OUR VALUES
Classic heritage. Modern innovation.
The pace of our society often makes us want to slow down and relax, but we sure do enjoy the conveniences of 21st century technology. This website is our celebration of merging the old with the new: we re-view fine arts like woodworking through the prism of modern techniques and tools.
STUFF NEEDS TO LAST.
While we live in amazing times, the breakneck pace of modern society can be deeply unsatisfying. Many who work in high-technology fields turn to hobbies like carpentry because we seek endurance. A new mobile phone design might have a lifespan of two or three years, but a piece of furniture can easily last for two or three generations. That sense of longevity gives us meaning where other parts of our lives feel fleeting and pointless.
Can we do better?
With so many inferior products and services in this modern world, the question we ask is “Can we make this better?” Sometimes this means improving on what already is. Sometimes this means starting from a clean drawing board and making it right from the ground up.
How friggin’ cool is that?
Inspired by the acronym in the liner notes of a popular video game, HFCIT is a mantra for us. Just being clever is not always the best solution, but often times an innovative approach leads to a solution that amazes and delights.
You want it? Can’t find it? go make it.
Necessity being the mother of invention, many of the projects on our site were borne from a vacuum in the marketplace. “Wouldn’t it be cool to have an X? Wait – Amazon doesn’t sell an X? Does anybody make an X?” If not, then next stop – the drawing board.
Never heard of ’em? go make it anyway.
Maybe somebody does make an X. Is it somebody you’ve heard of? Have they been in business for longer than the warranty they offer? Do they make promises that sound too good to keep? If you decide to make it yourself, then you know who to call when you need service or a help desk.
don’t learn to fail. BUT don’t fail to learn.
If at first you don’t succeed – fail, fail again. You don’t learn much from the project that goes perfectly on the first try. Also, the project that does turn out perfect on day 1 probably doesn’t have the coolness factor we love.
Reduce – Reuse – Upcycle
A wise master once said: “Always leave a place just a little nicer than it was when you arrived.” Perhaps we would toss things in our landfills less often if they were built well. But maybe – just maybe – we would also toss things in our landfills less often if we decided that they could be repaired, improved, adapted, or totally repurposed. Sometimes it is a fine line between being an upcycler and a hoarder. But deep satisfaction arises by making something new out of something old.