New Members: Please Introduce Yourself!

[KregRep]

Welcome to the Kreg Owners' Community!
 
This thread is the best place to introduce yourself and let other Community members get to know you. Please include your name, where you're from, your experience building with wood, why you joined this Community, and any other interesting facts about yourself. Also, feel free to share links to your blog, personal website, etc.

Once you've introduced yourself, be sure to check out Helpful Tips for New Members.

We hope that you find great use and enjoyment from the Kreg Owners' Community!

-KregRep

[Gerald Carpenter(Jerry)]

Michael Campbell said:

Welcome Sonny

Sonny Bride said:

Hi. I'm from New Hampshire. I didn't know this site existed until a couple of days ago. My name is Sonny Bride and my wife and I owe our livelihood, our business, to the Kreg Jig. Let me explain.

In 2002 my 20-year high-tech career as a software engineer and Internet web developer came to an abrupt halt.  My department was downsized and then outsourced.  In the months following, my wife Lynne faced a battle with breast cancer and left her job to accommodate her treatment schedule.

So with no jobs and no real prospects of finding one my wife and I began to build a company that encompassed what we knew, business management, marketing, web-site development and furniture making.

Together we established Meadowbrook Creations, the parent company of NHwoodworking.com, a ‘make-to-order’ furniture business specializing in Early American and Shaker inspired pieces, all designed by us.  We combined our web-site development skills with our love of design and woodworking to build a business that has delivered our furniture and accessories into homes in every state in the U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii, and six other countries. 

Our newest line, Shaker bathroom pieces, which include vanities, medicine cabinets and mirrors, has seen incredible growth even during these tough economic times.  We continuously turned business away because we simply couldn’t begin to handle it all until we finally expanded our business with our Pro Furniture Builders division, where we offer business opportunities to other woodworking craftsmen based on our own proven business model. We just launched our newest web site ShakerBathrooms.com.

We have designed ALL of our larger pieces to be built using Kreg pocket-screw joinery. This system allows us to build the pieces faster, disassemble and finish the components faster, and best of all we can ship the piece (even our largest vanities) disassembled using common carriers like UPS or Fed Ex. Our customer can assemble the piece using simple instructions and a screwdriver which we provide, and they love the money they save in shipping costs. It’s a win-win for everyone!

[Gerald Carpenter(Jerry)]

HI SONNY AND EVERYBODY,  I AM JERRY CARPENTER and I was born in Michigan, then my parents moved to California.  Now living in Florida I want to play with wood.  My Dad was a wood shop teacher so I want to make the Carpenter name mean more than a glorified babysitter.

 

 

[Ernesr RichardSalisbury]

Hi My name is Ernie,i'm 85 years old I was an apprentice cabinet maker in England  during WW2. I joined the Royal Navy and served in the N Atlantic till wars end then shipped to Far East.I don't do much woodwork these days ,but I thought learnig to use a Kreg tool system would be enjoyable.

[Simon Cherry]

Hi, just like to introduce myself to the world of Kreg tools. I live in a small town (probably by US terms) of Potters Bar, Hertfordshire just outside North London UK. I have been a very keen DIYer and woodworker for many years and I currently install all types of wood flooring in both residential and commercial settings. I have been looking at this system for a while now and have finally taken the plunge to get the pocket hole master set. I have many projects planned for the future including a recessed shelving system for my parents, bedroom furniture for myself, a cabinet for an upgraded fish tank and most importantly, refitting my workshop out with better storage cabinets. Looking forward to using this piece of kit to help in construction and hopefully I can let you know how it's all going as each project progresses! Most important of all though is joining in this forum to gain information and experiance from existing Kreg owners and hopefully sharing stories and ideas. I look forward to reading the forums in the future but until then, all the best, Simon.

[Joseph h metz]

Im called papajoe by most, from north/central il. I would like to build a high quality set of cabinets, first run for residential kitchen, entertainment center, and book cases. The second run will be an interior for a fishing boat. The same items, but with curved backs to match the hull. I just started purchasing tools for this, and attended the milwaukee wi wood show. I have to say it was very educational in good and bad ways! The bad was almost every rep i talked to told me why their way was the only way to build cabinets, and every other way is inferior. Everything from dowel every thing, pocket screw everything, biscut or domino everything, to dado and glue everything. Then there was the mud slinging between companies, which went beyond products, into personal and family issues. I found this VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. I know these are tough economic times, but this is uncalled for. A presentation of the products offered, and how they work, and company service is what i was looking for, PERIOD.
I decided to test the methods, myself and did start with a kreg master system, clamp table, kreg clamps, kreg square, kreg track system. I havent resolved weather i need a large table saw or a festool track saw to cutup 4'x8' panels. If anyone has the time to offer advise, it would be greatly welcomed. Drop me an email if this doesnt belong here, [e-mail].
I look forward to learning allot, and sharing my test results.

[John]

Hello,  John here from North Central Massachusetts.  I have ZERO woodworking experience...well except for my new 2x4 workbench finished today!  I over drove a couple of screws but nothing major so it will function well for many more projects to come.  I joined looking to become a sponge!  Plans, projects, types of wood best to work with.....you name it will help!   Looking forward to project #2.

[Jon Jonsson]

I'm Jon from Milwaukee,Wi.

I'm 54 and havent done much woodworking since my early 20's.

Picked up a Kreg jig and hope to start having fun again:>

 

[Lavern Eick]

Hello All,

My name is Lavern, I live in SW MN. I've been in woodworking since I sold my pool table in '76 and bought a radial arm saw. I incorporated myself in '94, also that was the year I bought my Kreg jig at the annual woodworker's show at the fairgrounds in St. Paul. There isn't a project that doesn't get the use of that unit.

 I retired a year ago come March 31st. I spend most all of my day in the shop. It's heated and has A/C so I can work comfy year 'round. I build cabinets, tables, chairs, bookshelves, anything, really.

[Bob]

Hello everyone - my name is Bob.  I live in Amherst, OH - about 30 miles west of Cleveland right near Lake Erie.  Been woodworking for about 10 years now - making a variety of projects some large, some small. Drawing up plans now for an entertainment cente for the basement and plan on using the Kreg system for the faceframes.

 

Just recently got into woodcarving as well - so my time is torn between both hobbies - LOL!

 

Daytime job is Director if IT for our company - responsible for all aspects of our computer systems/networks/security and disaste recovery!

[RMK]

Hey Bob.  welcome. this is a kool place to share. I used to live in Amherst..... LOL   I/we moved to Kentucky in

'97.  This July we will be retired for 5 years already. Tis a small world

Bob said:

Hello everyone - my name is Bob.  I live in Amherst, OH - about 30 miles west of Cleveland right near Lake Erie.  Been woodworking for about 10 years now - making a variety of projects some large, some small. Drawing up plans now for an entertainment cente for the basement and plan on using the Kreg system for the faceframes.

 

Just recently got into woodcarving as well - so my time is torn between both hobbies - LOL!

 

Daytime job is Director if IT for our company - responsible for all aspects of our computer systems/networks/security and disaste recovery!

[Bill Quinn]

Hi,  I'm Bill from Stockport in the UK.  I've just bought a Kreg K4 Jig to make a series of workbenches for my musical instrument making supplies store.   I plan  to make a tool demo area in my shop where I'll let customers try out Kreg tools and guitar making tools.

[Ronald Shank]

Hello, My name is Ron and I live in Michigan. I have been wood working on off but have never been able to master joinery. So here I am a nubie with a pocket hole jig geting ready to get started anew.