hi all, i didn't find it as depressing as some of you, i agree with mshel, the gov can't take the independent craftsman into consideration. i've been a woodworker for 7 years now, 5 of them "professionally" as a cabinetmaker, boatbuilder, furnituremaker, and now as a bench carpenter at an architectural millwork firm. in that time the thing i've noticed most was the waste produced by the woodworking industry. we were recently told a story at work about a man who orders 500 bd/ft of clear maple at a time for his cabinet shop. when he receives his order he culls out the curly, birdseye, etc. and burns it in his woodstove because it is not what he ordered, clear stock. (no, i don't know his name or how to contact him...) While this is an extreme case, in high point we routinely threw out small boards as wide as 6" and as long as 2-3ft, walnut, mahogany, maple, and all thicknesses, up to 16/4. Many of these pieces could be used for turning blanks, leg stock, small boxes, big boxes, anything. These were offcuts leftover from ripping rough stock, crosscutting boards that were too long instead of looking for a more suitable piece, really, inattention to how much, and what size lumber we really needed for a particular piece. Also plywood, mostly strips, but some good sized pieces too, good for drawer bottoms, back panels, etc. i have to admit the boatyard was better about waste, repairs were always needing some small piece of plywood in an odd shape so it paid to hang onto almost everything. Also, i don't think anyone throws teak of any size out. the point of this ramble is that the advent of cnc machinery will help to reduce waste in an extremely wasteful industry and probably produce a better product cheaper. i don't know how to reconcile the loss of jobs these same machines will cause. i feel like no matter how cheap or good mass produced goods become, there will always be a place for the handmade. well, i lose focus easily when i'm typing so that's my ramble for now. thanks for the post daveo, it really is something to think about.
phillip