The wife has decided she wants to know more about this woodworking thing

[smorris]

After Christmas she wants to sign up for some woodworking classes at the local community college. She's more of a formal learner and the tools being potentially dangerous, she'd like to learn in a controlled environment first. Nothing wrong with that. Since the class is not real structured, you go in with a project in mind and they teach you to use the tools.

We recently found that she is a very good finisher with a good eye for detail when I didn't have the time to do the finish on a Christmas present and she took that part over.

[lrogers]

That should make it a bit easier to get the "tool budget" approved!

[crokett]

And gifts just got a lot cooler - easier to get what you want now - just give it to her and you can 'share' it.

[Ed62]

That's a win/win situation. Get her the most expensive piece of equipment you want. She can't say anything except thank you.

Ed

[jon_ramp]

Lucky you! Especially if she's gifted at finishing and you can get her to finish your projects. I can do the finishing part, but don't find it enjoyable.

I just recently saw an ad for a co-ed furniture making class and pointed it out to my wife. I figured she would have little interest, but I thought it would be something fun and different than going out to a movie or dinner. Plus - all the benefits should she find a new hobby. She heard the co-ed part and thought I had other intentions.

[smorris]

You guys are cracking me up.

She actually has broached the subject of whether I would like to have a lathe to make pens and bowls. I suspect that is actually her inner woodworker speaking. so I guess a lathe is in "her" future.

[cabinetman]

In the 80's there weren't too many DIY shows on TV and even fewer woodworking shows. I was a guest speaker on a weekly basis for an "Ask the expert" radio show. It was an open phone forum, that took calls. I would estimate more than half of the calls on woodworking were from females with hobby, repair, or finishing questions. There were many requests for referrals to "courses" or "classroom situations". At the time the only local offerings were adult education classes given at high schools and colleges. They were not gender specific.

A "hands on" course would be a great benefit, to learn proper tool safety and awareness. The liability factor is probably a major reason for the "hands on" classes being sparse. The Woodcraft and local Constantines have specialty classes throughout the year, that are open to both men and women.
.

[crokett]

One more thing - when she starts saying things like "we need a new blade for our tablesaw", be afraid, very afraid. It won't take too long before the 'our' becomes 'mine'.

[crokett]

And yet another thing - you do realize that now you will have to keep the shop clean? It is not 'your shop' any more it is 'our shop' and anything she can claim some ownership of has to be kept to her standards.

[SHADOWFOX]

Congrats to you! Rep points for the misses too

My wife could care less about it but does care if she sees a bunch of huge boxes from Amazon gets delivered First thing that comes out of her mouth is "WHATCHABUYNOW?"

[Rand]

Most women tend to think "What's mine is mine and what's yours is ours."

Congrats on finding someone to do your finishing!!!

[Bruce Cohen]

YOU'LL BE SORRY

Imagine a shop full of pink and teal tools and machines. And those lacy things women put on the ends of arm chairs.

Bruce

[Wood_workur]

YOU'LL BE SORRY

Imagine a shop full of pink and teal tools and machines. And those lacy things women put on the ends of arm chairs.

Bruce

that is why he givers him all his tools, and gets a credit card to re build HIS shop.