Look Deeper – Underneath the Melamine of Life
My Work Brings Me Fulfilment and Satisfaction; Peace is a Reward for Working with my Hands
Thank you for all your responses to the previous blog. I often feel a little hesitant to post blogs like this because I know so many of you work in mundane commercialism and difficult soul-destroying jobs without the option to change your circumstances. I understand this and hope I can make a difference long term. Don’t give up. The important thing is to see the manipulation of life by people like Henry Ford, politicians (some of whom never did a lick of real work in their lives but talk a lot about it), economic strategists, educationalists and so on. The interconnection between them all gives understanding as to the powers they hold to progress agendas without any real accountability. It may seem a little paranoid but when we don’t see the cross-pollination between these areas we get caught up in the games and are always chess pieces being moved from one square to another. The dynamic that drives people in their pursuit of so called happiness is often illusionary; little more than a few greenbacks dangling just far enough away to walk us into utopia – literally ‘no place’. If what I have had these past decades is no place then that’s great. Many are driven by a vain hope of high wages, more power, social standing and recognition. Finding contentment at the end of a chisel seems stupid to some, “Get a life!” some might say, yet to me, seeing a piece of furniture emerge from a handful of rough-sawn planks by my workbench somehow carries deep, enriching meaning. I have put food on my table and raised my children from a one-wage income family throughout my married life. Times can be lean, but the outcome is a lived life. My workshop is my classroom. 
Working with my hands I learn about life, the relationships life working brings to me and passes to others. When I worry about working for a living I have put the cart before the horse. I live to work not work to live. If I feel down, it is always when I am not working with my hands. As soon as I feel down, which is very rare, I walk through the woods to my workshop, pull out the tools and the project I am working on, and suddenly life makes much sense. I think of the problems I need to resolve while I am working and suddenly, as a joint comes together, I find answers that resolve what bothered me outside the work I am doing. Now I can deal with that too.
This is a desk of mine. I designed in 2008, just before I designed two unique designs for the Permanent Collection of the White House
Today we worked in our various spheres of creativity. I am done with bookshelves, Phil is done with his stool and John is making the handles for his tool chest. Next week we all start anew on fresh projects I suppose. Phil already started his. We have some clean up to do but that doesn’t take long and John already has the tools ready for the next class starting on the 15 March. Besides the work we must do in making and building, filming, writing, drawing, planning designing, we all found time for tool restoration. repairing split nuts on old tenon saws, recutting saw teeth, fettling different planes and so on. I think many people would like to live close to a workbench and do this kind of work.
I hope that one day we will indeed see a revival where people local to us will say I’ll save up for having my next computer desk or dining table made by hand by a local craftsman using real tools, real skills from real wood.
That they will say, “Forget IKEA and Walmart, I want something that will last a hundred years.” I think that is is more a question of getting people to think differently. Spending time with people, customers or not, and explaining what the difficulties are and showing why it makes sense to by solid stuff.
Look beyond the superficial, underneath the smooth and shiny veneer of melamine ( can’t believe that stuff has been around as long as it has) to see what you are really buying. What good is a 1 year warranty on a fiberboard computer desk. Yes, if you don’t move it for a year, it will stay together. It’s after that that people should be looking at. I made a computer desk five years ago (the one third down from the top above) It will last for a hundred years because of the solid wood and the methods of joinery I used. it can be refinished in a few minutes and without stripping it.
Beautifully written, Paul. I just finished my first year as a full-time woodworker and I profited just $8,125. Before, my job paid $42,000, so this was a difficult transition. But, the sacrifice was well worth it because I have never been happier. It was the best year of my life. I expect this next year to be much better though, as I am 50 times the woodworker (thanks to you) and there will be less expenses. I can’t imagine a more rewarding life, other than being able to share this with others and pass along what I’ve learned.
I enjoy your blog, Paul. You express yourself very well and capture the frustrations many of us have experienced. Looking forward to your next book, and to my day in the shop tomorrow!
Again thank you for the great article. I understand your passion for your work. I do the same thing as I don’t do well just sitting around. I love to work in my shop with my hands. I am working on the 7 DVDs and the book. I have never been so happy as I am now. My daughter also has me making crafts for her to sell at the local craft fair. It kills me to make the kind of things that she sells. Old recycled wood from pallets nailed together and the rougher the better. But I love her and she needs my help. She has finally decided to take some of my spoons and spatulas to the market. I am excited to see what happens. I have started to wonder how exciting it would be to sell my work. Thank You for helping me adjust to being retired. Respectfully Mike
I agree completely what you say and think in your blogs Paul, but many people will not pay for hand crafted furniture because of the price. I fear real woodworking is becoming much of a rich persons hobby, because of the high price of stock- especially in the UK!
That is going to change if we persevere.
Craig, you’re right about woodworking. The price of wood and good tools is a problem. Not only in the UK.
I think you’re also right about hand crafted furniture.
