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Recent Bios FAQ

13779 <JerryKath@A...> 1997‑02‑19 J. Underwood Oldtools Bio
Bio for New Galoot  J.  Underwood

I was well on my way to becoming full fledged Normite.  I told my girlfriend
at the time that I was buying all my power tools and machines before I got
married because I knew after marriage I would not be allowed regardless of to
whom I was wed.  One day I joked  that I had only one power tool left to buy
and pointed to a nail gun as my girl friend and I walked through the hardware
store.  The next day my girl friend gave me a present wrapped in a nice pink
bow.  It was the nail gun and she said now you can get married right?  That
was the day I became interested in wooden moulding planes. This is a true
story.

Fortunately, did not have room for my power tools while I was temporarily
located in New Jersey and my brother in California loaned me his stanely 55.
 Yes it was difficult to explain to airline security what a stanely 55 was
used for.  I started making moulding and was hooked on hand tools.  I went on
to moulding planes and I now have approximately 85 wooden planes. I use every
tool in my collection or at least this is the rational for buying new tools.
 I am bordering on being a collector, however, If I find something very
collectible I usually trade for tools I can use.

Knowing that the day was comming when I would have to propose,  I went on a
last minute shopping spree and bought yuppie bastard jointer and jack plane.
 Since then I have found four other reasonably priced infill planes.  I have
their pictures next to those of my children on my desk at work. 

Woodworking is strickly a hobby for me.  Which is good because everything I
build is crooked, and contains way too much moulding.  I usually go to Cranes
auction (parking lot) to shop or cruise the local antique malls and shows. 

My prize possession is a an all wood (oak) antique, 10 ft long oak work bench
equipped with a leg vise, sliding peg board,  angled legs and dovetailed tail
vise.

P.S.   I finally got married and had to relocate to Albany, New York (home of
my wife's familyof course and as expected my tool buying has diminished 10
fold.   Also I could not afford to move all of my classic delta and walker
turner machines from California so I ended up replacing them  cheap Tiawanese
#@*!  I regret ever buying (thank god I rarely use them).



Recent Bios FAQ