Work Works
I’ve enjoyed these recent weeks. That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed all the weeks of my life so far, and that’s 3,848 of them thus far, just that recovering ability after some form of disability will always make you feel happier than before. When COVID hit I started to film myself for several weeks, staging my scenes, splitting off phases of work, moving cameras around to make things happen logically and then cycling a couple of miles to deliver them to Natalie to edit the results. It’s what you do in business when you are self-employed and want to keep your work flowing and your business going. Thankfully, we were able to regroup after not too long, still a few weeks though. My broken ribs resulting from mindless violence was quite a different thing. For a few weeks, it was the unknown unsettledness that impacted me. Any violating of another no matter how it’s done is to disorient them intentionally in an attempt to cause a loss of direction. I think of these periodic life-encounters occur for different reasons and I consider them to be periodic shunts and shoves in life in all of its elements to separate the new abnormal and reestablish normality so as not to lose too much of the ground we up until that point stood firm and strong on. In my world, it put a temporary halt on all that I aimed for for over two and more decades. Of course, I did lose ground in several ways, not knowing whether I would or could regain what was lost was one thing but hoping for a full recovery and restoration of my former happiness and more importantly than that my contentedness and the impetus good health empowers you with to work. These last few weeks I have felt those elements I lost or saw slow down gently returning.
But we learn what we may not have known before. I feel more aware than ever that craft and handwork, more specifically manual work if you will, and all that that entails is more critical to our life enjoyment than ever. Returning to physical work after a prolonged and forced stop is definitely undervalued generally but the powerful ‘drug’ of working and then working with your own hands is a most comlete therapy in and of itself. The single most important ingredient in my life at various points where illnesses have stopped me has been the promise of working again. And yet talking to most people about ‘going back‘ to work on a Monday after a weekend off and I will always be met with a very negative comment. This morning I quite simply ‘looked forward’ (What a strange term that is) to arriving at work. I looked forward to writing, to drawing, to flipping the wood I bought yesterday, to sharpening my planes and the workout of planing my wood using hand planes. I know that my work as a hand tool woodworker means I will physically work ten times harder (and smarter) than a machinist who will spend most of the time waiting to catch the wood on the outfeed while the saw and planer does all the physical work. Most people would consider this the more advanced way. That’s the exact opposite to me who cannot wait to get to working at the bench and getting my materials ready for the project.
Most people think being self-employed at least gives you a goodly level of freedom to do something called “be your own boss” or “work for yourself.” In my world of making it has always meant working twice as many hours in a given work week and then too working for a dozen or more ‘others‘ than a single boss-person. Truth is a percentage of those boss people will think that they are buying you lock stock and barrel and will often therefore tend be unreasonable, argumentative and indeed just plain awkward. Eventually, though, you can read the signs and pick and choose for reasonableness. You will read those you might work for according to their volunteering into a partnership of cooperation––a collaborative endeavour that disfavours the old way of buying labour in an employee to make for you as in the entitled of the past paying and even bargaining a pittance for an artisan to do fine work at minimal cost.
Over the recent weeks, I have spoken about the progress regarding my personal healing after an aggressive attack on me. We refer to brain chemistry like dopamine more frequently than in times past, referring to it as the ‘feel-good‘ chemistry and whereas these days it’s a common enough term, these word would seldom if ever be used as part of our common language. Apparently, we receive a flooding release of dopamine into and through our brains when we achieve something that’s particularly important to us. This unseen but felt something rewards our efforts in whatever sphere the stimulation comes. When I’m actively involved making I notice that different phases have a very positive affect on me. The first comes with the initial idea for a project. This will be a concept of creativity that I thought up or adopted/adapted from another source that then promped an action to record that start-point be it a search in a book or on the internet, a drawing made as black lines on the white of a page or the lifting of the first tool or the wood we to start making with or from. The next phase is the excitement that produces energy as the energising power of making. This excitement-inducing energy flexes the muscle we need to work with and then the muscle of the brain to expand the idea in an unfolding way within the pace we can measure ourselves out into. Sustainability is as important to any maker as any runner or athlete. For this we need work stamina, our ability to keep going when things get harder and the distance of completion seems too hard. We all know the significance of reaching the halfway point and seeing the distance ahead shortening. This too releases chemistry to us in the sense of the critical anticipation we feel for an end result coming into sight. By now we are beginning to feel the impulse from our achieving results. The quality of achievement should be recognised and not just passed over. Compare it to a diet when the goal was better health, loss of weight and such. On the first day, there is nothing to be seen. In or around 1984/5 my specialist consultant in the hospital (I was hospitalised because of severe internal bleeding in my gut) spoke to me in my hospital bed and told me the disease I had was incurable and I possibly had eighteen months before he would remove my colon. I changed my diet and felt no better…persevered and a week later I went from being bedridden to walking steadily. Six months past I was a new man. It took two weeks for the effect of my new diet to start to kick in. Fruit and veg did the trick for me but cutting meat and dairy magnified the endeavour a hundredfold. The phases I speak of here were working for me back in the 1980s. At each point, after some endeavour, I found myself building on the successes. That is how the chemistry of work works.
