Beautiful work from the class. Those of us who've never had the pleasure
of any such classwork are indeed envious. 

(and welcome topside, BTW...). You wouldn't happen to have meticulously
documented that chest/changing table, now would you?  (minus the
severing of appendages, of course..) GIT #5 due in November and I've
worked out the plans for the hardware-less crib so now passively looking
for ideas for the rest of the nursery.

My own evolution (though the cord dependent crowd has other words for
it..)has been quite similar - especially that sudden overwhelming
interest in auctions, rummage sales, flea markets, and antique shops.
SWMBO is slowly adjusting - the flow of nice things from the shop comes
at sufficient pace to keep her smiling..

cheers,

Jim E #2 in Wisconsin

-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Peters [mailto:rgpeters@m...] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 2:40 PM
To: oldtools
Subject: [oldtools] Lurk mode off; bio

GG's

Greetings.  I have turned off the lurk mode and would like to introduce
myself.

Married, mid 30's, two boys (5 and 1), and I support my woodworking
addiction through employment as a chemistry professor.

My path towards this site and traditional woodworking was pretty
straghtforward.  As a chemistry prof, I'm quite familiar with the power
of an electron, and saw nothing wrong with shamelessly exploiting that
power to satisfy personal woodworking ambitions.  I started down the
slippery slope with a curious interest in hand made hand planes.  I made
a few that really worked well for a short time ('tempered' steel?
whazzdat?).  I hit the point of no return when I broke the "10-in,
10-out" rule.

I was building a chest/changing table for the (at the time) embryonic
GIT when I decided (for reasons I cannot explain) to pick a fight with
my table saw (yep, it was on).  The results were predictable.  A strange
calm descended over me as I gathered my wits (and gathered my um...it
doesn't matter), hollering to Her Worshipfullness that I've lopped off a
finger and I need to go to the hospital.  She got me there, only to
nearly go into premature labor (at six months pregnant).  As I explained
my injury to the trauma staff, I was told to hush up, while they took
care of my wife.  Normally, I'd have been a bit miffed, but by that
time, I was on a Demirol drip, my blood pressure was something like
80/40, and I was well on my way to HappyHappy Land.

I have since healed, thanks to a wonderful medical staff here in the 
Memphis area. During that recovery period, I reevaluated how I thought
about the craft, and reading Graham Blackburn's book on hand tools
(which I had purchased prior to this injury to learn more about hand
planes), I thought it might be possible (certainly less hazardous) to
continue my passion for woodworking without such a reliance on
machinery.

I discovered the name Disston.  I discovered an on-line auction site
that sells said items.  The words "Daddy has a saw problem" have been
uttered in my home.  My wife shakes her head when I get "another package
of rust".  I bought so many saws I had to build a saw rack (not knowing
there were designs here for that very item); I broke the rule of
clustering your tool purchases too closely together....

Hand saws that are properly shaped, sharpened, and set are incredible.
I learned the care and feeding of your own handsaws is ridiculously
simple. 
I was startled at how easy it is to shape, sharpen and set some of the
handsaws I got from that online auction site (like the 4 tpi H Disston
and son sawblade a seller included in a lot that I purchased because 'it
didn't have a handle' and he 'didn't know what else to do with it').
When that beast rips through wood, it makes a pleasant sound that
resembles 'oink'.  I politely thanked him.

I discovered Stanley planes.  I read something called Blood and Gore.
My left arm is bald from taking test shavings.

I learned what a brace is, and how to use it.

I discovered OldTools, and learned there is a group that will support
your tool buying habits as long as those habits don't interfere with
their OWN buying habits (so I no longer bid when I see the user name of
'aperrault', or some of the other easy-to-spot crossovers from this
list).

I stalk flea markets, estate sales and garage sales like a criminal;
"Antique Store" is no longer a euphamism for "$#!+ to Dust Store".

I learned that Guinness is a magnificent beverage...........OK, I
learned that a long time ago

I learned that you can make beautiful things without electric tools....

I recently attended the weeklong Traditional Woodworking class (9-13
June) at Marc Adams' School; Chris Gochnour was in charge. Strange thing
about this class was that I was on the waiting list for it, and received
a call from Marc on Saturday afternoon (around 6), informing me there
was an opening--would I like to attend.  The class started on Monday
morning at 8 (36 hours of notice).  I did some quick thinking (...500
miles from Memphis to Franklin is about 8 hours; expensive week long
course, wife left alone with two GIT's 5 and 1, I have to pilfer the
cherry I had earmarked for our headboard, cut list, tool list, pack,
steal my car [in the shop for repairs]).  Um..........this was a really
tough sell.  I'm pretty sure I cashed in every 'good husbanding' point
I'd ever received. 
She let me go.  Here are the results

http://www.chem.memphis.edu/faculty/peters/toolchest.htm

As a scientist, I'm used to documenting things as I do them, and this
was no exception.  I have actually transcribbled about 25-30 pages of
notes from this class, which was without a doubt a magnificent
experience.  As I put what I've learned into practice, the notes section
keeps getting longer as I continue to remember things that I forgot to
note initially.
 
