Paradise Lost - Paradise Found

Hello all.

I have always been a handyman, have built things, like cars and working with my hands. Built parts of my own house and generally pretty good with anything to do with my hands.

But oh my god, I am an now addict.

After all these years of pottering around, the woodworking bug has really hit hard. Its all I seem to think about now. No longer am I willing to do just an OK job, but now I have to look for the right way and better tools.

I am using my Dad's old tools and am buying second hand old tools to get some decent quality, so there is this generational connection now.

Only problem. I'm now 57, there is so much to learn and do to do it properly (as distinct from just acceptable). I'm only just starting off and when I look at how much knowledge there is out there, especially on these forum pages, I wonder if I am kidding myself by even starting?

Is there any hope for me at my age? Can I still do it? I'm worried about eyesight and getting the trembles, so I hope that my passion for working with wood does not lead to frustration in the future.

Hi'ya Viking...welcome to the forums:2tsup:

....it's never too late to learn:U

Hi there viiking and welcome. How could you possibly think you are starting too late? You are younger now than you will ever be :biggrin2:

Your situation is similar to mine, always done plenty of renos and making stuff but never what could be classified fine furniture or true craftsman style. I have been inspired to push my boundaries since joing this forum and am in the process of aquiring some quality hand tools to join a couple of neglected planes that have been under utilised since my dad passed away in 1978. I bought a lathe just before I retired and am gathering up tools for it as well. You will find plenty of people on these forums in similar circumstances, so get stuck in and have a go, cheers.

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Originally Posted by viiking

Hello all.

I have always been a handyman, have built things, like cars and working with my hands. Built parts of my own house and generally pretty good with anything to do with my hands.

But oh my god, I am an now addict.

After all these years of pottering around, the woodworking bug has really hit hard. Its all I seem to think about now. No longer am I willing to do just an OK job, but now I have to look for the right way and better tools.

I am using my Dad's old tools and am buying second hand old tools to get some decent quality, so there is this generational connection now.

Only problem. I'm now 57, there is so much to learn and do to do it properly (as distinct from just acceptable). I'm only just starting off and when I look at how much knowledge there is out there, especially on these forum pages, I wonder if I am kidding myself by even starting?

Is there any hope for me at my age? Can I still do it? I'm worried about eyesight and getting the trembles, so I hope that my passion for working with wood does not lead to frustration in the future.

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Hi viiking,

No mate, not at all...!
Just look at the "average" age group of the forumates, male and female. It is a fact that many of us got into this wood-turning madness, as a result of retirement from normal jobs, irregardless of the reasons why that happen, age, illness, accident, got enough or simply decided to "live" life or what is left of it...!:;
Many people, with no previous handy work/tools experience, have manage to feel confident in doing most wood-working stuff, in less than 12 months so, in your case, a simple introduction to the new tools of wood-turning and some one to one tuition,or joining to a local wood-turners club, watching lots of the readily and informative videos on YouTube and off-course, asking questions here and doing some search on our archives, will get you up and running in no time. Hand tremors and lost of eye site, well... we all have it or will get it in due time, I haven't ever heard of anyone stopping turning because of it. Some of our forumates are in wheelchairs, some have no legs, some only have one arm, lots of them lost many fingers, some only have one eye and some are totally blind, just to name a few...!:o
So, get off that "negative thinking" and get into the sawdust, you will feel so much better!:D

We are all here to help, don't worry!:roll:

Cheers:2tsup:
RBTCO

G'day Viiking and welcome to the asylum!:2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

There is no known reliable "cure" for our condition. and we all prey it stays that way.:D:D:D

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Originally Posted by viiking

Hello all.

I have always been a handyman, have built things, like cars and working with my hands. Built parts of my own house and generally pretty good with anything to do with my hands.

But oh my god, I am an now addict.

After all these years of pottering around, the woodworking bug has really hit hard. Its all I seem to think about now. No longer am I willing to do just an OK job, but now I have to look for the right way and better tools.

I am using my Dad's old tools and am buying second hand old tools to get some decent quality, so there is this generational connection now.

Only problem. I'm now 57, there is so much to learn and do to do it properly (as distinct from just acceptable). I'm only just starting off and when I look at how much knowledge there is out there, especially on these forum pages, I wonder if I am kidding myself by even starting?

Is there any hope for me at my age? Can I still do it? I'm worried about eyesight and getting the trembles, so I hope that my passion for working with wood does not lead to frustration in the future.

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viiking, you young lad , if only I could return back to age 57,what fun and excitement I would enjoy. The time you have to learn and construct anything you set your mind to do. I'm starting to slow down a bit now but still enjoy a challenge to make something special, maybe it takes a bit longer, but it keeps the mind active.
Just passed 73, hearings stuffed , eye sight require 2 pr glasses,minus one and a half fingers, saw dust runs in the veins, enjoy your years to come.
regards nine fingers

Welcome viking, you are only a youngster. Plenty of help to be had here if you need it.

Viiking, welcome, as you're still a young guy in compare with me, there is hope for you, so pick up the work and I hope you are able to show us some of your work.
Have fun.
Ad

Thanks for all the encouragement, especially from those of you just a tad born before me.

I guess most of you are like Penfolds Grange Hermitage. You seem to get better with age.

Just hope I can match the high quality work of the masters who have replied.

Thanks again for the warm welcome and the encouragement.

PS. I'll apologise now in advance for the dumb things I am going to ask about over the coming enjoyable years.:)

Welcome Viiking!
Wish I was a perfectionist.............it would maybe stop the criticism from a certain someone who has lived with me for 50 years. We all like to do things and some of us are better at it than others and I too will keep trying............it takes my mind off sex!
Good luck with all your projects.

Welcome aboard, viiking. A lot of us travelled your path, and got accustomed to frustration. Just work around it. The only dumb question is the one that isn't asked; we have plenty of dumb answers.:D

Cheers,
Joe

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Welcome viking, you are only a youngster.

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What does that make me an infant??? :D

Welcome to the forum!

Never to late to learn mate, I see a lot of people in the mid aged range starting with no prior experience, create master pieces!!!! So don't be dis-heartened!!

Hold onto all of your tools, they will serve you well! What do you prefer, Hand tools or Power tools, or a healthy mixture of the both?

Cheers, Harlan