Hi, everyone

[kmealy]

I'm Keith from SW Ohio.

I've recently retired from being a furniture repair person -- wood touch ups, refinishing, structural repairs (broken parts), upholstery cleaning and repair, and motion furniture (think recliners) repairs.

I've been a hobby woodworker for about 40 years and it morphed into the work above about 18 years ago. First 30 years of my career was building and supporting software products (databases and languages).

I'm active in the local woodworking club and have taught classes at Woodcraft and elsewhere. Prior to it shutting down, I was the Finishing Forum host at Wood Magazine's forum.

I also do volunteer work building and repairing furniture, cutting parts, and leading outside volunteer groups at the local furniture bank. We provide furnishings to people and families coming out of homelessness. We aim to do 1000 families this year, despite limited activity with COVID.

I help build theater sets for a local youth (K-12) theater group. The average show has about 60 cast members and 2000 people in the audience over 3 or 4 shows. A "small set" has about 20 pieces, most of which need to be mobile. Everything from walls, bridges, chariots, 3 level ships, towers, to giant stairways.

Most years, I am a woodworking judge at the Ohio State Fair for 4-H competition. I have 3 daughters that all went thru this in their youth.

I've built cabinets of all sorts, bookcases, bedroom sets, tables, chairs, toys, boxes, decorative items, Swedish spoons, and picture frames for friends, churches, and family. I don't do turning; gotta stop somewhere.

[Nickp]

Honored to have you join the group, Keith...Stick and Bill (Schnooge) speak very highly of you. And I remember you from TPW as the "finishing guru"...

Hope you enjoy it here...we can all gain by your experience and background...

Welcome...

[kmealy]

Thanks for the invite, Stick.

I'm going to hang for a while to get a feel for the place and not just jump in commenting on everything. I see a few familiar people here already.

[Cherryville Chuck]

Hi Keith and welcome.

[old55]

Welcome to the forum Keith.

[DaninVan]

Welcome, Keith!
Please, the shelves are still pretty empty here; perhaps post some old articles that you've previously written(?).

[DaninVan]

Thanks Keith, for reconsidering, and jumping right in.

[Herb Stoops]

Good to see you, Keith, your finishing experience is top notch, and will be appreciated here. Welcome to the forum.
Herb