I am now in the process of updating my workbench; my first effort was a
replication of the bench Norm built in the second-ever episode of the
show.  Too small, limited vise/clamping mechanisms and the aesthetic
appeal of crabgrass.  Thanks to Keith Rucker, as I will attempt to 
duplicate your success, I'm sure I will lean heavily on your extensive
documentation.

I suppose I'll acquiesce to SWMBO's demands for that headboard (though
we're short on cherry), but the bench likely comes first. (I DID just
build her a walnut sewing table; my first project completed using only
hand tools). 

I've successfully shirked my work responsibilities for the day; it's
quitting time somewhere on the globe.  Time to pop open a Guinness and
find a seat on the porch.  Should your travels bring you to Memphis
area, know there's a Galoot with a large back porch, a fridge full of
beer and plenty of chairs.

Cheers.

Greg

--If woodworking is an addiction, I'm not interested in your 12 step
program

GG's

Greetings.  I have turned off the lurk mode and would like to introduce
myself.

Married, mid 30's, two boys (5 and 1), and I support my woodworking
addiction through employment as a chemistry professor.

My path towards this site and traditional woodworking was pretty
straghtforward.  As a chemistry prof, I'm quite familiar with the power of
an electron, and saw nothing wrong with shamelessly exploiting that power
to satisfy personal woodworking ambitions.  I started down the slippery
slope with a curious interest in hand made hand planes.  I made a few that
really worked well for a short time ('tempered' steel?  whazzdat?).  I
hit the point of no return when I broke the "10-in, 10-out" rule.

I was building a chest/changing table for the (at the time) embryonic GIT
when I decided (for reasons I cannot explain) to pick a fight with my
table saw (yep, it was on).  The results were predictable.  A strange calm
descended over me as I gathered my wits (and gathered my um...it doesn't
matter), hollering to Her Worshipfullness that I've lopped off a finger
and I need to go to the hospital.  She got me there, only to nearly go
into premature labor (at six months pregnant).  As I explained my injury
to the trauma staff, I was told to hush up, while they took care of my
wife.  Normally, I'd have been a bit miffed, but by that time, I was on a
Demirol drip, my blood pressure was something like 80/40, and I was well
on my way to HappyHappy Land.

I have since healed, thanks to a wonderful medical staff here in the 
Memphis area. During that recovery period, I reevaluated how I thought
about the craft, and reading Graham Blackburn's book on hand tools (which
I had purchased prior to this injury to learn more about hand planes), I
thought it might be possible (certainly less hazardous) to continue my
passion for woodworking without such a reliance on machinery.

I discovered the name Disston.  I discovered an on-line auction site that
sells said items.  The words "Daddy has a saw problem" have been uttered
in my home.  My wife shakes her head when I get "another package of rust".
 I bought so many saws I had to build a saw rack (not knowing there were
designs here for that very item); I broke the rule of clustering your tool
purchases too closely together....

Hand saws that are properly shaped, sharpened, and set are incredible.  I
learned the care and feeding of your own handsaws is ridiculously simple. 
I was startled at how easy it is to shape, sharpen and set some of the
handsaws I got from that online auction site (like the 4 tpi H Disston
and son sawblade a seller included in a lot that I purchased because 'it
didn't have a handle' and he 'didn't know what else to do with it').  When
that beast rips through wood, it makes a pleasant sound that resembles
'oink'.  I politely thanked him.

I discovered Stanley planes.  I read something called Blood and Gore.  My
left arm is bald from taking test shavings.

I learned what a brace is, and how to use it.

I discovered OldTools, and learned there is a group that will support your
tool buying habits as long as those habits don't interfere with their OWN
buying habits (so I no longer bid when I see the user name of 'aperrault',
or some of the other easy-to-spot crossovers from this list).

I stalk flea markets, estate sales and garage sales like a criminal;
"Antique Store" is no longer a euphamism for "$#!+ to Dust Store".

I learned that Guinness is a magnificent beverage...........OK, I learned
that a long time ago

I learned that you can make beautiful things without electric tools....

