OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

-31 mbalmer@i... 1970‑01‑01 bio, WTB, and tip

April 1 seems like the perfect day to de-lurk.  I've been hanging around 
rec.woodworking for years.  It was the news group that inspired me to start
messing around with some handed-down planes and other hand powered tools.
Have got the bug pretty bad now, although I consider myself a user rather
than a collector (although I've got more planes than time right now).
Just recently had time to subscribe to this mail list. Gory details below...

36, married with children (Aaron is 8 and Sarah is 6).  Hardware (chip) design
for Intel- will be going to part time soon so that I can spend more time with
the kids and working on the house.  Wife- Roxann, runs internal audit at Nike.
Run and play v-ball for fun.  Before kids we to raced smallish sail boats.

Both my grandfathers lived in town and had basement shops.  My dad taught school
,
so due to budget constraints plus desire and talent, he was always remodeling ou
r
house or someone elses during the summers.  I've messed around with wood and
tools since I was a kid.  Used to use Dad's shop (old craftsman table saw and
Grandpa's Shopsmith)- especially around Christmas- until we started doing the
kid thing.  Realized that the only way to actually get shop time was to have it
closer than 5 miles.  Have been saving my pennies for awhile now, and have becom
e
quite the armchair woodworker.  Joined the Oregon Guild of Woodworkers about a
year ago- fun, talented and inspirational bunch to be around.  Started messing
with planes after doing some reading and lurking.  A year ago I built a storage
shed using timber framing techniques- tusk tenons for the floor joists and the
whole bit.  Worst part was, I straightened 4, twisted, 8' 4x4s using a workmate
and a block plane (the smoother was loaned out) and was still smiling at the end
.

Since then I've been working on getting a shop together, and using my sabatical
to build an addition on the house to make up for the space lost to the shop
(besides the fact that it's something I've always wanted to do).  Have invested
in the usual power tools.  The hunt is half the fun- I've bought stuff new, at
auctions, at shows, over the net, and from the want ads.  Right now I'm restorin
g
a '50s Unisaw and trying to get the dust collection in.  I haven't built all tha
t much
stuff over the years.  Biggest projects were a frame & panel blanket chest, coff
ee
table, free standing mirror w/bent frame, and some bizarre pyramid speakers.
Haven't tackled any drawers yet.  Done some turning which- except for a maple bo
wl
(Jr. Hi project)- has been pretty awful stuff.  Want to do cabinets for the
new addition, a hutch for the dining room, and a entertainment/storage thingy
for the family room eventually.

Over the last 6 months I've gotten a basic kit of hand tools together and have
just completed my first project that used mostly hand tools.  

-------------------------------

WTB (Want To Buy)

Set of cutters for Sargent plough plane.


------------------------------

Works for me:

Noticed how nicely wood planes glided along.  In trying to get the iron planes a
little slicker I tried the usual wax thing, which worked pretty well.  Had just
recently tried Top-Cote (sp?) while tuning up some power tools and had been real
ly
impressed.  I was just making shavings (not a real project) so I blasted some
of the stuff on the bottom of a #4, buffed it, and glide-city.  Have not spent
any time to see how long it lasts.  Also, don't really have a rust problem in th
is
area which could influence your choice.

Is there a downside to this I'm not seeing?

------------------------------


				mark

Just Say that recently, Patrick's been getting more of my mad money than Delta..
.

My own opinions, etc.










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Recent Bios FAQ