Becoming a woodworker doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a lifelong journey that may begin with a shop class in high school, a summer construction job, or when you buy that first home–a fixer-upper that screams for attention. That was the case with our 38-year-old up-and-comer woodworker Chad McClung whose first real shop is featured on the cover and throughout this special issue. “A couple years before I started at the magazine (Chad is now the art director), I made the mistake of buying a 100-year-old house. The upkeep was a lot of work for a nerd who likes comic books and video games. But over time, I began to (almost) enjoy the hard work and problem solving. My first real foray into woodworking happened soon after I joined Woodcraft Magazine as a graphic designer.”
It was during these years that Chad’s toolbox began to fill. “Via Father’s Day gifts, yard sales, and purchases at Woodcraft, I acquired a circular saw, jigsaw, reciprocating saw, and a couple of handheld drills. I quickly realized that the DIY stuff that I had been accustomed to was nowhere near as technical or interesting as the projects I found in the magazine.
“Suddenly I found myself surrounded by excellent woodworkers whose passion for the craft was contagious. Jim Harrold helped me build my very first woodworking project–a simple cutting board, but hey, ya gotta start somewhere. I soon took classes at the neighboring Woodcraft store. Of course reading the articles in the magazine and having a staff of experienced woodworking editors at my disposal was a huge help. We all need mentors. Access to the magazine shop made it easy for me to start building small Christmas gifts for the family. I really took the plunge when I attended a weeklong woodworking course at the JD Lohr School of Woodworking–what a fantastic experience! I knew then that my future would include having my own shop.
“Then, in 2014, I moved into a newer house that had a roomy two-stall detached garage–an ideal location for a shop. After several months of hard work, here we are. Maybe now I can build a bookshelf for my comic books.”
Chad, may your woodworking journey provide you with lifelong enjoyment. And may our readers share in the bounty of projects and ideas found in this special issue.