I recently attended the weeklong Traditional Woodworking class (9-13 June)
at Marc Adams' School; Chris Gochnour was in charge. Strange thing about
this class was that I was on the waiting list for it, and received a
call from Marc on Saturday afternoon (around 6), informing me there was an
opening--would I like to attend.  The class started on Monday morning at 8
(36 hours of notice).  I did some quick thinking (...500 miles from
Memphis to Franklin is about 8 hours; expensive week long course, wife
left alone with two GIT's 5 and 1, I have to pilfer the cherry I had
earmarked for our headboard, cut list, tool list, pack, steal my car [in
the shop for repairs]).  Um..........this was a really tough sell.  I'm
pretty sure I cashed in every 'good husbanding' point I'd ever received. 
She let me go.  Here are the results

http://www.chem.memphis.edu/faculty/peters/toolchest.htm

As a scientist, I'm used to documenting things as I do them, and this was
no exception.  I have actually transcribbled about 25-30 pages of notes
from this class, which was without a doubt a magnificent experience.  As I
put what I've learned into practice, the notes section keeps getting
longer as I continue to remember things that I forgot to note initially.
 
I am now in the process of updating my workbench; my first effort was a
replication of the bench Norm built in the second-ever episode of the
show.  Too small, limited vise/clamping mechanisms and the aesthetic
appeal of crabgrass.  Thanks to Keith Rucker, as I will attempt to 
duplicate your success, I'm sure I will lean heavily on your extensive
documentation.

I suppose I'll acquiesce to SWMBO's demands for that headboard (though
we're short on cherry), but the bench likely comes first. (I DID just
build her a walnut sewing table; my first project completed using only
hand
tools). 

I've successfully shirked my work responsibilities for the day; it's
quitting time somewhere on the globe.  Time to pop open a Guinness and
find a seat on the porch.  Should your travels bring you to Memphis area,
know there's a Galoot with a large back porch, a fridge full of beer and
plenty of chairs.

Cheers.

Greg

--If woodworking is an addiction, I'm not interested in your 12 step
program

Welcome Greg, 

Glad there are now two chemists on the Old Tools List! The Lord knows we
are much more poorly represented on the list than the computer geeks! I
most often lurk and only occasionally post but our common occupation
stirred me back from under the porch. I haven't acquired your saw
addiction yet (I only have 6) but I have more planes than I dare to count
I am not a collector but rather a user (I swear I'll find a use for all of
them some day!) Look forward to reading your posts in the future, you seem
to be gifted in the writing department.

Don Kugelberg (who will now return to his spot under the porch for a nap)

On 24 Jun 2003 at 15:39, Greg Peters wrote:

> Greetings. I have turned off the lurk mode and would like to
> introduce myself.

Welcome, welcome!

>  I bought so many saws I had to build a saw rack

I just happen to be in the finishing steps of enclosing my old saw rack,
turning it into a saw cabinet - and I realize I'll have to build at
least two, if not three more... but I know a few Galoots who make my
little assortment look small...

> Hand saws that are properly shaped, sharpened, and set are incredible.

Amen, brudder.

>  I learned the care and feeding of your own handsaws is ridiculously
>  simple.

Y'know, I gotta get to this soon. The vast majority of my assortment are
in need of serious attention in this department. But I just for one
reason or another haven't ever gotten around to trying my hand at
sharpening saws. Some sort of mental block. Your message encourages me.
I'll give it a go soon.

> I stalk flea markets, estate sales and garage sales like a criminal;
> "Antique Store" is no longer a euphamism for "$#!+ to Dust Store".

Heh heh. But the proper spelling is "Anteek maul"

> I learned that you can make beautiful things without electric
> tools....

Isn't that neat? I'm constantly discovering that meself.

> http://www.chem.memphis.edu/faculty/peters/toolchest.htm

Nice.

> I am now in the process of updating my workbench

I've been in that process pretty much since I built it a few years back.
And likely will continue to be until I either just build a totally new
one, or more likely, when I take my dirt nap.

> I've successfully shirked my work responsibilities for the day; it's
> quitting time somewhere on the globe. Time to pop open a Guinness and
> find a seat on the porch. Should your travels bring you to Memphis
> area, know there's a Galoot with a large back porch, a fridge full of
> beer and plenty of chairs.

Thanks for the entertaining and well-written introduction!

And what him say also goes for me here in the area of Richmond, VA - if
any of y'all make it down here, you'd best let me know!

- Bill Taggart
- At home in Glen Allen, VA, USA