Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    2

    Smile Greetings from Cape Town

    Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa. My name is Adrian, I’m 33 and a mechanical design engineer. I’ve lived in various parts of South Africa but since 2008 have been living in Cape Town and to me, it’s pretty much the perfect place to live. I spent a great deal of my time outdoors, hiking, or windsurfing, riding waves on my bodyboard, taking photos, oh yes and then also working. (if I couldn’t live here I’d probably head to Perth for the windsurfing!)

    I’ve been in and out (mostly in) the engineering world for 10 years now. From manufacturing valves, to cathode stripping machines, to large tanks, robotic welding, I designed conveyors for land based diamond mining, then a short spell on sub-sea crawlers and sonic drilling and now still with marine engineering designing winches etc. for vessels. When I wasn’t in engineering I tried running a kayaking shop with a mate but that resulted in a fair bit being learnt, but little money in the back pocket.

    In this career path I have had two problems – I get bored very easily, and I think differently to others and am grown tired of working for someone else. I’m tired of sitting in front of a PC all day long designing in 3D. Not that I really dislike that, but I’d rather be doing a design in wood, and then building it myself. To me, working with wood provides a serious challenge as mistakes are not easily tolerated, very much unlike working with carbon steels, and there lies the allure.

    My father died very unexpectedly last year November. It really hit me very hard and made me revaluate life, and what is important. I’m not happy in my work, I wish to quit engineering and begin my own woodworking business. I am by no means an expert carpenter, so hence I find myself here, looking forward to learning so much from the people here. I consider my skills beginner to intermediate.

    I’ve built a few projects at home. My last one was my fish tank cabinet and my own design of a cantilevered hood which works really well. I can link to pictures if anyone is interested. It was made out of blackwood.

    Anyway, looking forward to learning!

    Cheers,
    Adrian

  2. #2
    crowie's Avatar
    crowie is offline Life's Good, Enjoy each new day & try to encourage
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Faulconbridge, Lower Blue Mountains
    Age
    68
    Posts
    2,576

    Default

    G'Day & Welcome to the Great Southern Land and to a top forum "Adrian".
    There are good few members from South Africa and the rest of the world.....
    You'll find a heap of helpful & knowledgeable blokes & ladies on the forum and for most very willing to assist.
    Make sure you show off your handiwork as everyone loves a photo, especially WIP [Work In Progress] photos with build notes.
    Enjoy the forum.
    Enjoy your woodwork..
    Cheers from On Top DownUnder, crowie

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    2

    Default

    Thanks for the warm welcome

    My latest project that I completed last year:




  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Torquay
    Posts
    130

    Default

    Wecome to the Forum Adrian,

    Hope you make many long lasting friendships with a great group of people.

    Your fishtank looks tremendous

    Well Done

    Keith

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    1

    Default

    I used to surf The Corner in my young days, then windsurfed Blouberg and Muizenberg in the very early 80's.

    That fishtank is Blackwood? I would have thought Kiaat. I spent yesterday stripping a coffee table from Cape Town that was predominantly a very dark wood, but not as even in colour as Blackwood. One piece was tan, like heartwood.

    Cape Town is beautiful. We moved to Oz over 30years ago, but I continue to visit parents every year. I've always wondered what the woodworking situation is like there, since I have never had time to explore. I assumed most takes place around Stellenbosch. We have a nice table in Yellow wood and stink wood, a classic French Huguenot design. Your post creates many memories.

    Story for you (and visit my website, link below): http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Comment...esfontein.html

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Rockhampton QLD
    Age
    69
    Posts
    1,570

    Default

    Welcome to the forum Adrian.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    FRANCE
    Age
    59
    Posts
    1,892

    Default

    Wecome to the Forum Adrian

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Albury Well Just Outside
    Posts
    2,966

    Default

    Welcome to the forum.

Similar Threads

  1. Hi from Cape Town
    By synapseza in forum G'day mate - THE WELCOME WAGON -Introduce yourself
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 28th October 2014, 08:40 AM
  2. G'day from Cape York
    By Barndillo in forum G'day mate - THE WELCOME WAGON -Introduce yourself
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 31st January 2014, 08:15 PM

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •