What Are You?

[dkerfoot]

Just wondering how people here would categorize themselves.

Please answer the poll before reading ahead. Looking for gut reaction. This is forced choice - I realize they may not capture the "whole you" but which one is closest?

[crokett]

Assuming you meant a handyman does what I do but gets paid for it, at the moment I am a DIYer who happens to dabble in woodworking. As I finish projects around the house and the kids grow up I hope to become a woodworker who dabbles in DIY stuff.

[cabinetman]

The selections aren't encompassing. Personally I feel if only one choice is available, I had to pick woodworker. Some of the other choices are offshoots of need or related interests. IOW, a woodworker can also be an artist at the craft, and be a handyman around the house doing DIY things, which necessitates collecting tools.

[radhak]

DIY-er is closest for me - always have tinkered with stuff, fixing many, trashing some in the process - did not matter if it had to do with appliances, tools, plumbing or in the garden.
Recent times, the internet has been a huge help, but it earlier on it was hit-or-miss.

But I have noticed : ever since taking up woodworking (year and a half now), my level of confidence has grown, as has the quality of my tinkering - even if not related to woodworking. Go figure. And of course, if you ask my kids, they call me a woodworker - keeps me happy

[ironhat]

OK, here's different bend to this topic. Even though most of us are casual woodworkers and like to DIY we are a pretty intent bunch when it comes to performing our craft. I'll bet there's not one of us piecing together a project who is saying to himself, "That's good enough for my granddaughter/ wife/ sig other". So, I'm thinking that 'craftsman' would be appropriate. Given that we are forced to make a choice from a list I'd say that we are closer to being artists. Just a thought.

[radhak]

OK, here's different bend to this topic. Even though most of us are casual woodworkers and like to DIY we are a pretty intent bunch when it comes to performing our craft. I'll bet there's not one of us piecing together a project who is saying to himself, "That's good enough for my granddaughter/ wife/ sig other". So, I'm thinking that 'craftsman' would be appropriate. Given that we are forced to make a choice from a list I'd say that we are closer to being artists. Just a thought.

Sorry - very few get to be called artists :

- do you get along with other woodworkers (converse of - do you tag yourself to be a 'renegade' woodworker)?
- do you take criticism well (ie, are you okay with somebody taking a dig at you/your site in a forum you've never heard about)?
- have you earned less than millions of $ ?
- do you count pine from different trees as the same 'species'?

unless you answered 'NO' to ALL of the above, you are just a woodworker .

(apologies to those who did not follow this earlier; you missed out on real fun while it happened )

[dkerfoot]

I realize I could have added a bunch more and that there is some significant overlap between handyman and DIYer.

In my mind (always a dangerous place to go) I tend to think of a Handyman as bigger in scale than a DIYer. A DIYer might convert a room into a bathroom or a garage into a livingroom (especially in the South ). A Handyman builds a whole addition, including concrete, plumbing, roofing, etc... On the other hand, I do see how pay might be considered the differentiator.

But, that is just me and is part of the reason I wanted people to answer before reading ahead. At one point in my life, I actually got paid for constructing valid research studies (good surveys). In contrast to Ironhat's statement, I really enjoyed throwing this one together without much thought, figuring it was "good enough for this bunch."

I added "Tool Collector" because that is how I am with stringed instruments. I'd never be brave enough to call myself a musician - especially in the presence of real musicians, but I own three basses, an electric guitar, classical guitar and a banjo. I can't play worth a hoot, but I love them and like to keep them close to me. If I allowed myself, I could easily do the same thing with all those beautiful hand tools in the Veritas catalog.

[Black wallnut]

The poster Black wallnut found it hard to decide on which classification he belongs in. He does a mixture of all of the above and yet DIYer fits the best. His woodworking projects are mostly as much for filling a need, or even want, than any enjoyment he might actuall receive from doing the work. He does however enjoy working wood and making beautiful stuff, almost artistic in nature. It is mostly his addiction and affinity for quality stuff that propels his woodworking hobby. BW has also done plenty of other things such as wrench-turning on his vehicles, home repairs/ remodeling, appliance repair, plus the occasional paid job.

BW, as a DIYer has worked with no less than 6 species of wood plus an assorment of plywood and other wood based sheet goods. This does not include all the constuction grade materials he's used.

[Thom2]

The poster Black wallnut found it hard to decide on which classification he belongs in. He does a mixture of all of the above and yet DIYer fits the best. His woodworking projects are mostly as much for filling a need, or even want, than any enjoyment he might actuall receive from doing the work. He does however enjoy working wood and making beautiful stuff, almost artistic in nature. It is mostly his addiction and affinity for quality stuff that propels his woodworking hobby. BW has also done plenty of other things such as wrench-turning on his vehicles, home repairs/ remodeling, appliance repair, plus the occasional paid job.

BW, as a DIYer has worked with no less than 6 species of wood plus an assorment of plywood and other wood based sheet goods. This does not include all the constuction grade materials he's used.

LMAO

[vaking]

Out of given choices I had to pick tool collector. If I had my way I would have called myself "imposter".

[Knottscott]

I chose "wwer", but I also see myself as a bit of DIYer, handyman, and tool collector.

[gerti]

I want to be a woodworker and artist, I am mostly a DIYer, and the only thing I am good at is tool collector...

[gwyneth]

Sorry - very few get to be called artists :

- do you get along with other woodworkers (converse of - do you tag yourself to be a 'renegade' woodworker)?
- do you take criticism well (ie, are you okay with somebody taking a dig at you/your site in a forum you've never heard about)?
- have you earned less than millions of $ ?
- do you count pine from different trees as the same 'species'?

unless you answered 'NO' to ALL of the above, you are just a woodworker

That was very funny--I woke up the dog laughing!

He'd just gone back to sleep while I was writing this, then I read Mark's third-person reply and I woke him (the dog) up again.

[pierhogunn]

Until a majority of my projects are in real, un-engineered, wood, I'll stick to DIY'r

MDF is my stock and trade.

[rcp612]

???

Assuming you meant a handyman does what I do but gets paid for it

I picked handyman because I tend to do whatever needs done before I get to do any woodworking. But in reality, I'm a woodworker in disquise.