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木工是国外居家男人非常流行的爱好,创作和制作过程能够带来别人难以体验的愉悦。在克服各种技术难题后,看着一个个木工作品诞生,比文章投稿被接受,更有成就感,那个东西就实实在在的放在那里....
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Better Life: My Woodworking Hobby Pathway

(2014-04-12 20:11:02) 下一个
 
As an overseas Chinese, I am visiting this website (zuojiaju.com) almost every day if I have time. I’ve missed
at least two times for this DIY competition on this website since registration. I found there are many
woodworking hobbyists all over the world, posting their projects and ideas at this place and making this
website more colorful. It seems obvious that not many hobbyists from abroad have contributed their posts
at this time for this topic. And I’ve been thinking I should join this activity this time if I am available. I wrote
this post arbitrarily on behalf of those overseas Chinese hobbyists, especially in western countries. I am
not intended for the trophy, but for the participation.

My woodworking hobby can be traced back to my childhood. At that time, many families lived in a big courtyard in
most cities in China and all aged kids can find their own play partners in the yard. Due to planed economy
development mode, everything was in deficiency. For kids like us growing in that time, there were no toys at
all on the market to buy. We had to DIY our own. We used very simple materials we could find: metal wires,
waste bearings, and branches, wood scrapes to make toys. We made handguns, which can shot paper or
clay bullets driven by rubber elastic. The most fun part was to make a tricycle-type wood cart. The cart was
triangle shape, made out of wood and tree branches. The cart had two fixed hind bearings installed on a back
axis and one front foot-maneuverable bearing in the front to control the direction like a car wheel. Usually,
one kid “drives” this cart; one or two kids push the driver forward. The cat made very big noise on the
asphalt-paved road. It was very fascinating to play the cart. We can play all day long without any tiredness.

I remembered, in our yard, I was the only boy who can make this cart simply with kitchen knife, broken saw
blade and hammer. My dad scolded me many times to dull our kitchen knife after cutting the tree branches
and wood scrapes. I even made a wooden bicycle with two bearings. I was hoping how good if had a good
handsaw, wood axe, and planer at that time. The Childhood DIY left me an unforgettable memory in my life
and I was dreaming to making something when I grow up at that time.

Like most same aged people in our generation, I haven’t done any DIY work since I became a middle school
student due to tough education competition in China until I settled down in Canada. Many years have passed
quickly and silently.

Four years ago, my interested at woodworking was triggered on again when I bought our 2nd house in Canada.

As the labour is very expensive in western countries, most people here always try to DIY first in order to save
money. Woodworking is very popular and it is a kind of culture actually and almost each household has some
woodworking tools in garage or basement.
 
 
 
Better Life: My Woodworking Hobby Pathway
Octagonal Vase DIYed for My Home

After we moved to our new house, the first project I made was two garage shelves to hold my household items.
Then I decided to upgrade our furniture mostly made from cheap plywood to solid wood to better life for our
family. I started to buy woodworking machines and tools to make my childhood dream come true.



A Woodpecker Decoration on the Door

My interest grew bigger and more intense over time on woodworking. The more projects I worked on it, the
more experience I gained from it.

I’ve already gotten my garage converted into a wood workshop. I had purchased plenty of tools and machinery
to help me make my projects look professional.

To learn woodworking, I’ve borrowed and read many woodworking books from local library to enrich my
knowledge. And also tried to master woodworking skills from video-based websites such youtube,
vimeo etc. I also visit many English-based woodworking forums for more inspirations. I did not go to
woodworking class for training, I taught myself everything. I know most people at this website are not
professional woodworkers. They have similar experience.

In my city, I am sure I am the only one doing woodworking as hobby among Chinese circle. When we
have parties at my house, my friends don’t believe all the furniture was from my own hand. I sometimes
made some small items such wood stool, scroll saw items as gift. All of them are very happy to
receive this kind gift.



Chinese Character for Happiness by Scroll-Saw as gift

Wood Stool as gift

Chinese Character for Longevity as gift

As a DIYer, I design my own furniture based on my needs. The style is not pure western, but the
combination Chinese style with western.

My purpose for woodworking DIY is not for making money, but for fun, for better life, and
for making friends.


注:这篇博文最早为zuojiaju.com网站上的DIY参赛文章(2012年2月),并获得第三名。



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