Welcome to Meet the Maker, our new series highlighting amazing woodworkers and DIYers! These are people who inspire and impress us daily with their creativity, dedication to their craft, and hardworking nature.
Today we're catching up with Ginger Woodworks — known in the real world as Rob. Check out this quick snapshot of his life as a woodworker, and make sure to follow him on social media for more wisdom from this hardworking ginger!
Your woodworking story:
My dad worked for a furniture company, and I grew up going to the shop to visit him for years. He’d walk us around and it was really cool. My dad had a shop, too. I’m the oldest, so I’d tag along and help, doing what an 8-year-old can do in the shop. It was always a thing in our house. When I was 25, I bought my first house and basically just renovated that whole thing. Then I had kids, and that’s when the shift came. I went from remodeling to making things, because that’s what kids want.
What you want your kids to learn from seeing you in your shop:
At the end of the day, if my kids were willing to work with their hands in some capacity, that would be great. I see a lot of people who don’t have an interest in doing things themselves. So when my kids grow up and move out, I just want them to be willing to do things themselves, to take a shot and find out they can.
How woodworking enriches your life:
As a social worker, I’ve seen all the things no one wants to talk about. Woodworking gives me a place to get away from that. It just gives me a minute to myself to take my mind off things, decompress, and take away the stress of my job.
How you balance your family, your job, and a constant stream of projects:
My dad raised me that you just get it done. If the projects are there and I have a busy schedule with events for my kids, the only way to make that happen is to do what I have to do when I have the time. I don’t want to miss my kids’ things and those other things that are most important.
One piece of advice for anyone sharing their woodworking journey on social media:
Don’t feel like you need to compare yourself to anyone else. You should be who you are. People lose sight of where they’re posting, or building, or making because they get caught up in what other makers are doing. Recognize that the world needs you as you. If you’re gonna grow your account, grow it as you. Don’t take yourself too seriously. It can be serious and there can be pressure, especially if you’re trying to work with brands, but don’t let it get to you. Carve out your niche on whatever platform you’re on.
Favorite tool to work with and why:
Easily the track saw. Its versatility and accuracy make doing my projects easier and better. I can take it everywhere I go, and using the BORA Tabletops, I can make cuts even more accurate.
