Enjoy woodworking?

Submitted by indaburgh t3_yhez7w in pittsburgh

I’ve been working on building out a wood shop/auto shop. I don’t like using heavy machinery alone and have taxed my friends free time enough. Not entirely complete yet, but I have all the essential machines, mostly old school delta/rigid. (Looking for a delta planer!)

Enjoy building stuff? Fixing things? Can’t afford to hire anyone…yet. It’s a hobby/passion that will hopefully come to fruition. I’ve got the time, machines, tools, a sawmill, and the space to safely work. Conveniently located off the parkway near robinson.

Also, I’m (somehow) almost 35 now - if that matters. Networking on Reddit - likely the type of folks I’d jive with.

Edit: mentioned age to perhaps meet similar people that enjoy woodworking/welding/auto work

Edit 2: not trying to make money off you, unless you want me to build something specific. Also - not an ad. Simply networking for those with similar interests - and being safe with machines.

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Jazzlike_Breadfruit9 t1_iudu7d4 wrote

Optimistically I read this as OP doesn’t want to woodwork alone incase they cut off a finger or something. Their friends are sick of hanging out in the woodshop and would rather be at the bar watching sportsball or something else. OP wants someone who actually enjoys woodworking to come and work on their personal projects while watching OP to make sure no fingers are lost.

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OOOOeeeAAAA t1_iudulzz wrote

That's exactly how I read it too. Damn people here are quick to jump to conclusions on a guy looking to make a new friend with common interests.

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CARLEtheCamry t1_iuetnxn wrote

I actually think this is neat. Like I know one guy in my circle of friends with a TIG welding setup, who has offered to show me the ropes. It's not exactly something I'm interested in, but I appreciated his offer since there is a big barrier to entry getting started for this kind of thing.

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indaburgh OP t1_iugauls wrote

I’ve always wanted a shop. Finally able to get it built out. Most of my friends that were into that no longer live in the area, have kids, limited time, or are contractors and don’t like doing similar work during their off time.

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indaburgh OP t1_iugaqfh wrote

It only gets harder as the ages pass. Thank you both for not jumping to conclusions, likely realizing my account is 9 years old and I’ve only made 64 posts. Def not posting an ad as whoever suggested below. More of a hobby/throwing a line out for those nearby that enjoy building things - or learning from my experiences.

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IndustrialPigmy t1_iudhzwk wrote

Holla! I'm new to the Pittsburgh area and looking to get more into hobby woodworking but don't have the space. DM incoming!

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I_heart_canada_jk t1_iuehgto wrote

Hell yeah, I’m also interested. I have my own tools and all but don’t know anyone to talk wood working with my age. My last project was a flop and I was thinking that I wish I knew more folks with this hobby.

What I’m most interested in is turning but I love doing it all.

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iSoReddit t1_iug9ika wrote

There’s a western Pennsylvania woodworkers association, look them up via google

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indaburgh OP t1_iug8s99 wrote

My girl and I are working our way to live edge tables. She’s honing in the resin as I take care of the wood stuffs.

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alwaysboopthesnoot t1_iudpueq wrote

Is this an ad for a make & build co-share space, where you’ll charge money fir people to use the tools/rent the space?

I’m confused about what this is.

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indaburgh OP t1_iug7omg wrote

I don’t want to incapacitate myself and not be able to make it to the urgent care a half mile away.

Also - trying to meet people with similar hobbies.

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pacoliketaco t1_iudhv3w wrote

What are you asking for, free labor to build your home shop?

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indaburgh OP t1_iug7rpy wrote

I don’t want to incapacitate myself and not be able to make it to the urgent care a half mile away.

Also - trying to meet people with similar hobbies.

Most friends without kids just enjoy going out and drinking. I’m over that.

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indaburgh OP t1_iug8yl2 wrote

Nah, the shop is built out. I have all the machines except for 1-2 nice to haves. I just don’t want to incapacitate myself and not be able to make it to the urgent care a half mile away.

Also - trying to meet people with similar hobbies.

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theRegVelJohnson t1_iudpwuh wrote

It would seem so.

"My friends are already tired of working for free, so I figured I'd ask some strangers."

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indaburgh OP t1_iug9b8h wrote

Eh - my friends just don’t actually enjoy the hobby - minus one, but it is his profession so he does t enjoy building stuff with me unless he’s off for a few days. The rest have kids/limited time - or already made it to get off my lawn stage.

My other half is usually up there with me honing in resin skills for when we make it up to live edge tables. It’s getting too cold for resin to cure properly in the shop and we’ve been spending less time up there.

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boneman1982 t1_iudtibm wrote

Yeah but they aren't offering nothing in return.

If they have the specific tools you're looking for to finish a job or something, a little time for access to the tools you need likely isn't a bad trade.

The age thing makes it sound like a personal ad almost though lol

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indaburgh OP t1_iug7yc8 wrote

I don’t want to incapacitate myself and not be able to make it to the urgent care a half mile away.

Also - trying to meet people with similar hobbies. Hence mentioning age. Lol. Harder to meet people with commonalities the older/farther from the city you get.

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somecreativehandle t1_iufzcow wrote

Not sure what you're actually looking for, but send me a message, maybe we can hang and work on some stuff.

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iSoReddit t1_iudwdre wrote

Are you looking for friends or someone to help you finish your workshop? Also there’s a group called western Pennsylvania woodworkers, used to meet up in the east end, but they’ve been doing a mixture of online and in person stuff since COVID.