I add: I know many people who prefer industrial design, “high-tech” materials and perfect results; and they really don’t care about the fact that something can be made by “real” hands. I mean, hand crafted things are in general bought by people who can understand the value of handicraft and who love a “way of life”. Yes, these customers are often rich… But I think it’s firstly a matter of Culture…
Dive in there and argue your corner. I have had to stand against some giants to counter many issues in the past few years, but, you know, I may not have won many battles, but I feel I stood for what matters to me. I just spent half an hour with a UK careers advisor talking through issues she didn’t know and me listening to issues I didn’t know. End of the time, we were on the same page. Not compromised,learning what we can do.
I find that woodworking brings a sense of balance to my life (much like you said above). I’m a scientist by training, and the majority of the science we do occurs theoretically in one’s head. While it can be terribly exiting at times, it leaves me wanting something tangible. I want to work with my hands, feel something solid, have aches and pains, and see a real world product at the end of the day. Thus woodworking provides the “real world” piece that my career sometimes lacks. As you said Paul, it’s more than just a hobby or job, it’s really an integral part of a proper life balance. GREAT POST!
I certainly think money is an issue with people when they look to purchase ‘solid wood’ products because money is always an issue with any purchase. However, I can’t help but wonder if the fickleness of todays world also plays apart. This year they like the look of Craftsman furniture, next year it is Contemporary, the year after it is Chippendale, etc. People seem programed to want the next thing/style/fashion that they almost like the idea of ‘disposable’ Ikea furniture so they can get the newest style next year. I don’t understand it. I could look at a Sam Maloof rocker or Paul’s Brazos rocker everyday all day for the rest of my life and marvel at it’s beauty.
Love the blogs and the MasterClasses Paul and team
Keep it up
Dallas
I am not a woodworker yet. But I sorely aspire to be one. I am working hard to carve out some time in my life (between a job that I love and commitments that I value) to take it up in some modest way. What I appreciate about your teaching, Paul, is the following lesson which I find difficult to describe. Unlike mass produced furniture, anything handcrafted has a story to tell and continues to speak to those who will listen. Anything made by hand with care sparks my imagination, makes me imagine the hands at work, where the work took place, what the maker’s experiences were of trial and error. There is also the story of skills passed down across generations. For older works there is the story of its journey from one household to another, the patina of its use across time. Those stories make me feel connected to real people and allow me to experience a sense of gratitude for that connection and for the work piece that establishes it. Thanks, Paul, for helping us get connected on all those different levels.
I agree. And what you say – I think – is especially true when you build something useful and beautiful for your home and for your family. A box, a table, a bookshelf, …, it doesn’t matter what. This is a kind of satisfaction that a purchased product – even if wonderful – cannot give you. And it’s not only the philosophy of the “do it yourself”: it’s really the freedom to imagine and create the shape, the aspect of your own “environment”. And if you try to respect Nature as well – using and consuming only what you really need and WHEN you really need something -, then you are (and you behave as, and you feel like) a responsible person.
more pictures of that desk please, Paul!!!
Beautiful, isn’t it!
https://paulsellers.com/2011/03/my-creative-workspace-iv/
Paul, thanks for being an inspiration to me (and many others).
Here is a link to a previous blog on the desk and pics
Paul, you know from all the commentors and followers to your blog, videos, and Masterclasses that you are not alone in this world of mass-manufacturing and disposable lifestyles. Yes, we come here for technical instruction, but we also have chosen a way of work that stems from a lifestyle and viewpoint on craftsmanship that is different than most, and so worthy of discussion. We may be in the minority, but that doesn’t diminish the rewards of the way we choose to work wood and live our lives. Not everyone will follow us or agree with us, but those that do will understand the value of what we do and the reasons for our passion.
The assembly line has brought us amazing advances in science and technology, not the least of which is this internet that we are communicating and sharing through. I think the problem comes when people have tried to apply this methodology to all things, and their entire lives. More, faster, cheaper must be better, they think. But I dare say the pendulum is swinging back to some degree, and (some) people are realizing that it doesn’t work with all things, and especially not life in general. Yours is a voice of reason in the clamor of this 21st century.
So, count me among those who are hopping off the conveyer belt. I’m quitting my “regular” job and moving to a lower cost of living area within the next month, when I plan on staring my new life as a professional amateur. I’ve been headed in this direction for a while, but attending your 9-day class last year was inspirational, in the truest sense of the word. I never could have guessed how nine long days of hard work at the bench could feel so little like work. And to see the amazing results every student produced in such a short time. And the sense of contentment and fulfillment that you simply radiate made me believe that I could be just as happy doing what you have been doing.
I stumbled across your Youtube videos last year when I was looking for an easy workbench to build, and it has quite literally changed my life. I know I’m not the first, and won’t be the last. So thank you for all that you and your team have done to share the possibilities with us.
We have to use plastic coated chipboard all the time at our company. Another issue which I find is astonishing, is that chipboard is not only such poor quality, esentially rubbish, with something like 6% metal in the content, it is also glued together with formaldehyde, one of the most toxic chemicals around. It is so toxic that the stuff we use has ratings of to show if it has to be entirely covered with plastic, or if we can allow one side to be open.
I think it is a reflection of how shallow we are, that this is considered ‘good quality’ because it has a nice smooth plastic finish, and how easily we throw stuff away and replace it with more rubbish later.
Mind you, without people like you I’d probably assume this was all there was…
I will save this post.
It is great to know there are real men.