Sanctimonious Woodworking

It’s important to question things. Questions can be both critical and inquisitive. If we become afraid to ask critical questions or fail to look for perspectives that might differ from our own we can soon become ignorant. This can limit our development in all aspects within the craft of Woodworking.

While it’s not good form to regularly criticise or be critical of other peoples approaches just for the sake of it, sometimes it’s necessary. I’ve been called out on information that I’ve got wrong. The most recent was my video “Ultimate Drawer Construction”.

In the video I stated incorrectly that drawer slips became popular during the 18th Century. I’m still happy with the other parts of the video, but If you know your onions you knew I was wrong. I was incredibly grateful for the correction. I haven't always been this way.

I can remember snapping back to my father. I was still or possibly barely out of my apprenticeship. It’d been highlighted to me that there was a potential error in my work. Because I didn't like how the issue had been highlighted I reacted poorly, closed my mind and carried on. Later I found out there was a serious error. I instantly learned as I left my teenage years that I needed to keep my ego in check.

The internet gave this a new dynamic. Knowledge I had gained working and making things full time was tested in a new way against hobbyists, bloggers, journalists, publishers and advertisements. I wasn’t (and I’m still not) concerned with financial improvement from this process of online woodworking. I was, and still am, perfectly capable of using my skills, knowledge and experience to make things from wood to earn money. It's how I've provided for myself since leaving school. I don't need affiliates and lifestyle woodworking fluff to feather my nest.

During the day I use hand tools to support machine work, ensuring I’m economically viable, but I was fascinated by the nuances of older methods and always wanted to learn more. That's why when I'm away from earning money, I choose to develop and understand traditional methods that often don’t use machines. You don't find much good information in that regard from mainstream woodworkers. Sure, you find a facade of traditional practice but most are pretty poor. Many pretenders are people that rely on working spouses or debt payed off with a corporate job and then transitioned to the good life.

I had my own methods and knowledge I had gained from my apprenticeship, reading books and as a full time Joiner. As a result of my interactions online my skills improved. Was it smooth sailing? No. If you're throwing around ideas or want to be considered an authority in something expect to be challenged and proved wrong. If the ego gets in the way this can make us defensive and unable to grow. Yet we must blend that with the confidence in our own abilities. It's called being an adult.

Have I been critical of others? Yes. Has this been in a direct or indirect way? Both. I don't “name and shame”. That's too tabloid, even for me. Instead I decided to restart my blog that I previously did for our business and for a short stint on the Popular Woodworking Editors Blog, restarted my YouTube Channel and Instagram feed. Are my efforts drowned out? Of course they are, but that's just fine! With my own platform I can say what I want to say, how I want to say it. And that is worth more than recognition, hanging on the coat tails of others or doing woodworking infomercials.

I have some goals in addition to maintaing the above. Being an independently minded person, when I do publish a book, I'll do it myself. I've seen noted woodworkers get into difficult situations when they don't have control over their content. I don't want my efforts to be part of a cosy, smug clique. I'll do it for the challenge and if nobody buys it, no matter. The challenge of compiling the information and the work will keep me satisfied even if I don't sell one copy.

Even though I said I don’t do tabloid, I will attempt to piss on one bonfire though. And this is what I see as a false independence based on making things. From what I see, the mainstream hand tool pundits don't make any money from the things they sell. I mean real money. The kind of income that would support a family if the other taps of income were turned off.

There is nothing wrong with this. With most pundits you're not getting information from time served woodworkers or full time furniture makers that could drop the “extras” that the mainstream guys use for revenue. This doesn't undermine the grit it takes to be a “teacher”, journalist, retailer or publisher. It just means that if you're doing those things you're not earning your money making furniture so let's drop the act.

The bit that has irked me recently was something that comes full circle with the start of this blog. If you’re a combination of journalist, blogger, publisher, basic furniture maker and retailer expect probing and sometimes odd questions from your followers. Expect people to ask questions you find strange, expect to be criticised, it comes with the territory. It’s the professional world. If you don’t like what comes with the territory, if you don't like other options, stop talking, just make furniture for pay and see how far you go.

Also, and this is important, if you want to be holier-than-thou about who you are and your ethical woodworking, don’t take a crap on people when you specifically ask people not to do that very thing, especially when you’ve done that before. I don’t mind you calling something out, just don’t tell others not to and then go right ahead and do the same.

If you enjoy books like I do, that’s wonderful. If you like reading magazines that’s great too, I don’t because I’ve started to dislike the flimsy content and page after page of adverts of guff most people don’t need. I’ll save my money, a meal out with the family is far more enjoyable.

You don’t have time to watch YouTube? No problem! People do use it though, to access simple techniques that some choose to put behind a paywall. Sharpening information that doesn’t include how to sharpen saws! And you sell that?! Who in their right mind does that?! Thank heavens there's free guides on how to do it.

Part of the reason I’m making videos is to push back against lifestyle bloggers farming beginners. Ultimately I won’t stop the scythe swinging, but perhaps if I save one or two wasting their money, so much the better. And YouTube isn’t all long episodes on making tat. Granted many of the woodworking infomercials make me sick, but does this look like rubbish to you?

For the record, I’m human, I’m a hypocrite, I get angry, I get sad, I’m happy, I work hard, I get things wrong and I do my best. If you disagree with me on any topic, you think there is a better way to do something, design or information on the wood we use I’m ready to listen. After this post it’ll be back to the woodworking!