OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

210191 Ed Bell <neanderman@f...> 2010‑11‑28 Bio update, Ed Bell
Given that my bio is over a decade old, I thought I should post an 
update.

I first joined the porch back in '95 or '96 and was pretty active for a 
while but found I needed to bow out for a bit to take care of some 
things, finally joining back up in August of 2008.

I'd have to say that most of my 'woodwork' has been centered around home 
improvements -- probably more carpentry than anything -- but I do as 
much as possible using hand tools.  This summer, I stripped the front 
porch off my 100 or so year old house and built a new one.  While I 
relied on some tailed apprentices for some of the more arduous tasks, 
I'm proud to say that I did a lot of it by hand, including hand nailing 
the entire deck, using a hammer and nailset. Eight joists on 16" 
centers, one nail per joist in 85 3" tongue and groove boards.  And I 
only hit my thumb once!  On one of the last boards, as fate would have 
it.

I have done some finer woodwork in my time, including a set of sewing 
chests for my sisters, modeled after one my father made in one of his 
school shop classes some 75 years or so ago. Apart from some resawing 
done with a neanderbuddy, all of the work on these has been by hand, 
using some of my grandfather's tools that I inherited.

I've also built a few things for the shop, including a saw till to hold 
the rather large number of handsaws that have found their way home with 
me.

Thanks for having me aboard; there's no place like the porch.

Ed
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Recent Bios FAQ