I’ve been wood working since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until adulthood that I really took off with it. Just a bit ago, I was thinking about some of the work I’ve done over the years. My mind drifted back to the early ’90’s. I was just back into education, having taken a year of to get a “Real Job,” which didn’t work out, and had just scored another shop teaching gig.

Right before getting the teaching job, I had been working at a cabinet shop that had been approached by a plastic forming company, looking for someone to build molds for them. I was given the info, as the cabinet shop owner was not interested in the gig. I contacted the company, and found out what they were looking for.

Turns out, they vacuum formed boat dash inserts, for several boat manufacturers. I told them I could do the work, and they gave me the job. I’d never done anything like this before, but hey, I was willing to give it a try.

The boat manufacturer would cut the dash and glove box sections from a boat, and drop it off at the plastic molding company, I’d pick those up. From those pieces, I’d build up wooden versions of each side, then I’d design and submit a drawing of the inserts, based upon how many gauges and sizes. When the design was approved, I’d then build up the design on the “bases,” allowing for the 1/8" plastic thickness, and draft, so that the parts could be pulled.

This was back before digital photography, and for some reason, I never shot any film of the projects I did. Sure wish I had. Pictures would much better show what I am describing. Shame I never hung on to any of my sketches, either.

I wonder how many projects I’ve done over the years, that I don’t have pictures, or even memories of.