I have been repairing, constructing, and rescuing things for the best part of four decades. I bought my first proper tool at twenty with the wages from a week’s work: a second-hand circular saw that I have used for many projects. I will admit that it hasn’t been always easy because I have made mistakes along the way. I’ll always be the first to admit that mistakes was the best teacher, and that everything I know today has been perfected by things that I have done wrong.
I believe in preparation: knowing the right job for the task, anticipating pitfalls and planning how to avoid them, and having the right materials at hand. I have little time for the popular view of DIY, which is that it’s a hobby for a particular kind of enthusiast: I would like everyone to have the pleasure of making mistakes, since I believe most people’s DIY skills are stunted by the fear of getting it wrong in the first place.
The thing I enjoy most about my hobby is passing on what I know by sharing advice with beginners something i wish I had when I was first starting out. I try my best to give students an honest overview of the project they’re about to embark on, telling them what to do, and more importantly, what not to do without making them feel embarrassed. After all, there’s nothing more instructive than seeing someone else dealing with the consequences of a mistake.
When I’m not teaching, I like to restore tools that I buy at car boot sales, thrift shops or flea markets by giving them a new lease of life before presenting them as gifts to would-be DIYers. I am a firm believer that good tools should outlive their owners, and that the confidence of a competent tradesman can be gained, held, and even improved upon, one careful stroke at a time.
I am glad you’re here and ready to join me on this exciting adventure!