I recently picked up woodworking as a hobby, after a lifetime of computer work. I’m now making up for lost time. Working with my hands has fixed something inside of me that I didn’t know was out of alignment–or outright broken–and I have people like yourself, Christopher Schwarz, Frank Klaus, Rob Cosman, Rex Krueger, and many others who have served as teachers and mentors via YouTube.
I was horrified to learn of the senseless attack on your person, but I’m overjoyed with the spirit of your recovery. Stay strong and know that you have my eternal gratitude for introducing me to this fascinating world of craft. Thank you, Mr. Sellers.
I have to echo your statement, as it reflects my own gratitude and appreciation for not only the craft, but the teachers that allow us bridge the gap from thought to action, work works, that is for sure, thanks for the nudge Paul.
And Chris, thanks for posting.
“ The New Abnormal” I never quite thought of social change in quite that light or reframe before. I think the changes in technology have a lot to do with that. I see people walking the hiking trails looking or talking on their phones ignoring the wildlife around them, and their children. A large percentage of people no longer pedal their bikes on the bike trails or roads, now they have electric bikes. They whizz by at speeds approaching 20mph with no regards to other bikers or pedestrians. With no warning they blast past inches away , a collision would have serious consequences but they don’t seem to care.
In short people are losing contact with the natural world and all its wonders. How long before they are hooked up to virtual headsets with no real contact with the outside world?
Maybe it will get these people off the streets and trails where they are a menace.
There’s a message to manufacturers.
Cheaper, faster…… not better !
The character you’ve added to this saw handle sends the message home.
Paul, It has amazed me the difference it makes in ones life that making things through woodworking with hand tools versus making things through other means (CNC, 3D printers, lasers, etc). Okay, making things through these mechanical means can be intriguing and fun. Yes, you still get the feeling of accomplishment when you finish a mechanically made project. But for myself, (besides the high failure rate and learning curve and wasted time and materials) the feeling is fleeting when I realized that I have made an item that could have been done better in a factory. Need I say that the negative hearing and health effects of dust, fumes, injuries and etc are very real. Compare that to the beauty and durability of things made from actual wood.
My friends will often say that they would never have the patience to do the woodworking that I do now. But I think that they are wrong. If they tried it I think they would find it to be a labor of love. I have been with you for years now and I am in great physical shape and spirit when I am actually working wood.
I recently taught some short woodworking classes to kids in middle and high school. They had never seen a hand plane or a router plane or spokeshave before. They were so excited to take turns with these tools that there was quite a pile of shavings left after class. I am convinced that there is a huge opportunity in teaching hand tool woodworking to kids.
I always mention your name to anyone that shows interest in woodworking. You are making a big difference. I am so glad that you are healing and healthy. Thanks for sharing not only your knowledge and successes but your challenges too.
Richard from Tucson Arizona, US
Your “pile of shavings” reminded me of my metal shop class back in school. I made a garden trowel, and was so excited hammering the tang that it ended up too thin for the premade handle. Shims to the rescue, but the excitement of making something nice and practical with my hands was great.
Paul, it is great that you are finding yourself again after your ‘crash’. Sometimes we do need to reinvent ourselves…..and you have done that for me. I have been looking after my tools like never before. I clean them, I sharpen them, I put them away after use….and I take pride in doing so and that means my work is reflected in that by being neater, less casual, and I am learning as I go. All from finding this guy called Paul Sellers on UTube. Thanks mate, and I trust you will continue to improve in health and be around for a while yet!
Thank you for sharing the words above. Tailor-made for such a time as this in my life. I’m greatly encouraged. Some deep things confirmed and understanding gained.
Good Morning Paul,
I too was removed from my bicycle, by a person I knew, many years ago, a ‘near death’ experience. I admire the way you have got yourself back into your flow, the draw of the tools is a powerful thing, and good in that you forget that bad experience as you loose yourself in the work you enjoy.
You are much appreciated by people all round the world. I found you after I inhereted some of my Fathers tools, and decided to get back into wood after 50 years of metal. Some of the chisels are ones he bought when he started work of a man who was retiring (his initials are stamped into the handles) and according to the trademarks are about 130 years old! They have been loved and cared for all those years, and used, as the blades are somewhat shorter due to resharpening. It is my work now to expand what I remember learning from Dad as a boy, I have learned a great deal from you, and hope to continue to, you are a great teacher and an inspiration to us all.
