New Workshop for Toymaking

I have made hardwood toys in my basement shop since 1982 and for several years before that in an old warehouse. This basement has one small window that brings in little natural light, its ceiling is too low, its space too cramped, and in the Summer it really gets too humid and in our Wisconsin Winter its too cool for a careful woodworker. Yet it was rent free for those years and some pretty good toys made from some wonderful woods have come from this unlikely space.

But, change does come and I am now planning a new workshop. I am looking forward to lots of natural light, even temperatures and humidity, a wooden floor (the concrete does feel hard). Really, the kind of space where one could do some good woodwork.

I also hope to retire some of my original tools. Not that old is bad, its just that some of them were never that good to begin with. My $250.00 Sears table saw has served well over 30 plus years. But, today its adjustments are creaky and the vibration is sometimes frightening. My inexpensive band saw is a youngster at 20 years yet I find myself fighting to keep it in proper adjustment. Its said that a good woodworker never blames his tools, on the other hand I have never met one who doesn’t appreciate a well designed tool. So I have been shopping lately, or more accurately “window” shopping. I have chosen two new tools to replace these veterans, but their cost at about $1600.00 each is still out of reach.

I wonder if some of you might be willing to lend a hand, so to speak, to extend my reach. I have made thousands of toys over 34 years as a professional toymaker. And as they say if I had a nickel or a dollar for every one of those I could phone the tool man today. You might say that I did get dollars for each of those toys. True. Its just that I spent it recklessly on mortgages, groceries and such.

So, here’s is the pitch. Would you consider sending a dollar or five or more to fund these new tools? There is nothing in it for you other than the satisfaction of watching my craft improve. If you are good hearted and so inclined you can send a check, or add some extra on the order form when ordering a toy or use the paypal button below. You can count on even more beautiful and fun toys for many years yet.

You can see the tools I have in mind at the links below.

Band Saw ............ Table Saw