Stan Suther's Real Estate and Stuff » Woodworking

Tools and Tin

Stan Suther — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:07:01 +0000

If you’ve been here before, you may have picked up that I love woodworking and old woodworking tools. I inherited a gene that appreciates doing things with your hands- fixing things and making things. Years ago I discovered that there are still some pretty cool old tools out there available for a good price, particularly if you didn’t mind doing some de-rusting and adjusting to get them back in working order. Later I joined a group of like-minded people known as the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association. Yes, this isn’t the mid-west, but an older group merged to make a larger stronger group some years ago. Anyway, we have meetings several times a year in the Carolinas and Virginia. Last Saturday we met in Bethania, NC, just north of Winston-Salem to look at tools, buy old tools and talk old tools. Since Bethania was established in the mid-1700s, that seems to be a good place to talk about old things.

We always have a speaker that brings interesting information to the group, and this year, we enjoyed listening to Master Tinsmith Peter Blum, III whose family has been in the tinsmithing business for three generations. Mr. Blum the III has been working with tin and other sheet metals (copper, galvanized, etc.) since he was 15 years old. He took time out to get an engineering degree at NC State and work in industry for quite a few years, but eventually came back to the work that he loves- tinsmithing. He regularly does work to order including some for Old Salem (his father was tinsmith in residence at Old Salem for 22 years), and does many demonstrations including 20 years at the NC State Fair. He’s even made tinware for movies like The Last of the Mohicans and The Patriot. Needless to say, he knows what he’s talking about. His program included showing examples of his work and many of the tools of the trade. At one time, tinsmithing provided many of the containers used by households and many businesses. Like many crafts, its designs included both practical and decorative elements that even today can delight the holder.

Mr. Blum’s work shares with woodworking a joy of taking a simple raw material and turning it into things of utility and beauty using mainly one’s mind, hands and hand tools to make the transformation. If you’ve never done anything like this, you’ve missed what I think is one of the greatest satisfying feelings we can enjoy- being able to say, “I made that.”

Here are a few photos from the day.

My Woodworking Aspirations

Stan Suther — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:21:47 +0000

Here’s a video that shows the kind of work I’d like to be able to produce someday (if I live long enough). Making a living in real estate takes a lot of time these days, so my hours in the shop are few, and this stuff takes lots of time and practice. Oh well, maybe if all you folks buy or sell some real estate working with me over the next few years, I’ll be able to retire and do this fancy woodwork.

Woodworking Magazine Video, posted with vodpod

What I Do in My Spare Time

Stan Suther — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:43:12 +0000

I just finished a small walnut table for our foyer at home. Susan had wanted something designed for a specific space and had pointed out a few examples of the overall style that she wanted. I’ve been working on it for some time along with a dozen other projects, so it took a good while, but at least it’s there now in time for some holiday entertaining.

I love to work with walnut. My grandfather apparently felt the same way because every piece I have that he made was done in walnut. The other reason may be that his brother lived on the family farm outside of Troutman, and there may have been walnut trees that they took from the farm to the sawmill for relatively inexpensive (for them) wood. Nowadays, walnut wood costs dearly. Fortunately, I still have a stack of it that I inherited, so when I want to make something, I just dive into that pile. Unfortunately, that pile is on my side of our garage, so the price I pay for having nice dry wood is my having to park outside. It’s all worthwhile though when I put the final finish on that wonderful rich wood and see the grain pop and feel how silky smooth it is. It just begs to be touched.

The things I make I hope will be passed down to future generations, just like the pieces my grandfather made.

Woodworking Show in Charlotte

Stan Suther — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:08:19 +0000

Just got word from one of my friends at the North Carolina Woodworker website that the next Woodworking Show in Charlotte is coming March 20-22 at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart where it has been held for many years. At one time, it appeared that the company that stages these shows might skip Charlotte, but so far, they keep coming back.

I’ve been going to these shows for at least 20 years and always get a kick out of them even if I don’t buy much. They do usually have very good show specials from vendors that come from throughout the east coast. They usually have some pretty good free how-to presentations by various professional craftsmen and also some longer classes for which reservations and an extra fee are needed for admission.

Even if you just have a passing interest in woodworking, come on down. Just getting to conveniently see and touch these tools, supplies and books may help you make decisions on purchases that you might make online.

There’s nothing like seeing the real thing, and sometimes you’ll get the best deal there.

Old Tools at Bethania

Stan Suther — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:24:53 +0000

As planned, I went to the meeting of the Mid-West Tool Collector’s Assocation meeting yesterday held at Bethania Moravian Church, just north of Winston-Salem, NC. The meeting was great as usual, with dealers selling old woodworking tools (one of my interests), a presentation on Ornamental Turning including a demonstration of this slice of the woodworking world, and a fabulous meal provided by the ladies of the church, including famous Moravian Chicken Pie, which is a unique pot pie made with amazing flakey pastry. If you visit nearby Old Salem, you can often find this chicken pie on the menu of the tavern. I met two of my cousins there-David, who is heavily involved in collecting and using old woodworking tools, and Jimmy, who brought his young sons, Will and John, because David and I had invited them. I think the boys enjoyed the tools and program, but the biggest smiles came to their faces when they dug into that Moravian Chicken Pie, accompanied by homemade apple pie with ice cream on top! There are a few photos here- wish I’d gotten a photo of the chicken pie. Let me know if you think you might have an interest in collecting and using these old tools. Beautiful and functional old tools can be bought for very reasonable prices at meetings like this (one of several sources). I love the idea that I’m just one of several people who’ve used and appreciated these tools, and that someday, someone else will have them and do the same.

No Tool Like an Old Tool

Stan Suther — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:50:22 +0000

I love old woodworking tools and use them in my workshop to make furniture. One of the ways I’ve been able to accumulate these old tools is to be a member of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association. Next Saturday, Nov. 8, I’ll be heading to Bethania, NC for the next meeting of the M-WTCA. The meeting will be at Bethania Moravian Church just northwest of Winston-Salem. I’ve included the meeting notice here: mwtca-meeting-bethania. This shows all the details and contact info. These meetings are always well-attended by people from around the North Carolina and South Carolina areas and include dealers who bring tools to sell, usually at very fair prices. Some need work, and others are in perfect condision. Many are good user tools that aren’t priced high since they are fairly common. If you’d like any information about the meeting, you’re welcome to call me. Hope to see you there!