figured if I messed up no ones really gonna take the time to look at it in the bathroom...LOL. I like it but here are a few pics. I love woodworking and look forward to taking in all the information and funny things that you all have to offer. I also look forward to meeting many of you.



Last note...DOES ANYONE PLAY POKER DOWN HERE???? I havent played forever and want to get something started. :-D

 

[DaveO]

Welcome Mike! It's great to have you join us. Thanks for the excellent intro, you're already assimilating well. Your shelves are excellent work for a first project or seasoned vertren.
Personally I am partial to my Dewalt 618 plunge/fixed base combo. I used the fixed base in my router table, and the plunge for handheld work. It's plunge mech. was the smoothest I found while shopping. It might have the power to spin large raised panel bits, but I don't genreally do work like that. Other than that it has done all I have asked of it.
Of course you can't just have one router, several are customary. You can't go wrong with the old standby PC 690 LR, and if you go wild the Bosch Colt trim router is nice to add to the arsenal :-D

I look forward to your input in the forums and seeing more work from your shop.

Dave

 

[walnutjerry]

Welcome Mike------------Sounds and looks like you are off to a running start. A really nice project for your first one, you will be tough when you have 20 years experience. Just enjoy the learning by doing-------no better way.

And yes, people do play poker down here. One of my sons loves the Texas Holdem. Send me some contact information and maybe you can get together sometime.

Jerry

 

[LeftyTom]

Hiya, Mike. Here is a link to a comparison of router combo's:

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/upload/contents/335/57-63_JUNE07PW_ROUTER TEST.pdf

 

[WoodWrangler]

Hey Mike .. welcome to the site. I'm over in Charlotte on the east side, not far from Concord. I too am a transplant (from Florida) and have been here for 4 years ... and been into woodworking for about 3 years (trying to accumulate the knowledge, know-how, and tools to get it done).

Come join us at our next Charlotte-area get together (for which we are overdue, so probably soon)

 

[Mark Fogleman]

Welcome Mike from a neighbor! You're in the right place for Black and Gold...go Spiders!(Concord High Class of 70 something;-)) Any thing you need you can probably find within 20 miles as we have a bunch of members in the area. Just ask and I'm sure someone will speak up.

I have an ancient Ryobi 3HP router mounted in a tablesaw extension router table that refuses to die and a DW621 for handheld use. I wanted a Bosch when I got the Ryobi but didn't have the extra cash at the time. Keep an eye on the Charlotte Craig's List tools listing http://charlotte.craigslist.org/tls/ See a lot of bargains there. Here's a search for Routers for the past 30 days: http://charlotte.craigslist.org/search/tls?query=router&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max

Keep the blood on the inside!
Mark

 

[Partman]

Welcome to the NCWW site and NC. :eusa_clapGlad to have you join us.:icon_thum

Danny

 

[Makinsawdust]

Welcome Mike. Great looking set of shelves for the reading room.
As far as routers there are lots of good ones out there. I would suggest a combo for your first. They are much more versatile when you can only have one. I've got a Bosch 1617EVSPK but everyone that has one of the Dewalt's like them. I've got several PC fixed based routers and they are good but I don't hear much either way about their combo's. Basiclly pick a color as long as you stay out of the DIY grade tools you'll be ok.
Rob

 

[ScottM]

Welcome Mike. I guess black and gold is better then green and white.

Go Giants!!!!!

 

[mcoston2]

Welcome to the NCWW. Lots of ideas and knowledge here.
Great job on the shelves.:eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

 

[JimmyC]

Welcome Mike,

It looks as if you've got WGD (Wood Guy Disease) there is no cure so just succumb and buy more toys..er I mean tools. I'm from NJ and was a Steeler fan in the 70's ...Go Bradshaw, Ham , Lambert, Fuqua, Harris, Greene and on and on. I guess that was a little before your time. Now it's Go Giants (Charlotte's like a different state to me).

Anyway, your work looks good. We're a good bunch and feel free to add or join in on any posts. We welcome input.

Jimmy

 

[JackLeg]

Welcome to NCWW. Yep, you're definitely a "pup!" But we old timers need you young guys to keep us young!

We won't hold the PA thing against you. There may be more non-natives on here than NC "good old boys." (Of whom I am one!)

You'll find this crowd really helpful and easy to talk to. And you've already ingratiated yourself with pictures, so you're good to go.

Enjoy all those new tools. Try to make the Spring picnic if you can. You'll meet a bunch of these "aliases" there. :biggrin:

 

[thrytis]

Welcome! That is a nice looking shelf. Sounds like if you keep adding tools at this rate, you'll need to add a bigger shop soon.

 

[McRabbet]

Mike,

Glad you found NC and this site, as both are great places to live and come alive. I'm a wee bit older than you, but we share several things I detected in your great introduction -- I've been in NC for 23 years, but I'm originally from the snow country of western NY State (Rochester) and got here by way of SC, VA and RI in that order. I also started out making simple items that I kept out of the main stream, but with experience and my share of goof-ups, I now do some commissioned projects for others.

I am a tool junkie (serious case of Wood Guy Disease or WGD -- see NC WW Lexicon under NC WW Info on top menu), but I'll buy used ones sometimes. Some features of the site are worth you spending some time in learning about this fun avocation -- look over the Photo Gallery and browse through member pictures (get into the habit of looking at the Last 7 Days option). I also suggest you look at our Link and Download Libraries for loads of other good stuff.

Glad to have you join and hope you have a good time making (but safely collecting) sawdust. Work smart and safely.

 

[Bas]

Mike, welcome. Major kudos for including pictures in your first post, can't go wrong at this point! Very glad you've decided to join our little dysfunctional family, now I don't feel so much like the kid here anymore :laugh:

You're a little out of my way for poker, but I'm sure you'll be able to find a game in the area. You can always get some woodworkers interested if you play for clamps....

 

[Ray Martin]

Hi Mike,

Welcome to our sawdust pile. It's always good to have another woodworker join us. I do like the project. What kind of a finish will you apply? Is this one that will hang from the wall? I think every [STRIKE]bathroom[/STRIKE] reading room needs a set of shelves... I, unfortunately, have a window over the seat.

Ray

 

[Glennbear]

Welcome Mike, I am fairly new to NCWW also but loving it so far. It is good to see someone getting started young, despite having woodworkers in my family going back to the 1800's I got a late start. A few years ago when I was dating a gal in western PA I attended a Steeler's summer practice and learned two things.

1. Steelers defensive linemen are twice the size of normal people.

2. Feeding lunch to a pro football team entails the slaughter of MANY cows. :lol:

 

[sapwood]

Another warm welcome to NCWWer, Mike!
Look forward to your input :icon_thum

Roger

 

[Alan in Little Washington]

Welcome. There are a look of very knowledgeable people here- it is a great resource for ideas and hardware.

Caution: As mentioned by McRabbet, WGD (Woodguy Disease) is rampant here- bigger is always better, you can never have enough tools, routers, clamps, etc, etc. And don't let the skills of many true artisans here discourage you. There are a lot of us who are "not worthy" :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I too started woodworking when I was 26, and my shop is only a few square feet bigger than yours (8' X 10'), so I share your misery. If you ever need help with anything, I'm in Concord all the time because my girlfriend lives there. Good luck ww'ing and welcome to the site!

-Marco