What's your weird hobby?

[Alex Snyder]

Do you do something the community might be surprised to hear you do?

I turn storm-damaged trees into furniture.

There are acres of densely wooded forest around my house with a massive mix of old and new fallen trees. With a tractor, a few chainsaws, and axes I bring back the trunks for processing on my lumber mill. After the boards have dried they come into the wood shop where I mill them to working dimensions and either fulfill a need around the house or make something for someone else's house.

Chainsaw carving is a new part of the woodworking fun.

I also like to grow things. Mostly landscaped plants & trees. It sounds like I'm some sort of green-eco-warrior, but that is far from the truth. I just hate waste and like to create things.

Anyone else do anything outside the norm?

 

[joe.pistell]

Alex is an awesome wildlife photographer too...

(thats alex, laying down on the far left)

 

[Alexander Lau]

Abstract painting, specifically Gerhard Richter (the living master) style. I've been made offers for quite a few of them, but they are for my own keeps. I'm a big believer that art and music go hand-in-hand with science.

 

[Tallcool1]

For the past 10 years, my kids have exhibited Show Cattle all over the central US. We are now done because the kids have all aged out of it. This is the first winter in 10 years that I have not had any cattle around. Makes me wonder how I ever found the time to babysit those damn things!

 

[Alex Snyder]

Since the photos are coming out here are some more.

Trees are pulled out of the woods with this:



They get milled on this:



After drying they come into the shop:



Where they are turned into things like desks:



@joe.pistell has a desk from this shop. And here is one I made for @joe.chura:

 

[john.quinn]

I got into fly fishing a couple years ago, and tying flies. That's pretty common... but I also got into building fly rods. So now I'm catching fish on flies I tied, casting with rods I built. Very satisfying

Apologies, tiny flies and 9' long rods are both difficult to photograph, and I've none of Alex's talent there...

 

[Tallcool1]

Since the photos are coming out here are some more.

Trees are pulled out of the woods with this:

View attachment 3959

They get milled on this:

View attachment 3960

After drying they come into the shop:

View attachment 3961

Where they are turned into things like desks:

View attachment 3962

@joe.pistell has a desk from this shop. And here is one I made for @joe.chura:

View attachment 3963

That is fantastic @Alex Snyder . You have quite a gift there. I don't have the skill or patience for that kind of thing but certainly admire what you are making.

 

[joe.pistell]

Look at this beautiful standing desk that @Alex Snyder built!

Stunning, one of a kind handcrafted work.

https://www.vermontwoody.com/

 

[ChrisR]

Damn, those desks are amazing.

My only "weird" hobbies are creating custom apparel & running really far distances just because I can. Longest race/run to date was billed as an 88k, was closer to 92k, so not too far below 60 miles.

 

[Tallcool1]

Damn, those desks are amazing.

My only "weird" hobbies are creating custom apparel & running really far distances just because I can. Longest race/run to date was billed as an 88k, was closer to 92k, so not too far below 60 miles.

Dude, really...I would have given you a ride if you would have just called!

But seriously, that is absolutely amazing to me. I have no idea what type of training you have to do in order to run that kind of a distance. The dedication must be tremendous. I have to ask, how long does it take a distance runner to cover 60 miles? Serious question.