Hello everyone!

My name is Brian,
I'm a disabled / retired Mechanical Engineer who specialized in advanced R&D design, CNC prototyping and fabrication. I'm a woodworker, wood turner, photographer, audiophile, home theater nut and a private pilot. I also suffer from late stage chronic Lyme disease for 11 years now. The Lyme disease prevents me from doing some of my hobbies that I loved to do. It also limits how much physical activity I can do, so if I over do it, well, I pay the price of being bedridden from the pain and fatigue for 3-5 days. So it takes me quite a bit longer to finish a project than normal... but I keep telling myself this too shall pass.
But most important, I'm a husband to my wife of 12 years and a father of two small children... a 5 yr old daughter and a 2-1/2 year old son. The three of them is what motivates me to keep fighting to stay alive!

At the time of this posting I'm 39 yrs old and I have no formal training in woodworking or turning... Just a lot of trial and error and a little luck and a lot of YouTube. My passion for creating something from raw materials and my imagination has to come from my father who can fabricate anything. He is my mentor, an inspiration, and my friend, and I'm Damn lucky to get to call him Dad! I started woodworking when I was about 10ish. I found some scrap lumber from my Dad's off-cuts and with no help and a worn out scroll saw I proceeded to cobble together a corner shelf for my mother... she still has it to this day.

My machinery at my home shop (Ok... it's 1/2 of a 3 car garage, but I call it my shop):
MiniMax CU410 Elite "Non S" 5 function combination machine (8.5' sliding table saw w/ scoring blade, 16" jointer/planer, Shaper, horizontal mortiser... My dream machine!
A Knock off 14" Bandsaw... Saving up for a MiniMax MM16 or MM20
Grizzly 16 x 42 VS wood lathe. I'm in the process of designing & fabricating my own turning tools and sharpening rig. I might post the process here if it's allowed.

The machine shop :
Tormach vertical CNC
100 yr old Hendey machine lathe
Series 2 Bridgeport knee mill
Surface grinder
Welders, and all the other necessary machinery and tools to get the job done.

I hope to be able contribute to this forum in a positive way, and if anyone has any questions feel free to email me!

Well... I think that about covers things, this might be too much from an introduction.


Take care,

Brian Huff

White Lake Mi

Hi Brian,

Welcome!

It sounds as though you've got both a great shop setup and a great attitude despite some challenges. Playing the cards we're dealt in the best way possible is what it's all about. You'll find plenty of guys around here who share your interests and will be looking forward to your contributions.

If you haven't already done so, you might enjoy perusing our Woodworking category.

When you're ready to share some of your own homemade tools, we'd love to see them. Please post them directly in the Homemade Tools, subforum. We'll add each one to the database, as well as to your builder page on the site.

Non-tool items should be shared in the Not a Tool, but Homemade subforum.

Ken

Hi Brian, interesting background. I too am a bit of an audiophile but can only afford mid-end stuff. Looking forward to what you create in your shop. Love your attitude!