A computer programmer ventures out

[digitalsushi]

Hi everyone. My name is Mike and I live up in Lee, NH. It's a very small town of about 4000 that is neighbor to the University of NH. I finished up a Computer Science degree there about 4 years ago and have been working in NH's only port city ever since, writing computer software with a bunch of great guys in a tiny shop of about 10, all bodies counted.

While I was doing my degree, I got into a bit of an argument with my academic advisor because I wanted to take a woodworking course along the way. He said, "Mike, you're not here to take woodworking. I'm glad that you're interested in some random things but you have to ask yourself, 'Is who is paying for this degree really going to like hearing I bought woodworking on their dime?'" I looked him in the eye and said "Well sir, I am pretty sure I have it on good faith that he's A-OK with that extra purchase, because he's sitting in this chair talking to you." He gave me a lopsided grin, stared down at my request papers, and said "Alright son, here's the access codes". Every time I went back in to see him from then on, he always gave me the code first and then asked me what I wanted to learn. Along the way I ended up learning some Russian language and a few other interesting things I had 'no business' learning, according to some guys that knew what was best.

So here I am, paying a mortgage in sunny coastal NH, well, almost coastal - writing code for a living and playing out in the garage just about every night. My intrepid foray into the world of wood working is often misguided at best, and many failed projects have been the secret source of some splendid backyard firepit relaxation sessions. But I always take something away, almost always through a mistake. But like a master sculptor removing the form in the stone, eventually I find the lessons learned from these mistakes aggregate and reveal a new ability.

I've stumbled over these forums here, admittedly with a high cost of entry - a personal reflection, an introduction summarily transcribed, and in so, a hope that what will be revealed behind the curtain is a community of folks that make, and know, and teach.

I want to see what is possible, to fabricate the cold forms of pressed raw iron and steel, to change their form to match the arcane shapes in my mind, to marry the plans in my head with the force of my hands and to create, and to try, and to learn. I humbly submit my request for membership here to see as the masters do it, and to emulate you, to become more than I am. Thanks for your consideration..

[troppo]

G`day Mike
welcome to the madness that is metalburning, theres plenty of practical advice on these boards (and a heap of impractical too lol).
My best advice is read the boards a heap before you start so you have even a little knowledge up your sleeve amd then start having some fun banging on metal.
Cheers mate
Troppo

[Joe Hartson]

Mike, welcome and thanks for the introduction. We deal with shaping sheet metal here on the site mostly. Hope this will be of some help with what you have in mind. Thanks for joining us.

[HEATNBEAT]

Hi and welcome Mike!

[digitalsushi]

Thanks fellers. I think it would be really cool to learn how to bang a bottom of an office chair out, so that's what I am going to be spying. But in general I just really like manual techniques and working metal is cooler than woodworking in my head.. woodworking seems more accessible and I have started there, but would love to get even a layman's worth of working sheet metal around. Thanks for letting me in!