Woodworking Takes Planks of Wood & Makes Them Beautiful

Summary

James Goydos, M.D., shares his passion for woodworking, detailing his journey from a hobbyist to a skilled furniture builder, drawing parallels between the precision required in both woodworking and surgery.

Abstract

James Goydos's fascination with woodworking began with volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and evolved into a lifelong passion. Influenced by Norm Abram, Goydos honed his skills despite limited resources during his surgical residency. Over time, he has built numerous furniture pieces for his home, transitioning from basic to high-quality materials as his income allowed. Goydos finds profound satisfaction in creating functional and beautiful furniture, likening the meticulous techniques and patience required to that of his surgical profession. He takes pride in passing on his woodworking knowledge to his sons, cherishing the legacy he is creating.

Opinions

Woodworking is akin to surgery in its need for precision, skill, patience, and continuous learning.
The joy of woodworking comes from transforming raw materials into beautiful, functional items.
Despite initial constraints, such as lack of space and funds, Goydos's commitment to woodworking persisted, highlighting the possibility of pursuing one's passion under any circumstance.
The craftsmanship and dedication to woodworking provide Goydos with a sense of accomplishment and pleasure that parallels his professional achievements in medicine.
Goydos values the ability to pass on his woodworking skills and passion to his children, emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge and tradition.

Fine furniture building, like surgery, requires acquiring a set of skills, using meticulous technique, patience, and life-long learning.

I have had many hobbies in my life. I collected coins when I was a teenager, I ran marathons in college, when I have the time I ski or ride my road bike, and I’ve always been an avid reader. However, the hobby that I have practiced the longest, and that gives me the most pleasure, is furniture building.

I first became interested in woodworking when I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. A friend of mine had become involved with this organization through his father, and he invited me along for one of their projects in the summer of 1984. I found that I enjoyed working with wood and volunteered for other projects throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

At one of these events, I met a woodworker by the name of Norm Abram, a cast member of This Old House. He also had his own show called The New Yankee Workshop, where each week he would take the viewer step by step through building a different piece of furniture.

Norm had a knack for demystifying what at first appeared to be complex projects, and I was immediately hooked. I purchased each of the three books he had published, as they contained measured drawings and plain English instructions for all of the projects he built on his weekly show.

As a surgical resident, I had neither the space to house nor the funds to purchase fancy woodworking tools, but I was able to cobble together some yard sale power tools and inexpensive hand tools. In what free time I had, I began to build small tables, a desk, a bookshelf, and other items from pine and poplar.

What I love about furniture building, and woodworking in general, is the ability to take a plank of wood and turn it into something functional and, as my skills improved, beautiful.

Now that I have a home and a decent income, I do have some fancy power tools, and I am able to afford pricier types of wood such as sapele, walnut, and cherry. This has allowed me to build many of the pieces of furniture we currently use in our home, and I’ve been able to teach my sons some of the basics.

Fine furniture building, like surgery, requires acquiring a set of skills, using meticulous technique, patience, and life-long learning.

Few things outside the operating room give me as much satisfaction and pleasure as walking by a table or desk I built and I running my hand over the surface, knowing I made this. It is truly one of the best feelings in the world, and I hope I will be able to continue this work for the rest of my life and pass the passion down to my sons.

About James Goydos, M.D.

James Goydos is an expert in melanoma research and specialist in surgical oncology with an M.D. from Rutgers University. With over 20 years of experience as a Professor, Surgeon, and Clinical Trial Lead, he is a leading expert in his field.