OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

181022 "Bert" <bertfig@t...> 2008‑07‑05 BIO Bert Fig
I have lurked for at least a year now and I thought I would introduce
myself.  My name is Alberto Figueredo and I was born in Cuba in 1951.
I came to the states in '62 lived in New Mexico till '66 then I moved to
N.Y.C. till "77 and now I'm in the Tampa Bay Fl. area.
I am a Facilities Director for a Country Club and in my past lives I have
been a TV/Furniture Salesman,Photographer,Furniture Repairman,
Handyman etc.
 I have always been fascinated by woodworking.  I have built Beds,
Entertainment centers ,Coffee tables,Bookshelves,Boxes,etc using
electrons.  Then about 20 years ago I found a block plane at a Garage
Sale and it CALLED ME!  Little did I know that when I gave the guy
the $.50 he wanted for it I was HOOKED!  At the time I had no knowledge
of the existence of the SLOPE, I did not slip, I  RAN down that slope.
If it is for working with wood I had to have it, the older the better!
So 170+ planes,220+ Braces & Eggbeaters,4400+ Bits (anything that fits a
brace), 100+ Saws & Vises , countless Chisels, Mallets/Hammers,Clamps
etc.etc...later, I discovered Galoot Central while researching info on a
Witherby chisel.  It felt like coming home.  I would never have guessed that
there were others with my affliction (did not know it was so crowded at the
bottom of the slope).  It seems that I must rescue almost every mushroomed
socket chisel, rusty auger bit, saw or plane that I find.
Recently while at my favorite Flea Market I saw a woman carrying 2 saws, I
rushed ahead of her and bought the other 3 saws available (2 Disstons with
nibs &1 Atkins) so if your wife came home in early June and told you she
would have gotten you more but some jerk bought them, I'm sorry, I thought
she wanted to paint them.
 I must confess to having sacrificed many electrons but I'm learning the
error of my ways.  Don't get me wrong I still use my Tailed Demons,
but only when I have to.
My latest rehab is a handle for a Plumb Adz, could not wait to get some
hickory so I'm using some well seasoned & recycled(20+yrs)Oak.
Used the band saw to rough shape it, and Stanley 60 & 151 Spokeshaves
for final shaping.  Next will be to turn a new knob for a Bedrock 604c
type 6 that came with the wrong  knob (think from a 10 1/4) from an Indian
Rosewood log that someone gave me.
Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

Crawling back under the Porch to lurk some more......Bert

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Recent Bios FAQ