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In my wonder years, I played with hand planes, chisels and saws in my parent’s tool box. But I could not get any of them to work as they should. Decades later, I understood that those tools were not tuned for use and the blades were not sharp. I spent several years to study tool steel metallurgy, and practiced with different sharpening systems. I acquired old hand planes and chisels, and tuned them to work beautifully.
I got into furniture making from watching Norm Abram on The New Yankee Workshop, where I observed power tool techniques, and basic furniture construction. Later, I studied the furniture design and construction of James Krenov, George Nakashima, and David Marks. I leaned plane and chisel techniques from David Charlesworth, saw sharpening from Tom Law, and cutting dovetail joint from Rob Cosman and Ian Kirby.
When a potential client approach me with a furniture idea, I typically ask them to look on the market first. If they can buy it, it is often cheaper for them. I hesitate to get into a commissioned furniture project, because I have to deal with another set of deadlines. Even though the results are always satisfying, the design process can be very lengthy and the construction process always has surprises.