Welcome to the shop! My name is Tim and I run The Wireless Woodworker.
I’ve always been a tinkerer, or maker, and I’ve always enjoyed the process of making more than the result. Once I discovered traditional hand tool woodworking I was hooked immediately. ‘Modern’ hand tool woodworking is a bit of an oxy-moron, but that’s essentially what I try to do. I’m, without a doubt, a modern guy. I love my gadgets, rely on computers, and couldn’t live without my iPad. It’s maybe because of all this technology surrounding me that I’m drawn towards the old days and simpler times. I prefer a single speed bike, use and collect fountain pens, and love working wood with hand tools.
In the modern age, with all the incredibly powerful machinery available for woodworking, it seems sort of crazy to use hand tools. If the sole purpose of woodworking was to create a final project, I would tend to agree. For me, however, the actual building process itself is where I find the most enjoyment. Since I am not a professional woodworker, I have no problem taking more time to complete a project. If it allows me to refine a technique, or learn a new skill in the process then I take great pride in that.
As a little aside, I’m not trying to convince anyone that hand tools are better than power tools, or that someone should use one or the other. It doesn’t matter to me. If someone sees a project on my site and decides to go cut a dado at their table saw, great! I’m happy that you’re visiting The Wireless Woodworker and I’m thrilled that I could motivate you to get into the shop! Just because my preference is to work with hand tools, doesn’t mean you should too. I prefer to drive only white cars, but a world full of just white cars would be extremely boring!
My hope with the site is to learn and improve my techniques, while sharing my passion for the craft of hand tool woodworking. I am not an expert woodworker, so I welcome and encourage comments and suggestions. I hope that you can learn with me, or that you can at least just enjoy everything the site has to offer. I’m glad that you’re here!
3 COMMENTS
Do you have plans for sale for the workbench you made? I am a late comer to woodworking, but I see myself becoming more and more involved. I like this blog and hope I may see lots more of your creative designs. Thanks for the info.
Hi Joseph,
This bench is based very heavily on David Barron’s design published in the July 2015 edition of Furniture and Cabinetmaking magazine, Issue 233. He has a nice write-up on the construction that he used, as well as a set of plans for his bench, so I’d encourage you to take a look at that if you’re able.
I can certainly share the 3D model of my bench with you if you’re interested. Just let me know.
Cheers,
Tim
I am also a tinkerer morphing into a maker. I grew up holding the dumb end of a rule for my dad who was a carpenter and in the process acquired a love for woodworking. Restoring hand tools is a passion and using them once restored is the icing on the cake. Modern machine tools are great but I enjoy the process and am not looking for speed or quantity in my projects. Nice write up on restoring chisels.