Radu Vădan, from computer scientist to carpenter

I also discovered Radu Vădan on the Tâmplarii group, where I also found Fane Pănăzan. Unlike Fane, who grew up with sawdust in his nostrils, Radu taught himself to work with wood. And he learned so well that he is now one of the group's recognized craftsmen. He helps many with useful recommendations and intervenes in a balanced way when some people's advice does more harm than good. I've been following him professionally for a long time, have seen much of his work and still can't believe he's been doing this craft for not even 7 years. These days I talked with Radu about his passion for wood, about the path from computer scientist to carpenter, about hardships, satisfactions, future plans.

It was the handy grandfather who paved the way

Radu Vădan is 39 years old, has a family with whom he feels fulfilled and a carpentry workshop in Cluj where he works only with wood and panel. He can't pinpoint a single moment that triggered his passion for woodworking. But he knows that it all goes back to vacations spent in the countryside with his grandfather, for whom nothing was impossible. His grandfather was a farmer, but he had a lot of tools with which he did everything around the house - fences, tool-tails, repairs, building in the barn. When his tools weren't enough, he borrowed from neighbors to get the job done. That's how the father grew up, and so did the grandson.

Time has passed, but the pleasure of doing all sorts of things by himself has remained. After he finished computer science and got a job, he started buying tools and making things. Then he got married, his first son came, and he made his crib with his own tools and fir tree he bought at Dedeman. After the second son they decided to build a house. Radu made the doors, the floor and various pieces of furniture. "That's when it became clear that this is the way." That was less than 7 years ago.

From programmer to carpenter

I asked him how he gave up a job recognized for the level of wealth it brings for one that, at least in the beginning, is hard to bring in a steady income. "The job of programmer came with a lot of pressure and didn't bring the satisfaction of working with your own hands". The problem Radu sees with such a crossing is the impact on people.

"For years, parents, society, school have accredited the idea that you have to be a doctor, a lawyer, a computer scientist, an engineer to be respectable. The rest are inferior professions. That's how vocational trades have been lost, that's how we've lost the craftsmen who know how to lay a water pipe properly, how to lay tiles. Any job well done is respectable".

In this decision, his wife was totally by his side, she supported and stood by him. "Without her consent I wouldn't even have taken the step." It was hard at first because it meant a drop in income. They work together now at their company - Imagine, Design, Make - she is in charge of design, accounting and some purchasing. With his parents, it was harder at first, until they saw what was coming out of his hand and especially, "that you can make a decent living from this job". Now his father helps him in the workshop and Radu also works on some pieces of furniture for them.

I have no measure, when I do something it has to be perfect

I was curious to find out how he achieved such virtuosity in such a short time. Because Radu now makes custom orders that other workshops or small factories turn down because they don't know how to make them.

"I'm not afraid of trying and being wrong. It shocks me when I see how afraid people are of making mistakes. Indeed, I have broken a lot of wood, but I have also learned a lot. I also have the advantage of knowing foreign languages - German, English, a little French. We now have the chance of this YouTube where some wonderful people give their time to teach others. You can learn a lot from YouTube tutorials. I also bought books from outside. I've invested time and energy to do things well, but also a lot of failure. And there's something else - I have no measure! When I do something it has to be perfect."

But he would have liked to have someone to teach him how to work with wood, to live among the chisels and the ruts, like Fane. He told me that, in a positive way, he envied Fane because he grew up with sawdust in his nostrils, that he learned the secrets of the trade naturally. Radu and Fane are friends and often help each other when needed, even if one is in Cluj and the other in Sibiu.

The joy of passing on what you've learned

Now Radu shares what he has learned with his colleagues in the groups or those willing to come to his workshop. He is a certified trainer and regularly organizes courses. The courses are free of charge, but he accepts small donations to cover the cost of materials. The number of participants is limited by the size of the workshop. Until recently it was only 50 m². It has now expanded, doubling its space.

