by Steven D. Johnson
Racine, Wisconsin
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A Dirty Little Secret
There are many things we share, fairly universally, as woodworkers. One constant is the amount
of fun we have. The truth is that woodworking is so enjoyable that Congress should impose a sin tax
on the hobby. But let's not tell them, okay?
Another secret is that we woodworkers are also generally in a constant state of internal
conflict. A frugal lot by nature, we hoard scraps of wood and used sandpaper and reuse all manner
of household things in the shop, from empty coffee cans to used plastic food storage bags. As long
as they are well hidden on a work piece, we will incorporate an assortment of mismatched screws
(probably stored in a coffee can!) and we will spend three dollars on cheesecloth filters and a
half-hour of time to save two dollars worth of leftover finish. But we will then drop four hundred
dollars without batting an eye at a woodworking show on a new tool we fancy.
I read a lot, and wait for the "extra 15% off one item" in order to buy a clearance book that was
already marked down to $5.98; then, on the way out of the book store, will glibly pick up the latest
glossy woodworking magazine for $8.95 and never give the money a second thought. Ah, this "scrimp,
save, splurge" way of life is one of our dirty little secrets and one of the internal conflicts with
which many of us live.
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