It has been exactly 4 months to the day since my last post. How time flies when you are covered up with the daily workings of getting a business venture off the ground. I have been retired from my air traffic control career for a little over two years now. During that time I attempted to turn my passion for chairmaking, and woodworking in general, into a viable business. There are many pitfalls in trying to make a living as a "Professional Woodworker". The most difficult being, finding customers that are willing to pay what a handmade piece is worth.
Marc Spagnuolo AKA The Wood Whisperer wrote a wonderful article on this very subject. So I suggest that anyone considering going down this path go here and check it out. I will continue to pursue making my furniture and hopefully along the way be able to acquire a few more clients. I would encourage anyone to follow their dreams, and I will do the same.
So you ask where have I been. Since February of this year I have been partnered with another local businessman in getting a Radon Testing & Mitigation business off the ground. This has kept me from my shop, the blog, and most things related to working wood. Now that much of the preliminary work is done I am hopeful that I will be able to return to the shop, catch up on projects, and keep the blog up to date.
With that being said, I am going to the shop to figure out where to begin.
~ Ray Schwanenberger
