I've been lurking on the list for a couple of weeks, but since the bios are
flying I figure I'll join in the fun...

I'm 24 years old, live in Trenton NJ and currently finishing up my degree in
electrical engineering (plus a couple other things) at school in
Philadelphia. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but I've been back here
since 1998. My parents still live in LA, just up the hill from the Hughes
aircraft plant recently mentioned in another bio. Over the last year I've
been slowly assembling a basement shop to support my various exploits, but
I've been around tools - of all sorts - all my life.

As a kid I spent lots of time with my grandfather - a retired LAPD motor
officer (Harbor division), sportsman, and a guy that could build just about
anything he wanted in the shop out back. I spent my formative years pounding
on things, sawing stuff, and generally being a shoprat. We spent lots of
time working on my uncles Cheoy Lee sailboat, and I got to learn all about
the wonders of teak decks. Power tools were involved, but I'll admit that my
father and I watched St. Roy's show on PBS religiously.

My grandfather passed away when I was about 10 years old, after battling
cancer and radiation treatments for several years. Eventually his house was
sold, and most of the tools went to the other branch of the family tree.
Recently I hear they've been re-inherited and from what I can tell are no
longer around. A truly unfortunate turn of events, but I will always
treasure the few pieces I have.

On the other coast, my other grandfather was a machinist (and a pilot,
airport owner, WWII CAP officer, and Indian motorcycle dealer) like his
father before him. My dad has moved most of the tools out to LA, but I seem
to find a use for the ones that are still here on just about every project I
start. I only got to meet the man once, when I was about a year old, but I
hear we got along pretty well :)

Lately some old stuff has turned up, most probably belonging to a
great-great grandfather or uncle. I just cleaned up a rather nice Atkins
panel saw (10 tpi) and I'm in the process of making a new handle for an old
Bay State backsaw. Several old carpenters hatchets have been re-hung - a
Winchester and another that's either pitted beyond recognition, or just
crudely forged. There's a Stanley spokeshave I'll get around to honing soon
too.

I recently picked up a couple old Stanley planes on ebay for a very decent
price. After spending some nights (and some $$) nursing them back to working
order, I think its fair to say I'm hooked on rust. Part of it is probably
due to my love for fixing things, but I can't deny that I'm trying to
replace some of my grandfathers tools that have been lost.

As soon as I can find some reasonably priced, dry, and generally nice lumber
I hope to build a bench that will allow me to safely exercise my hand tools.
Hopefully I'll make some progress over the winter, but school, work, my
other projects, and my budget may get in the way. It's alright, I'm a
patient guy. 

That's it for now...

-mike

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