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Professional woodworker since Spring 2000.
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Activity Summary
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Reviews Written: 2
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Member Visits: 53
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Total Visits: 3,357
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About cottagecrafts
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Becoming a professional wood worker was something of a necessity for me. I had spent 11 years at a Fortune 500 company in manufacturing. In early 2000, the plant closed and I was laid off. I received a week's pay for every year of service, plus my three weeks unused vacation. I then joined the ranks of the unemployed. At first, I didn't believe this was going to be so bad. I figured I'd find a job as good or better than the one I lost, and I'd have 26 weeks to find this new job. Of course it worked out entirely differently about a two weeks later. A home improvement chain was opening in the area. The people at unemployment got this company to give many on unemployment first crack at the job openings. I was basically told that if I didn't take this work, I'd lose my benefits for refusing to take the job. So, this was not my line of work, this was no where near the wage I was earning, it wasn't even full time work, but my hand was forced and I took the job.
Needing to earn more money, I read the classifieds. In the Spring of 2000 I saw an ad from a local company needing subcontractors to make wooden outdoor furniture, decorations, planters, etc. Must have own tools and truck. I figured I had some basic woodworking tools and I do drive a mid-sized pickup. So I got the job and made pretty good money in my spare time. I still have my part time job at the home improvement center, which I keep for the marginal benefits and the discount, though even with the discount, I can still buy lumber for less someplace else.
My tools are mostly Black and Decker or Skil. Overall, my things have held up rather well under fairly heavy use, though I bought a new, more powerful corded drill.
Expanding on this new line of work, I now make pine furniture for indoor use. I have three dealers selling this stuff for me, and and I attend a few craft shows and a flea market. At the present, don't have any additional capacity for more work. In fact if I need something finished or painted, I have a couple that does that for me. They also make a little pine furniture for me. We are considering making this a partnership. I might be ready for this in a few months.
So, by a strange twist of fate, I find myself doing something I really enjoy, can make a living at it, though I work much harder and longer to earn a living, but I don't mind.
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