For nearly 35 years, I have been working in woodworking and around woodworking. Over many of those years I had the pleasure of working with my father. It is what I believe has kept us both younger than our drivers’ licenses show. Because the distance between our ages is constant, it’s why. Its both a boon and a burden.
Its a boon just due to the fact that I can say Ive spent many days, weeks and years working beside my Dad, soaking up his knowledge and growing to understand how he sees things in life. You should take the opportunity to give it to your children if you can.
The burden comes from the fact that I don’t feel my age, which can lead to problems. You will find it easier to jump off a workbench onto the ground after you adjust clamps on large case pieces. My brain received a hotwire from a recent jump that told me my knees weren’t as strong as they used to be.
Working with someone for a long time can have negative consequences. We get to see them grow up, and they get to see us. My Dad is getting older, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. In doing so, I have seen him struggle with a few items in woodworking , mainly because he has lost his hand strength.
Being in the later stages of life, hes seen many things come and go; he stays with what he knows (that whole new trick/old dog thing). This is a problem that many woodworkers will be interested in, especially with the aging of baby boomers.
Dad learned how to use handscrews to do woodwork. He plans to keep that same tradition going. He’s finding it harder to tighten clamps than he used to be able to do. He cant get a grip on the handles in order to turn them fully. In order to compensate, we renovated the handles of the old handscrews.
Quite simply, we drilled a 23/163 cm hole through the handle and drove a 3/20 cm wooden dowel into the hole. This smaller hole prevents the dowel from sliding out, and he doesn’t have to spend time searching for runaway dowels. He needed the extra piece to give the clamps the torque they required.
The Kliklamp is similar to an F-style clamp, but with another arm. The clamp can be operated by removing the clamp’s main bar and moving the arm open. Next, slide the jaws onto the material and then pull the arm in the opposite direction. As the clamp tightens, you will hear a clicking sound. Dad likes the way this clamp works (as will other woodworking old-timers). You don’t need to be strong to make it happen.
I am aware that I have only offered two solutions to what I see as a growing problem. Im betting you have a few ideas of your own. If you have another solution , or even a different problem associated with woodworking while getting older , let me know. Click the comment box and add your example or solution. As we compile this list, please share it with others who may be interested. Everyone wants to keep woodworking as long as possible. Dad will be there to see them, too!
