It has been almost five years since I first submitted my bio. Even though I
mostly stay under the porch and lurk, very occasionally I participate, so I
guess its time for me to come clean on who I am.
Five years ago, I was just beginning my hand tool odyssey. I was in the
process of taking a "Hand Tools Course" at Cerritos College in Southern
California (where I lived at the time) and was learning how to sharpen
chisels and tune planes. I was also anticipating making a small tool box
with hand cut dovetails. My hand tool collection could be counted on less
than one hand: a four piece Marples chisel set, a Record #4 smoother and a
Record Low angle block plane. My shop was a workbench connected to the
garage wall and was shared with two cars and an assortment of tailed
apprentices.
Fast forwarding five years, I haven't yet deleted electron eaters from my
shop but I have added over 50 sundry planes, numerous spokeshaves, hand
saws, a Stanley Miter box, pigstickers and a beautiful set of 12 Witherby
chisels. I now live in Delaware (don't ask - its definitely off topic) and
within the past year I coaxed a friend first into woodworking and then
gently pushed him down the slippery slope of hand tool use. I am currently
building a 500 square foot shop off the back of my garage to house my ever
growing number of "essential" tools. I especially love old tools and have
more than my share follow me home from estate sales, flea markets and even
eBay. I am becoming very adept at fettling.
One last thing, I spend so much time fooling around with old tools that I
still can barely hand cut a set of dovetails - oh well, there's always
tomorrow!
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