Hobbyist or pro woodworker, which are you?

[Two Much]

I was wondering how many of the members are pro's
and how many are hobbyists?

I'll go first, we're hobbists and enjoy woodworking.
I get a lot of crazy ideas, some come out good, and
some that we're not to thrilled with -- we give away.

If you're a professional woodworker, do you make things
for your own home? I bet it's hard to do for yourself, huh?
just wondering...

If you're a hobbyist, what do you like to make or do?

[cabinetman]

If you're a professional woodworker, do you make things
for your own home? I bet it's hard to do for yourself, huh?
just wondering...

I do woodworking for a living (a bit over 40 years), so I guess that takes me out of the hobbyist group. I've done quite a bit of work for my residences (the honey do list). I try to work projects in during lulls. Or, just get a start and set it aside and work on it as I can.

A major home project was a completely new kitchen for my present home. The LOML and I were getting married, and we couldn't find an appropriate location, so we decided to have the wedding and party at the home. So, I had to do a complete kitchen in less than 2 weeks. Needless to say, it was day and night. The night before the wedding I was up until 3 AM hanging doors.

.

[Two Much]

I do woodworking for a living (a bit over 40 years), so I guess that takes me out of the hobbyist group. I've done quite a bit of work for my residences (the honey do list). I try to work projects in during lulls. Or, just get a start and set it aside and work on it as I can.

A major home project was a completely new kitchen for my present home. The LOML and I were getting married, and we couldn't find an appropriate location, so we decided to have the wedding and party at the home. So, I had to do a complete kitchen in less than 2 weeks. Needless to say, it was day and night. The night before the wedding I was up until 3 AM hanging doors.

.

kitchen in two weeks, mamma mia!
Even though you're a pro, a two week
window is still amazing!...and I bet it's a record, as well!

[cabinetman]

kitchen in two weeks, mamma mia!
Even though you're a pro, a two week
window is still amazing!...and I bet it's a record, as well!

It was for me, but not the first time I worked nights to get a job done.

.

[cwsmith]

I'm not sure how I classify myself... definitely not a pro, I'm simply too old and too slow.

I'm not a hobbyist either, at least I don't think so. I've yet to find the time for the "idle joy" that I consider a hobby to be.

A descriptive word escapes me at the moment. Is there such a thing as a "necessitist"? My woodworking skills (such as they are), are exercised as a matter of necessity.

My past "woodworking" was really sort of basic carpentry... hung a few doors, windows, did some trim, built some workbenches, simple bookcases, and even built a deck... but nothing really to the finesse that I consider "woodworking". But about six years ago we bought an old house (1887) and my project list (and required tools) grew dramatically.

We had a new kitchen put in by a contractor, using pre-made cabinetry from Lowes... halfway through I decided the guy was a slob and didn't have a clue. I had never installed cabinets either, but I sure could see he wasn't doing it right. So I redid what I could, and then finished the rest of the kitchen by myself. I then Wainscoted and trimmed everything in matching red oak.

Built my wife a "cookbook room", considering the room layout and space, that's a custom job to maximize the wall space. That included not only the built-in bookcases, but also the window seats, window shutters, and trim.

Built the library in what was the 2nd floor master bedroom (who needs a bedroom that large?). Again, to maximize the available wall space, you just can't "buy" bookcases. I also built the window seats there too.

It takes me a long time to do things, body isn't nearly as agile or durable as it used to be. I'm also pretty picky, make my own plans, and learn as I move along. Nobody would ever pay me, but I do earn a bit of praise from family and friends (I just don't tell them how many months I've had it on my schedule. )

CWS

[Two Much]

Built my wife a "cookbook room", considering the room layout and space, that's a custom job to maximize the wall space.

cw, what's a cookbook room?

[leehljp]

A hobby for me. But early in my childhood, I hung around my "jack of all trade" carperter uncle quite a bit, along with other woodworkers when my dad would let me off from farm work and machine repairs! I did learn some professional things, techniques and phrases, of which I have forgotten quite a bit.

IF I take my time, I can produce some fine finishes that go with quality work, but I am not a professional and don't want to be. I am too critical of my own work! It would be pure stress!

[Denco]

I'm somewhere between a novice and a hack.....but I have a lot of fun.

[tommyt654]

Hobbyist now as I used to work for a remodeling company for a few yrs and during the off season when I had my lawncare/landscaping biz,but I now enjoy making things for the new home and the grandkids and daughters as well. Not so much anything for myself,hmmm gonna have to put in a request for a new gun rack

[BobSch]

I'm somewhere between a novice and a hack.....but I have a lot of fun.

Add me to that category. I've built my bench and all the cabinetry in our garage, but no furniture or anything for the house.

[chopnhack]

Having thought I knew the words meaning, I challenged myself to the webster's definition and thus was enlightened with:

2hobby
noun
: a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation

Relaxing, ehhh? I have found woodworking to be challenging: physically and mentally, financially expensive - a sheet of nice ply is well over $40 , engaging, mind expanding-must be the dust, but relaxing?
I guess I am just not that good yet.

[mpc]

Pro? haha, no... and if I lost my real job and had to make a living as a woodworker I'd starve to death since everything takes me way longer than I think it should. Novice hobbyist yes. Mostly I'm a tool collector - I like mechanical things especially if they have a motor. Or if they're nice hand planes...

Most of my projects have either been shop cabinets, shop/garage wall storage, and bandsaw boxes for gifts. And a few "let's hide these and forget about them forever" projects.

mpc

[Pappy]

I have taken on a few projects that were commissioned by others but this is still a hobby to me.

After I retire I plan to make more things for sale, mostly at craft shows and the such.

[toolguy1000]

professional hobbyist here.

[Knottscott]

Just a hobbyist here.