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3584 Phil Hopkins <hopkins@m...> 1996‑08‑08 Newcomer Bio
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When I signed on last week I did see that a short bio was requested, but =
then FS Monday started up and I've been in a whirl of old tools, e-mail, =
lust, and lowering savings account numbers ever since.  :)  Then I saw =
another galoot (I'm not gonna ask, I'm gonna figure it out from context) =
stepped up to do his duty so I thought that some of the handful (okay =
make that double handful) of people that I've been recently =
corresponding with and pestering with boucoup questions about their =
tools would at least be mildly interested in knowing a little about the =
pesterer.

I'm a long time hand tool woodworker who has lived mostly in the boonies =
of the not-too-famously-well-known-for-old-tools Rockies.  Until last =
week, I didn't know much about the trade in old tools.  I've mostly made =
do (read cursed and fumed while using) with what I can find on the new =
tool mail-order market.  Not good enough.

I'm a doctoral student now (don't let that confuse you about my age) in =
(get ready for this earth-shatteringly practical field) philosophy at =
the University of Texas at Austin.  Mostly Ancient Philosophy, so my =
interest in things old comes naturally.  Actually, I'm just a teacher.  =
It's one of the only other things besides working wood by hand that I =
can work up some passion about.

In the past, and there's been plenty of it, I've been a carpenter, =
framer, finish carpenter, remodeler and furniture maker.  I've worked in =
(God and Galootdom forgive me) power shops making one-off Stickley =
stuff, Santa Fe style (please don't kick me off the list, I've already =
developed a habit) and regular old upscale cabinetry.  I've seen the =
other side of the force and it ain't pretty.  On my own, I do a lot of =
slow hand-making of whatever strikes my fancy.  Mostly Shaker for the =
lines, and whatever looks like interesting joinery to try.  While I am =
currently living a vow of poverty which includes student housing (sigh) =
while in school, I do most of this on my balcony (big sigh) and my =
walk-in closet has very few clothes in it, but plenty of tools.  (You =
don't exactly have to dress to the tee's to go to graduate school and =
teach college.)

I've only been on the list for less than a week, but I have already =
learned quite a few things that Aldren Watson, Michael Dunbar, or my own =
experience hasn't taught me.  The porch seems like a great place to =
learn, and I'm big on learning.  Don't expect me to pipe in too often in =
the presense of such sage, hoary-bearded hosts as those I've happily =
stumbled over here on the porch; but if there's something I can offer =
from my humble experience, I'll only be too happy to oblige.

Thanks for contributing to something like this, all.  I'm at least one =
frustrated and lonely would-be galoot/neanderthal that has found a nice =
home attached to this porch.

Phil Hopkins
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Recent Bios FAQ