Biography

My interest in woodworking started in 1997.  I just happened to be relaxing on a Sunday afternoon watching some TV when as episode of The American Woodshop came on.  Scott Phillips was demonstrating scroll saw projects.  He was cutting one of the collapsible baskets designed by the Berry Basket.   I was fascinated at how intricate the cuts were and by how effortlessly he made them.  I was very curious to learn how he made this basket using only a single tool.  A few days later I bought a Dremel 16" 2 speed scroll saw and a pattern book by Patrick Spielman.   I was instantly hooked.  After only a short amount of time (3 months), I had outgrown the Dremel.  I wanted to start cutting very delicate patterns that required both a saw with variable speed and minimal vibration.   I sold the Dremel and then bought the DeWalt 20" saw.  The cutting performance was like night and day compared to the Dremel.  After acquiring the DeWalt, I started buying a lot of the plans offered by Scroller, LTD.  These plans really interested me.  Not only was the art work top-notch, but the cutting was very difficult.  I was really enjoying the time spent producing very delicate pieces.  Then came Norm and The New Yankee Workshop...

After each episode of watching Norm, I would say to myself: "OK, that's a real nice piece of furniture, but I could never make that!"   Then after watching the show every day (sometimes both in the am and pm), the information started sinking in.  That show taught me alot about tools (obviously!), wood and wood types, joints, construction techniques, and much more.   Before I knew it, the scroll saw wasn't making dust, but collecting it.

While doing the scroll work, I had borrowed my father's old Stanley router and Makita bench-top table saw to make some frames.  I knew I needed newer tools (and ones that weren't broken) in order to learn woodworking safely .  My first serious tool purchase was a surface planer.  Soon after that I bought the Porter-Cable router kit, and then received a Delta 10" table saw, Delta 12" bench-top drill press, and Porter-Cable 5" ROS for Christmas from my father.  I was now on my way.  Ever since then I haven't turned back.  My garage is now full of tools, my project list keeps growing and growing, and I'm even selling my dream car to help fund my woodworking passion.  In my opinion, I was very lucky to be watching TV that one Sunday afternoon when Scott Phillips was scroll cutting.  Woodworking adds a lot of happiness and fulfillment in my life.   Without it, I think I'd go nuts!

Jason Falejczyk
October 8, 1999

Copyright © 2002 - Jason Falejczyk