Woodworking in Central America

**friarty** · 12-05-2005, 11:43 AM

I am planning a move to Central America for quite an extended stay and want to keep on with my career in woodworking. I did some research on the internet about woodworking in Central and South America but had no luck coming up with any hits. I am wondering if anyone has any insite on woodworking shops or feilds related to woodworking in Central America and may be able to direct one step closer in my search. I appricate any help seeing I would rather not sell coconuts on the beach to survive. Thanks for any info. Cheers, Tyson

**WoodMangler** · 12-05-2005, 05:08 PM

Let's see.... I was in Panama (Canal Zone) in '74 and '75...

I remember where the 2 best bars are for uhh... dancers! ... Yea, that's it... dancers! (The 5 Star and the Ovalo)...

.... the best beach for collecting beautiful shells... (Amador)...

The best weekend getaway location and dive spot (Taboga Island)....

...... everything else is a blur... :P

I do wonder what it's like now that we gave it back to the Panamanians...

**TDHofstetter** · 12-05-2005, 10:07 PM

Ty, where are you headed? Generally, I mean. Yes, Central America IS pretty small compared to North... but - like - do you know what country you're headed for? It doesn't make much difference to my response; I'm just curious. People tell me that all the time - they say "Tim, you're one VERY curious fella - VERY curious!" :)

Ain't no cure for curious. :)

Expect that woodworking there will be in some ways just like woodworking here - and in other ways very different. At the risk of sounding really cryptic and not really much help at all, I'll leave it at that. :)

I ... I dunno, man. Wish I could give you the answers you want. Maybe the best thing to do is to NOT plan too far ahead, to NOT overthink it, and instead see how the world unfolds when you get there.

You may get some nice surprises.

-- Tim --

May your mind's eye
Never
Blink

**rhull** · 12-05-2005, 10:15 PM

>I'm just curious. People tell me that all the time - they say "Tim,
>you're one VERY curious fella - VERY curious!" :)

Gee, Tim. Are you sure they don't mean that they think you're a curiosity? ;)

But, to the question at hand...

Where you're going in Central America definately makes a difference. Certainly, there could be some resources available on the internet to answer your question(s). All information can be found on the internet! ;)

**friarty** · 12-06-2005, 09:09 AM

Most likely I will be heading to Honduras, or possible to Costa Rica, I don't have a certain exact location in mind, much of my decision will be based on if there is some woodworking shops around just to get my feet wet (besides on the beach). I do throw caution at the wind often, but in this case, it wouldn't be wise to haul a 100lbs. of tools with me and can't find a job. I figured there must be something for the fact that everything must be built somehow, like those bar tops with the dancing girls in Panama. I would be pretty proud if I had made those. THanks for all your help guys.

**jo_dad** · 12-06-2005, 10:14 AM

>I do wonder what it's like now that we gave it back to the
>Panamanians...

Brush up on your Chinese.

**WoodMangler** · 12-06-2005, 04:33 PM

"100lbs. of tools with me and can't find a job"

100 pounds?... wow... that's like... uhhh, 1 tablesaw wing http://www.woodhelp.com/Cheesy%20Smiley.gif

..... or... half of Jerry's cap irons http://www.woodhelp.com/Cheesy%20Smiley.gif

or... (hmm... this could be fun :)

..... or 1/10 of Bill G's parting tools... http://www.woodhelp.com/Cheesy%20Smiley.gif

Yup... I was right... this is too much fun http://www.woodhelp.com/thumbsup%20smiley.gif

**paula** · 12-06-2005, 05:13 PM

Don't know if this helps but I vaguely know someone who used to work as a "carpenter" I believe they called him in Honduras a couple of years back. Roatan actually. I guess he built anything and everything.

I would keep in mind that alot of the locals in the village I visited and he lived in, lived in one or two room houses on stilts. You would have to expect to be paid according to the norm and adjust.

Beautiful, beautiful place.