My engineering hobby - October 2016

Creativity in wood

Most evenings Prasad Sampathkumar, application engineer within Bosch’s automotive division, can be found in his garage creating art in wood.

He uses reclaimed timber to create objects varying from simple picture frames to complex carvings. He explains: “When we moved into our new house two years ago I claimed the garage for myself and have added tools for small- to medium-size woodworking. It’s not a cheap hobby. Every time I start a new project, I always find I am short of the right tool. I’m glad my wife doesn’t inspect my wood shop regularly.”

Sampathkumar’s interest in wood art started when he made a memento for a colleague as his leaving gift and then wanted to make toys for his son.

He tries to work on his hobby every night, whether it be creating a finished product or just experimenting with the tools. He says: “Woodworking is one of the oldest engineering jobs, so it seems natural that I fell in love with it. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I have created something using various tools.

“Engineering is an exact science, but you also have to tackle tasks creatively. My art and my woodwork have helped me apply solutions for the customer in a way that may never have been explored before. It’s exciting and interesting.

“My engineering skills also help with my woodwork because it’s so important to get the angles and measurements right. If you cut too much off it’s very difficult to come back to. That eye for detail is crucial.”  

Do you have an interesting hobby? Email liz.wells@caspianmedia.com