As long as I can remember I was always doing something with wood, carving knives, making bows and arrows and other things I don't remember any more. At 7 years old, my church had a Sunday school workshop where they had us cut a fish using a coping saw. I believe they then had us use broken tile to Mosaic it. That was the only formal training I got until the family moved to Orange, California at my age of 15 years old.
I was in the 8th grade when I took the first wood shop class with real electric tools. Pictures below is my very first piece ever done making something utilitarian. It's a wall mounted knife block. It's a pretty ragged looking piece, but I made it and for some odd reason, I still have it. I got a grade of B-. It's redwood with hide glue, and shellac is the finish. It's also nail free.
Went into the Army for heavy equipment operation. When out, no jobs were available in Orange County unless your father or relative was already a union member, so I went into construction as a laborer. Started dabbling in small wood working projects. Became an assistant superintendent building apartments and watched all the tradesmen intently as they were actually building on the spot. I'm a good learner by watching, so when I got home, if I had the tools, I could duplicate exactly what they could with all their years of experience.
Moved to Arizona in 73, worked at a copper mine nailing angle iron on 6x6x48" cribbing for shafts. It would keep the rock from clogging the shaft because of the staggered placement. When we were done, would always go into the wood shop and watch and talk to the carpenters.
Got laid off because of a union strike. went looking for a job, and one I applied for was fitting shutter panels into frames for residences here in Tucson. Pay was 2.20 per hour. Went from 4.16 per hour at the mine to 2.20 hr. I loved it. My first real woodworking job. My wife decided she needed a divorce because I wasn't making enough in Feb., '78.
I decided to go back to California, get a job as a construction super, make my fortune and come back to Tucson and start my own woodworking business. As luck would have it, I arrived in California on the last clear day for the next 2 months, March and April, the rainy season at the time.
I got a job in a small furniture factory, and found out how it was done. I learned how to operate a pin router and other equipment, but thought the pin router was the best thing ever in woodworking tools. The boss saw my potential immediately. He would design a new part, and give the the task of designing a jig so multiples could be made. I LOVED that because it let me make what I thought it would take to get the job done. I was working for 3.80 per hour and wasn't going to get me that fortune I was seeking.
I then contacted the ex-wife and told her and the new hubby(she didn't waste time) to buy out my share of the house. That netted me the fortune I needed to buy tools and start my woodworking dream.
Got it started and then realized as the years went by that I was starting to actually hate the woodworking business. Too many people trying to take you any way possible, too many distractions, and too easy to injure oneself.
As far as teaching people, yup! Done that with most of my employees when I had my business. They fill out the application with all kinds of experience under their belts, but when it came to doing the job, they didn't know how. With the current employee market of those times, the '80's, I had to keep them because they were getting training from me. I didn't realize I was running an apprenticeship program.
I think I overdid it on my answers. I also think I answered all questions. If any of you have any questions, don't ask. You'll be here reading another long winded story. I think I'm competing with @Rocky on stories.
............. Jerry (in Tucson)