More Direction
The more I have reflected on one of my previous blog posts, the more direction I’ve gained. I have come to look upon the charging for basic information required for woodworking as a bit dirty. Basic information used to be passed on in a much more widespread way for very little. At school in a woodwork class, perhaps family or friends. In a strange way I almost think that if you acquire a basic skill, let’s say sharpening, it’s fair to pass the information on in a simple format for nothing. Would you charge your children for potty training or to learn how to ride a bike?
Sure, if you had people request an in person class because they needed help with a topic like sharpening then it’s chargeable. If people felt motivated to buy a nicely published book version of a free download to support someones efforts, then absolutely there is to be a charge. Filming a video is not a massive undertaking these days. Certainly a lot of woodworking videos leave a lot to be desired and therefore a video of basic methods should also be free.
Why? Firstly the positive. Giving away such simple information can be a catalyst to others for a deeper delve into woodworking. Who wouldn’t want to encourage that? Imagine also that you had other things to offer such as reference books on furniture you’ve studied, unique drawings, plans or guides to building furniture. Surely giving away a guide to basic skills would have people coming back for more?
So here’s the negative. The life cycle of beginners in all subjects is much like krill, abundant in huge numbers and ready to be preyed upon to keep a beast alive. Further, imagine if you could lure krill in vast numbers or even farm them! That is the fate of the beginner, farmed krill swallowed up to keep a bigger beast alive.
It’s a very good thing that people put their head above the parapet and show how to sharpen tools, even if they insist on charging relatively high fees. How else would people learn? It seems the route most take these days is follow the woodworking celebrity du jour. Thankfully most of the visible woodworkers who could feed on the beginners give away their basic methods on sharpening for free. For those putting the basic info behind a paywall, well I guess feeding on krill is an easier way to live than making things. I appreciate that might sound harsh but it’s only an opinion, you don’t need to agree.
Writing these kinds of posts that are not fully woodworking is difficult. They ask for a degree of introspection that goes further than a “How-To Guide” or sharing a nice picture of some something we make. This introspection has motivated me to provide a free guide. I don’t want to live off krill.
If people within our craft aren’t careful and responsible they will make a commodity out of it and in my opinion that would be exploitative. As mentioned, I see nothing wrong with a class situation between people if there is a demand for it. Where I get uncomfortable is when one individual and or business purports to have all the answers to what are the most simple questions. The problems are dressed up, confusion is enhanced and the only person to be your guide through the fog is the person and or business charging.
In many ways we are reaping what we sow. Larger bricks and mortar woodworking shops used to offer some some simple instruction. Because of our human nature we look for convenience, we all use online services and this has meant a reduction in bricks and mortar shops and a move towards internet gurus for advice. So too in schools, woodworking classes or trade style instruction is long gone. Such a shame when there are so many positions to fill in the trade.
The erosion of these avenues that require a bigger structure is sad and is worthy of a discussion of it’s own. Suffice to say, having a balance between lone voices and larger institutions is gone. We pretty much have an ocean of individuals shouting “look at me”. Sadly I fear my contribution might only add to the chaos.
In any case, I hope this begins to explain where I’m going. I’m not asking for people to agree with me, nor turn away from paid for videos or books on the basics of woodworking. I just don’t like the idea of milking beginners. So as a time served joiner and still very much working joiner I want to give something back. I put food on the table by being involved in making things from scratch, not selling simple skills. Therefore, in my privileged position I feel I should offer something for free. That’s all. I don’t like those that claim to have all the answers if you just sign up to their method or they have they have one true path.
I set myself six goals in the blog post I linked too. My first was to deal with the tools and I’ll look to deal with sharpening first. If I release free downloads as I go I feel I’ll be giving back sooner. A working title? SHARPEN THESE…or PRACTICAL SHARPENING. It’ll be the 90%. Straight edged tools such as plane irons, chisels, scrapers and then an overview on profiles. All of that information should be for free and get you working. I’ll possibly add saws if I can demonstrate it well enough.
There has never been a workshop, or corner of social media for that matter that hasn’t enjoyed a “lively” debate on sharpening. And there will never be anything that quenches that discussion. Why should there be anything or anyone that wants to do that? Trying to have the last word on a topic is not a clever situation to find yourself in. My work will not to offer the last word, just an option for those that aren’t in a situation to pay.