I grew up near the Canadian border in North Dakota, where most of my youth was spent in dad's shop, either building cars, motorcycles, or doing woodworking. The family business was a small lumberyard where I worked, then later paid my way through college working as a finish carpenter and as a bartender, finally getting degrees in Fine Art and in Architecture. I've been working the last dozen or so years as an architect here in Idaho and eastern Washington.

I started making hand tools as a way to both develop skills I thought I needed, and (of course) to fill my toolbox with tools that were often either too expensive or otherwise unavailable to me. I've found great satisfaction in my efforts to date, and heartily recommend the same path to anyone interested in pursuing their own goals in both tool-making and woodworking.

Thanks to Wiktor and the porch for providing such a great venue - it is truly an asset to have such competent folk to aid in one's study of such a noble craft. Thank you!

Thanks for the opportunity, Wiktor!

Leif Hanson