finding time

[Willbarq]

It seems people like to interrupt my working just at a critical point. My attentions get spread too thin and finding uninterrupted time is difficult! Any of you have this challenge? Who keeps your home fires burning while you are trying to build a gun?

[bob in the woods]

I live in the woods, and allow visitors by appointment only.  Long lane with a gate. Don't answer the phone when I'm working.  Easy 

[Mike Brooks]

I live in the woods, and allow visitors by appointment only.  Long lane with a gate. Don't answer the phone when I'm working.  Easy  

Ditto. Only I live in a corn field.....

[Bob Roller]

It seems people like to interrupt my working just at a critical point. My attentions get spread too thin and finding uninterrupted time is difficult! Any of you have this challenge? Who keeps your home fires burning while you are trying to build a gun?

While working in the shop I seldom answer the phone unless I recognize the number. Those with "Unknown Caller" or "Uknown name" or "Blocked number" are not welcome. Too much politicking on the phone now and soliciting sales calls and phone scams are more than I will put up with. I used to set the call forwarding to send calls to a "Dial a Prayer" number or to a known cathouse in the Eastern end of the county. The regional jail now sits where it once was and that seems appropriate.
My wife works for the city and I have a motion detector in the house that sounds off in the shop if someone forces the front door.
Drop in company is rare and the last one from out of town was Jud Brennan and Micky Brackett last year.
They were welcome.
Anyone wanting to call me should wait until after 7PM Easter Time.

Bob Roller

[Bill Ladd]

...7PM Easter Time...

We can only call you one evening each year?  Been wanting to talk to you about a lock, but I guess I can wait 5 months.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I had a number of friends as if they could just sit in my shop and watch me work to learn bowmaking. I let one friend come over and found he felt the need to tell me how I should be making bows not watching how I was making them. I was a much more accomplished bow maker than he was. One day with a guest in my shop taught me that serious shop work is better done alone, no more visitors unless they are actual students and I don't plan on getting any work done.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

The home fires are generally not an issue.  My real job is what gets in the way.  I was making good progress this weekend but I had to stop to go inside to grade papers so I could give them back today.

[flehto]

When I was working at my day job and another nearly full time design checking business,  prioritizing allowed me to complete a few MLers, Sure I was quite busy, but then that's how I liked it. Whether you have time to work on guns is purely up to you....make some time by whatever means.....Fred

[Mark Elliott]

For me,  it is just a matter of getting myself out to the shop.  I have regular times setup for shop work.   I screen my calls, and will not answer the phone if I am in the middle of something.   

[David Rase]

Just ask my wife, she will tell you I have no problem ignoring everything and everybody when I am working in my shop.  It is real easy to get distracted with all the other stuff if you don't treat working at home like a job on the outside.
David

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

It is my observation that people in general, do not respect your work as a business, when it is in your own shop at home.  I don't know what the difference is, but some think nothing about dropping by just to chat, or to ask for some assistance on one of their projects, most with the expectation that your help is gratis.  This happens very infrequently, thankfully, and I truthfully don't mind stopping to visit and have a cup of coffee with most of those who drop in.  What erks me though, is having to stop when I'm on a roll, for scheduled appointments, or other obligations.  Trying to run a cutlery sharpening business with the need to provide the household with a certain amount every month, is both a spiritual and creativity annoyance.  That all goes away December 31, 2015, when I officially retire!!!!

[Pete G.]

I had my wife's cousin drop by and her husband came out to the shop to watch as I neatly dovetailed all three tennons neatly into the side of the barrel.

[Willbarq]

Just exasperated , so that is what brought out the NON topic really.  Glad ya'll chimed in.

[oldtravler61]

I can work on my guns anytime I want. Cause I'm retired an the wife is gone shopping.  But  I average 1 gun a year. She don't shop enough!!

[Willbarq]

I had my wife's cousin drop by and her husband came out to the shop to watch as I neatly dovetailed all three tennons neatly into the side of the barrel.

eek! distractions!

[jerrywh]

  The good part about engraving is nobody ever tries to tell you how. Taylor is right when he said if you work at home people don't think you work. A few years ago I told a guy that I worked 60 hours a week and he asked my Where?  I actually don't need to work anymore but life is a lot better if I do. People don't bother me. What I can't stand is boredom and deadlines. I'm too old for deadlines.