The Hobbyist and Technology

**BobL** · 11th September 2018, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by DaveVman

I just looked back to check the original question. It was, "should the average hobbyist embrace new technology or not."

I think the average hobbyist should do whatever brings them pleasure. That would be the main point of a hobby. Would it not?

I agree.

The supplementary question might then be, is someone who uses no hand tools and only technology (ie you might only touch then wood as it goes into and comes out of the process) to process timber into products, entitled to call themselves a woodworker? This comes down to whether you are a product versus process oriented person.

I'm definitely a process oriented person and unconsciously string the process out as long as possible. My idea of success/pleasure is as follows. I typically start a project and then realize a certain gizmo or jig would be handy so I go online or to the hardware store and check them out. Usually I think they are too expensive and/or I can knock it up from the bibs and bobs I already have or can easily acquire. While making that gismo I then realize I could use a second gizmo to help make the first one. This process repeats until finally I have forgotten what the original project was. If I end up with an unfinished project and a dozen (some unfinished) gizmos cluttering up the shed and have forgotten about the original project I call it a success. Bizarre I know but that's how my brain works. I don't think of myself as a woodworker but more of a wood dabbler.

**GraemeCook** · 11th September 2018, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by DaveVman

I just looked back to check the original question. It was, "should the average hobbyist embrace new technology or not."

I think the average hobbyist should do whatever brings them pleasure. That would be the main point of a hobby. Would it not?

For some that will mean doing things a certain way. For others it will be trying all sorts of things in a variety of ways. For others it will be somewhere in the infinite shades of in between.......

Hi Dave

I think that you are right, but how some peolple react can be rather ecentric.

I have a friend who will happily spend and hour setting up a machine, possibly including jigs, to do a job which he is quite competent to do better by hand in ten minutes. His usual response to my queries is that the machine cost so much so he got to use it. Go figure.

Cheers

Graeme

**DaveVman** · 11th September 2018, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Hi Dave

I think that you are right, but how some peolple react can be rather ecentric.

I have a friend who will happily spend and hour setting up a machine, possibly including jigs, to do a job which he is quite competent to do better by hand in ten minutes. His usual response to my queries is that the machine cost so much so he got to use it. Go figure.

Cheers

Graeme

That reminds me of my days owning a wooden yacht. Some just want to sail. I knew a guy who just loved to restore and maintain his. Sometimes I got the impression he wouldn't want the salt water to ruin his pride and joy. Come to think of it, I don't think I ever saw him take it out.

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**BobL** · 12th September 2018, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Hi Dave
I think that you are right, but how some peolple react can be rather eccentric.
I have a friend who will happily spend and hour setting up a machine, possibly including jigs, . . . . . . .

My limited experience is metal working machinists can tend to this direction. There are just so many rig/jigs/gizmos/improvements etc that can be done that they don't end up doing much else.

Something else I have noticed. The more gear you have, the more servicing, repair, upgrade and maintenance time needs to be spent on it. This is usually less of a problem for woodworkers but most DIY don't schedule or undertake regular preventative maintenance and only attend to something when it goes wrong. This can sometimes be counter productive because lack of maintenance can lead to bigger more expensive problems.

**GraemeCook** · 12th September 2018, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by BobL

My limited experience is metal working machinists can tend to this direction. There are just so many rig/jigs/gizmos/improvements etc that can be done that they don't end up doing much else........

Well spotted, Bob.

He did start life as a fitter and turner !

Cheers

Graeme

**Spyro** · 12th September 2018, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

This is a question I have always been curious about, should the average hobbyist...

Ι kinda stopped reading here to be honest
"Hobbyist" and "should" don't really go together in my book. A hobbyist should do as he pleases and be concerned only with the rules that he sets for himself.

Unless you mean "amateur", which is a different thing, and for this I go by the Greek language definition. The Greek word for amateur has nothing to do with whether you do it as a profession or not, instead it's a compound word that literally means "someone who loves an art". So if you you want to call yourself that, then I reckon you need to show your love for the art. And there are many ways to do that, plugged ways and unplugged ways.

That's my philosophy anyway.

**Chris Parks** · 12th September 2018, 08:15 PM

I use the word as it is generically used. I am not Greek so any addition they may make is all Greek to me.

**Spyro** · 12th September 2018, 08:29 PM

You didn't use it though, I did, so I had to define it to get my exact point across

By the way the addition is not Greek, the root and the meaning of the word is the same in English, "amateur" has a latin root that means lover, he who loves.

Anyway, besides the point.

**Chris Parks** · 12th September 2018, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Spyro

You didn't use it though, I did, so I had to define it to get my exact point across

By the way the addition is not Greek, the root and the meaning of the word is the same in English, "amateur" has a latin root that means lover, he who loves.

Anyway, besides the point.

What is the exact point? And yes I did use it in the header for this thread.

**woodPixel** · 12th September 2018, 10:50 PM

I'm an amateur in both, and negative, sense of the word

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