On the Carpenters group, many rely on his advice. He always responds knowledgeably and urges others to do the same. He always draws attention when the wrong solutions are recommended, and when the advice is dangerous, he and the other moderators have decided not to endorse it. That's how comments about using transformer oil to protect exposed wood or using railroad ties for various projects disappeared.

And while we're on the subject of help, I have to mention the source of the textbooks I found on this occasion: the online bookstore Agricultural Books. Radu told me that he bought some good books here at more than decent prices (around 35 lei). The Furniture Carpenter's Handbook by Bill Hylton is one of them.

Wood sources for the works and solar dryer

Another topic that Radu wanted to discuss, believing that his experience could be helpful to others, was how he procures his wood. At first he bought from Holver, as it was the only place where he could buy 3-4 planks. About 3 years ago he made a small solar dryer and started buying logs. He has a nearby gaterist and they go into the woods together where he chooses the tree himself from those available. The woodcutter cuts and cuts it and brings it to the workshop. Radu weeds it, dries it and puts it in storage. He now has more than 15 species, the large selection base being a major asset.

Sometimes he even buys from the firewood bundles. He has saved a lot of very good quality wood from burning. From one such source he now has in stock cherry, sip and white poplar, wood that should have already been burned in the fire.

The main species he has in stock are ash, oak, birch, cherry, cherry, sorb, eleagnus angustifolia, acer negundo, lime, maple, acer saccharum, mulberry, poplar, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, European walnut, beech, Scots pine, Scots pine, spruce, Siberian larch, acacia, acacia, hornbeam. He doesn't stock more than 1m³ of each, but it's enough for the work he usually does. He also has exotic species - ipe, African albizia, mahogany, bubinga - but in small quantities. For what he doesn't have, he still turns to Holver.

Boat for four people and a dog

In one of the warehouse photos I saw a boat. He told me he made it last year. There are several lakes in the Cluj area and he wanted a boat that could fit all four of us, plus luggage and dog. He had some strob pine and it seemed very suitable for a boat. It didn't turn out that way and he had a bit of trouble working it, but in the end it came out.

He got the instructions and templates from a book he also bought from the online bookstore Farm Books. Inside he had A0 templates which were very useful. It's actually a North American canoe like the Native American canoe. They made the craft from a single piece of birch bark in the shape of a rectangle, basically peeled from the trunk of the tree.

New machinery for a new phase

Now Radu is in a new phase. Last year he applied for funding through StartUp Nation and the project was recently approved. He bought a large CNC, a sizing machine, a veneering press and a circular. It's the main reason he doubled his workshop space. He was fortunate to be able to expand into the neighboring room, so the lathe and machines he already had didn't have to be moved.

He bought the machines from Wood IQ He was happy with the value for money. The CNC had already arrived and he also learned to work on it. He was nervous about the transition from 3D modeling to cutting and milling, but his computer training helped him become a good operator in a very short time. Working with Dan Pruteanu went well and he is happy with the choice he made.

Radu's thinking, very practical and organized, tells him that now the machines need to be put to work. He was telling me that he doesn't furnish very often and has to find a way to make the press do more work. Just counting the rent for the space occupied by the press it comes to €25/month, and the press has to at least recoup the expenses made with it.

Radu now does only custom, unique work that relies heavily on his thinking and skill. In the future, with the new machines he wants to move to a combined production, 70% small series and 30% custom works. He already has a selection of designs he has made over the years that he thinks will be appreciated. He also has plans to set up a better spraying facility.

Investing in visibility is also in the future. So far he has worked mainly on recommendations and collaborating with designers in the city. He realizes that for the future this will not be enough. Already the new website is in the works. When it is ready it will also have a blog part where he will share his own experiences. He also aims to get out more in the market, attending trade fairs being one of his choices.

Radu is easy to talk to because he is open, honest, direct. In every conversation with him I lose track of time and we talk about a myriad of topics. I enjoy learning new things and I honestly believe that Radu is a great asset to this field. One article is too little for how much he could share. But I know that it is only the beginning of a beautiful friendship. 🙂 Good luck, Radu!