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indaburgh OP t1_iug85jr wrote

The workshop is finished.

I don’t want to incapacitate myself and not be able to make it to the urgent care a half mile away.

Over the summer my gf would come up and work on resin stuff for our long term goal of live edge tables. Now that the weather isn’t conducive to resin curing - we aren’t up there as much as I should be.

Also - trying to meet people with similar hobbies. So both?

Appreciate the rec!

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iSoReddit t1_iug9dl3 wrote

Aren’t you being a bit over cautious? So long as you are practicing safe behaviors in your workshop you’ll be fine. There’s only ever me in my workshop.

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indaburgh OP t1_iug9jun wrote

Indeed. I’ve been more cautious ever since my planer shot a board out. Also - not gonna make the kind of friends that enjoy these type of things at your average bar/event.

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hapes t1_iueajto wrote

A group? On Facebook or...?

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iSoReddit t1_iuehhhs wrote

I assumed you’d google it, a real life group

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MiniJungle t1_iug8gef wrote

Any pics or a list of equipment you have? This feels like a van full of candy for adults but my garage is full of stuff and not fun to work in in the winter...

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indaburgh OP t1_iugah16 wrote

1200sqft. Table saw/36” drum sander/shaper/16” planer. Most old school delta. Also - welder/plasma/auto shop area. Will share pics directly for any interested - DM me.

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TheApprentice19 t1_iuhqytt wrote

This sounds really cool, having a dedicated space is a must when you get into any type of scale production. My number one advice would be to severely limit how many projects you have going at a time so you don’t end up with a bunch of half- 3/4th done things.

If you do chop a finger off, duck tape it back on. My grampa cut through all but the skin of one pinkie, duck taped it back on and went to hospital, and they were able to save it by sewing it back on.

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indaburgh OP t1_iuip7vd wrote

It took me a decade to figure out how to find the space and build what I wanted. Bottomed out interest rates in COVID made me pull the trigger and take some time off to make it happen.

Yeah - too many projects leads to disarray.

Damn - good to hear that I guess. My contractor bud said the same thing lol. I was never that concerned until I had the planer height set a bit too high and it shot out a 6ft oak board into my hip. Couldn’t even stand up for an hour. Put the danger in a bit more perspective.

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TheApprentice19 t1_iuiy0wi wrote

Glad that you’re alright, woodworking is a great craft. Always be sure to value your work higher than you actually do, because as time goes on less and less people know how to do it, and humility may be a virtue, but money keeps the lights on.

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infiniteatbest t1_iugayv5 wrote

Did your wife put you up to this

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indaburgh OP t1_iugbdyc wrote

Haha. Not married, no kids. It was her idea actually - both on a safety front and meeting people with similar interests in our 30s that don’t revolve around drinking. I had a board shoot out of my planer before, and I don’t want to be alone if anything bad were to happen. ESP since there’s an urgent care within a mile and as it approaches winter - resin stuff is less practical so she doesn’t come up as often with me. Therefore my friends come hang while I work sometimes, but they don’t have as much interest and I’d rather meet folks who would enjoy the experience/time.

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Cabbagefolk t1_iugppxx wrote

I used to do some woodworking! But just simple stuff like a coffee table, bread board, jewelry box, desk - but it’s been a while

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indaburgh OP t1_iugqggy wrote

Awesome! We started with cup holders / resin out of old growth lumber we ripped out of the house during gut/reno and are working our way to making live edge tables to escape the rat race. 12 years of travel consulting for me and 7 yrs of travel nursing for her. Covid hit. Decided I’m tired of working for other people, making them millions. Rather make my own comfort and do shit I enjoy. If you are nearby and want to come check it out - I’m always intrigued to learn something new. YouTube can only go so far 😂

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Cabbagefolk t1_iugs98p wrote

Yes! I’m actually here to inspect a house I’m buying so I can move here next year! So far, this is probably the most beautiful city I’ve ever been to. I probably will have some project I might need your help with in the near future 🤣 live edge and resin is a whole other beast!! I’m also moving here to escape the rat race and being completely burnt out on capitalism ⚰️

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indaburgh OP t1_iugvmvr wrote

Smallest big city with the resources you need (minus our biggest fail. Fort Pitt & Squirrel hill tunnels) Having taken over 1k flights and been to almost every big city in the US. Pittsburgh is still best balance of fun/cost to live/ability to travel - at least if you live on the west side of the tunnels and don’t have to commute downtown. My commute to other states in a plane often took the same amount of time it would have to drive/park/walk to pretty much anywhere downtown.

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pyro_maniac88 t1_iuhppwm wrote

What kind of projects you like to work on? I do alot of lathe, and small furniture, and dabble in resin/wood stuff. And just south of Pittsburgh

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indaburgh OP t1_iuiputr wrote

Pretty much anything fun! I like learning and building/creating things. It’s rather cathartic.

I learned a lot stripping my house to the bones and rebuilding it with a friend over 6 months - then figuring out how to get 6in pad of concrete in an ungraded 1200sqft pole barn to build a wood/auto shop. Lately we’ve been practicing on making coasters to perfect my cuts and her resin. My buddy and I bought a sawmill that we bolted to a trailer - so the goal is to ultimately make resin live edge tables out of Appalachian hardwood slabs we “farm to table”

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styres t1_iue7oh8 wrote

Hey I'll show up and break some stuff for free. Then you can pay me to leave!

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indaburgh OP t1_iug88nu wrote

Thought rage rooms made you pay to break their shit? Hah

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