On second thought, maybe I'll move to Finland

In a previous post I said that if my current job didn't work out I was going to move to Germany and become a Bavarian logger. But after perusing the internet I came up with another great video. (Link for phone and tablet users)

I want to join this crew of Finnish carpenters so bad it hurts.I could go on and on about the things I found fantastic about this video, but I will stick to the high notes.

1. Hewing an entire gable end wall before I die MUST happen.
2. I need to start cutting joints with nothing but a hatchet.
3. How cool are pegged floating floors?
4. I am going to Finland to get me one of those sweet axes!

P.S. Seeing as I have crazy O.C.D., I couldn't stop thinking about those great Finnish axes. So I did some research and found that there are pretty much two ways to get your hands on one. The first way - find a friend in Finland and have them go to any flea market and pick up a great vintage Billnas for almost nothing...and then pay a fortune in shipping costs to send it over state-side. The second way is to figure out a way to buy one from John Neeman Tools (see blog post here). It might be easier finding a friend in Finland, and I have a feeling that it would be a lot cheaper too.

P.P.S. I think it is poor blogging etiquette to have the P.S. longer than the blog.

P.P.P.S. Or having three post scripts.

P.P.P.P.S The End

My Fallback Plan

Just in case my life as a 17th century carpenter philosopher doesn't work out, I will definitely try out being a Bavarian woodsman. I found these two short videos during some inter-web wanderings. The first one is just the most ridiculous logging operation I have ever seen, I was slack jawed watching these crazy Germans tossing around their giant logs with nothing more than some elbow grease. Also, the man taking down the log's dimensions wins the best dressed award. (Link for tablet and phone users)

The second video is equally as interesting (same group of woodsman?). There are so many awesome things going on in such a short stretch of time. Flitching with wedges, long mortising axes used for....well everything, the hewing trestles that you can roll logs right onto from the hill, a sweet chalk line/plunger/chalk cup combo, the strange yet awesome scrub plane for the inside of the water trough, and finally the sweet Hersey kiss-esque finial on top of the fountain. (Link for tablet and phone users)

Old Tool Mecca

I was recently in touch with an acquaintance from high school who informed me that he was also interested in hand tools, particularly for boat building. Through some back and forth messages he  directed me to Liberty Tool Co which is an antique tool store dealing almost exclusively in used woodworking, black smithing, and mechanics tools. This is the kind of place that I have been searching for during my antiquing on the weekends, and it is just too much of a gem to keep to myself.

I found this video online which sums up how incredible this place really is. I encourage anyone in the New England area, or anyone visiting, to stop by this hidden treasure (it is within driving distance from Lie-Nielsen Toolworks so double trouble!). Happy rust hunting!

UPDATE: It has come to my attention that the video may not play on some popular mobile browsers. I don't have a good fix for this so you can simply follow this Link to the video on Vimeo.

The Birth of a Tool

More interweb wanderings, and yet another inspiring find. Recently I ran across a series of videos made by John Neeman Tools, a collective of Latvia craftsman who create beautiful tools. It shows the art, passion, care , and artisanship that goes into each and every tool that they make.

These videos make me want to grow a beard, move to a cabin in the woods, and start making tools. Come to think about it I am already half way there (you figure out which half).

Do what you love, and love what you do

It is funny how when you are in a certain frame of mind you always seem to find things that appear to echo how you are feeling. While I was wandering the digital highway I ran across a wonderful video narrated by Alan Watts.You can watch the video below to get the full effect of his words and imagery...but be careful, it might just make you quit your job.

This video stuck a deep chord with me as I am somewhat a product of this philosophy. I went to school for Mechanical Engineering, but after four years of school and several internships I realized that this was not what I wanted to be doing, especially since work takes up so much of ones adult life.

To me, this looks like hell on earth.

So I made a decision, a brash one maybe, but it was mine to make. I would spend my life creating things on my own terms. Yes I would have to get a job to pay the bills, but why not have it somewhat related to the things that I truly want to do with my life. So I took a job as a carpenter. The work is hard and seldom glamorous, but I feel fulfilled at the end of each day.

The view from my "office" this week. What did yours look like?

Do I regret it? Not in the least. I built my own house for a fraction of what it would have cost if I hired someone else to build it while I withered away in a cubicle. No one can ever take your knowledge away...except for father time, but he does whatever the heck he wants anyways so I wouldn't worry about that. And on top of that I get to take beaten down, outdated houses, and build something unique and beautiful everyday of my life.