Keep up the good work.
Steven
Paul,
I read this article which for me helped me understand what you were describing about your recovery. I still am not clear on the details of the attack or crash but am excited to hear you are “back in the saddle.” I’m a Texan whose heritage goes back several generations and I thought you connection to Texas would appreciate that. I had this idea of what a dream shop was and you have helped me redefine that idea. I hope and pray that there are many years ahead of you to teach those like me who have yet so much to learn. Prayers and Best Wishes, Dave
Here is a link to a blog post detailing the attack. There are subsequent blogposts to fill in the gaps.Here is the next one.And then this for information.
Paul seller is a blessing to every man who has a passion working with their hands. thank you for your endless tricks and hacks revolving the woodworking scene. I appreciate everything you’ve done for us “apprentices” …. my skills are slowly developing each and everyday due to teachers like Paul Seller. I’m sure we the woodworking community would enjoy it if you, Rob cosman, And a few other woodworkers from YouTube collaborated on a project. either way thank you. and a big thank you for not selling out. a lot of woodworkers are on YouTube trying to sell us the next best tool. Dusty Lumber Co is one of those snake oil salesman. he is doing a huge dis service to the community.
A hyptothetical…what if a bunch of hardcase old-timers wanted to learn cricket in the UK. Maybe they didn’t have jerseys because they were so new to the sport and from the US. Maybe they built cricket bats out of mesquite ‘cuz they were woodworkers and maybe they went jogging on the path where Paul was attacked. It would be a real shame if Mr. Toughguy picked a fight with an old-timer and his team exercised their right of self-defense. Given the light sentencing in the UK they’d probably get a pat on the head and a knighthood for cleaning up the rubbish (US: trash) maybe some community service. This is not a recommendation, just an idle musing.
Your perspective on the wrong done to you is humbling Paul.
To wrangle something so negative into a constructive and pragmatic drive, without climbing a high horse or pretending “it wasn’t so bad after all” is a rare balance to make.
Once again I appreciate how your woodworking is accompanied by (if not a result of) your self-working
Keep on keeping it real!
Masakatsu agatsu (正勝吾勝, true victory (is) self victory)
Hi Paul,
I hope your ribs are healing well!
Does the wooden wedge in a wooden hand plane act as a cap iron in antique wooden planes? I notice the wedges are often without those two sharp pokey wings” and without the hollow portion in the center at the narrow edge of the wedge and the wooden wedge extends almost down to the working end of the cutting iron…similar to a cap iron.
Thank you!
Jeff D.
Your post resonated deeply with me. I am retired but my “medication” for life is working in my shop. Not going to bars or stores or traveling, just plain hands on wood working. I don’t rely on it for a living money wise but I do rely on it for health and sanity
Good day Paul,
I agree whole heartedly with your premise. As a carpenter/ woodworker for nigh on 45 years, 71 now, there have been few days that I did not want to go to work and half my life I have been self employed. Most folks just could not do that but thats okay, as , individuals do what they do.
Glad you are mending, thanks for your sharing your skills and insights.
John
That’s a beautiful chair.
I certainly enjoy your blog and any articles I can find with your name in them. You have taught me and others on “woodworking” and life and getting older (I am m 74) and I appreciate the little things and details. Don’t stop ❤️
Yesterday I spent the dayat a local steam rally. I do every year.
I managed to pick up a few more bargain tools to add to my collection. I didn’t really need a second 044 plough plane, but at £2 I had to take it. Only one blade and the short bars, but I figured that it is sometimes useful to have 2 set up differently. Also got some brace bits to fill in gaps in my collection / replace ones with worn out nickers and a pair of sash clamp heads.
One “stall” had several old joiners toolboxes full of tools. From one I bought a moulding plane for £2. But it left me feeling sad. I was offered the box and contents for £20.Some of the contents were probably of little use, but many of the tools had plenty of life in them. Had I wanted a toolbox, I would have jumped at it.
It was sad seeing those boxes line up, once they provided someone with a living, no doubt they had made them, each one looked good , although slightly different. It sort of summed up what we have lost, when so very few seem to have to work with their hands any more, and indeed are not encouraged to do so.
Hi Paul, belated best wishes for your continued recovery. Like many others have said, you have been an inspiration and although we have never met, I feel I know you and am grateful to have discovered you during Covid. That was a strange for us all, but for me it was a time to discover a new hobby and love in life. In making a Paul Sellers Rocking Chair I was throwing myself in the deep end, but it taught me that with patience and accuracy, anything is possible. I’ve now created and written about a good number of your pieces Paul, some of which were published in Quercus Magazine. I owe you a huge debt. Thank you and all the best.