Should I finish what my father started

[Mike Robson]

My late father never had the chance to finish some of the projects he was working on...so Im not sure if I should leave them as he left them or finish them. One is a childrens "potty" complete with paper roller on one side and a book rack on the other. all parts for the acc. are still taped together/not even sure if the tape glue has damaged the wood over the years of storage. Can post pictures of it...and some others he has made.

[Al Barale]

I think that your late father would have wanted to finish them, I would go with finish them.  It would be great to see pictures of projects that  your father made.

[David Dean]

Well Mike all I can say is what my grand father always sayed I well live for ever throw each pace there is a little pace of me .

[Patrick]

I think you should,  I am working on things my dad never got to finish when cancer had taken its toll on him.

[Jay Boutwell]

Mike, I believe finishing them would be the proper and honorable thing to do.  It would finish the dreams of which I am sure he spent considerable time designing and planning them and had the intentions of finishing them.  By doing so not only are you finishing something started by your father but you are working with him in a sense and the both of you will have completed something of which can have a great deal of personal and sentimental feelings  and may well become a family heirloom.  It is not everyday that a son and father gets a chance to work on the same project even if it is days or even years apart. 

If it was my decission to make I would finish them as I know that every moment that I spent working on them I would feel the presence of my father and even get a glimpse into his mind of his thought process as he planned the projects. 

[angie brashears]

I would def finish them, that way they will get the intended use. He was making them to be used. It's so sweet that you are thinking of him and keeping his memory alive through discussion. Sounds like a neat guy, child's potty with a book rack...that brightened my morning :)

[Robert Killgore]

I'm in agreement with all the others ,  finish them, then sign them with both your father's and your names.

 

I inherited most of my fathers tools and while he didn't leave any unfinished projects he did leave some materials that i've used in my projects since then.  

[Mike Waechter]

Mike

I doubt that your Dad made things to be left bundled until they were thrown out.However, something that may be a nice touch is to mark o the underside of the items before finishing with a permanent marker.  If all parts are not yet completed, consider making the remaining parts in a slightly contrasting wood. On the underside, write that the project was started by your Dad, (include the years of his life), and completed by you (include your name and the date that you finished it).  These things mean little to us, but if they are ever handed down.....

another   Mike

[patrick in memphis(collierville)]

nicely put i feel exactly the same any work with a parent can only make you feel closer to them.

Jay Boutwell said:

Mike, I believe finishing them would be the proper and honorable thing to do.  It would finish the dreams of which I am sure he spent considerable time designing and planning them and had the intentions of finishing them.  By doing so not only are you finishing something started by your father but you are working with him in a sense and the both of you will have completed something of which can have a great deal of personal and sentimental feelings  and may well become a family heirloom.  It is not everyday that a son and father gets a chance to work on the same project even if it is days or even years apart. 

If it was my decission to make I would finish them as I know that every moment that I spent working on them I would feel the presence of my father and even get a glimpse into his mind of his thought process as he planned the projects. 

[Mike Robson]

sorry for delay....been without internet for a few days.

 

thanks for the time you all have taken to reply... I am still looking for the rest of the book rack pieces.

[Mike Robson]

Potty is finished... THANKS TO ALL FOR THE PUSH TO FINISH !!!

I have been looking at this potty for over 5 years sitting in the corner. Had to make the cross pieces for the book rack, they look less weathered than the main wood but should darken with age. I will get a plate made up with both names and dates as most have suggested.