TLDR; This is an experimental newsletter by Brian Lam about the feeling of craft, nice things, and fixing old homes. There is an FAQ at the bottom of this page
It’s been almost 8 years since the Wirecutter was sold to the NYTimes. Since then, I’ve been keeping quiet. I had a kid. But I also went nuts. I spent 5 years restoring a historic house in Honolulu with modernist and Japanese influence.
Through that very hands-on project, I became obsessed with Japanese carpentry and wood craft, built out a professional-level woodshop, and received instruction on machine and hand tool setup from teachers and professionals I have the utmost respect for.
I also kept testing Nice Things in private and figured out that wiring in my brain is really interesting. (I've learned through a professional assessment there's a good chance I have some form of autism. So when the obsession sets in, it can get pretty wild.)
When I started to test nice things again, earlier this year, I discovered something about myself. On some level, I care both more and less about choosing the right thing. Being less focused on outright performance and value, I sometimes buy really expensive things just because I like the design or manufacturing philosophy behind the object (hand or factory made). Or sometimes I just buy something super junky because I don’t want to fuss over the decision. I find it doesn't matter that often because the consequences are a lot different than say, putting on the wrong type of roof or screwing up a concrete pour.
Personally, when I get into a track researching stuff--like testing a handful of Leica camera and studying all historical variations of the Summilux and Summicron 50mm and 35mm lenses --and spin a little out little out of control for a little while. It's exhilarating like driving fast, but also feels not all that sane.
However, when I’m fixing and making things--and using tools rather than examining them--I notice I feel a lot calmer. I even feel like my parenting is better during these periods of time. So I think it might be a good idea to space out this interest in tools with time using them for craft and restoration projects. That also keeps me from writing about things I don't genuinely have an interest in. Or building things that I don't have a genuine interest in building.
After a few years of practice and training, I’ve started to use what I’ve learned in wood craft and restoration to work on old houses around town. And build things for my friends.
And now that I’ve finished 5 years of full time work on this house I’d like to share that story. Maybe this newsletter can be a tool that helps me bridge all these worlds.
Brian
P.S. Paklan is the name of my favorite tree. It has no utility to me as a woodworker. But I like the way it looks, and the scent of its flowers. We planted seven here and they are growing well.
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