New member here -
Name's Ryan...I live in Durham, NC pretty near Brier Creek if you know the area.
Not sure what exactly I can say about myself here other than I joined at the referral of another internet friend and am happy to see a great, relatively local group.
I'm young...just 28...and just recently bought my first home with my wife. My main purpose in getting (back) in to woodworking is functional...building some built-ins, bookcases, shelves, etc. I don't have any designs on being a fine woodsmith (and fear I wouldn't have the patience to do so even if I did...)
I am 100% in learning-mode here...hoping to get some tips on techniques and tricks that will help me along the way. I am probably 40% into my major project (a huge "built-in" style wall unit for a game room) and am to date making do just fine with my basic tools (Circular saw, straight edge, router, and a couple of sawhorses)
My biggest accomplishment to date was building a 2-level shelving system and sweater/bookshelf in our walk-in closet, replacing the crappy ventilated wire stuff the builder included. Considering the last thing I built was in 8th grade woodshop, I was pretty happy with the results.
My biggest frustration to date is not having the tools to do what I REALLY need to do...it's tough to, for example, get consistent length cross-cuts without a table saw...it was fun trying to cut a case miter with just a beveled circular saw...and let's not even talk yet about trying to find maple lumber to use as trim on my cabinets...you mean Lowe's doesn't carry S4S hard maple boards in 10 foot lengths??? COME ON!!!!!
Hope that doesn't sound too bitter - this really has been a VERY fun journey to me...learning how to do some of this stuff...it's a great feeling and I am hoping that I can learn more here (and if anyone has suggestions on how/where I might best go about getting straight, flat maple for my face frames and trim, I just might give you a hug....and maybe not
Anyway, hello all, happy to be here!
Name's Ryan...I live in Durham, NC pretty near Brier Creek if you know the area.
Not sure what exactly I can say about myself here other than I joined at the referral of another internet friend and am happy to see a great, relatively local group.
I'm young...just 28...and just recently bought my first home with my wife. My main purpose in getting (back) in to woodworking is functional...building some built-ins, bookcases, shelves, etc. I don't have any designs on being a fine woodsmith (and fear I wouldn't have the patience to do so even if I did...)
I am 100% in learning-mode here...hoping to get some tips on techniques and tricks that will help me along the way. I am probably 40% into my major project (a huge "built-in" style wall unit for a game room) and am to date making do just fine with my basic tools (Circular saw, straight edge, router, and a couple of sawhorses)
My biggest accomplishment to date was building a 2-level shelving system and sweater/bookshelf in our walk-in closet, replacing the crappy ventilated wire stuff the builder included. Considering the last thing I built was in 8th grade woodshop, I was pretty happy with the results.
My biggest frustration to date is not having the tools to do what I REALLY need to do...it's tough to, for example, get consistent length cross-cuts without a table saw...it was fun trying to cut a case miter with just a beveled circular saw...and let's not even talk yet about trying to find maple lumber to use as trim on my cabinets...you mean Lowe's doesn't carry S4S hard maple boards in 10 foot lengths??? COME ON!!!!!
Hope that doesn't sound too bitter - this really has been a VERY fun journey to me...learning how to do some of this stuff...it's a great feeling and I am hoping that I can learn more here (and if anyone has suggestions on how/where I might best go about getting straight, flat maple for my face frames and trim, I just might give you a hug....and maybe not
Anyway, hello all, happy to be here!