Jonathan Peck wrote:

>Hi Mike and welcome aboard,
>
>I've been wondering the same thing myself. My own self 
>imposed Galoot apprenticeship goes something like this:
>
>1) you not only have a post drill, but use it
>2) instead of buying a bow saw, you make your own
>3) see above except insert treadle or pole lathe for bow saw
>4) you have a bunch of chisels that you use, and a box of 
>chisels under the bench that you don't, but had to buy anyway
>5) see above except insert saw, plane, brace, drill, marking 
>gage, or other for chisel.
>6) your finish of choice is - shelac, shelac, shelac. You 
>will kill anyone who doesn't like shelac.
>7) you're amazed that you have any tools at all, but you do, 
>since you rarely pay more than $5 for anything
>8) you rarely if ever complete a woodworking project
>9) you will rise at 5AM even on a Saturday to get first 
>crack at the local yardsale
>10) and last but not least - you have the hat
>  
>
Hmm. That fits me rather well except I don't have room for a treadle lathe
(item 3) and I use oil finishes most of the time (item 6).

I'm not confident on this point since I conform to item (8) and thus
very rarely use finished of any kind.

     BugBear (who doesn't have the hat)