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Recent Bios FAQ

32103 SpeedCom <SpeedCom@a...> 1997‑12‑10 Bio: Don Carron, resend to list
Russ,

As promised, a short bio. Hope this is what is needed. I can alter it if
needed.

Bio For Don Carron

Family man, 53 yrs. old, five children (two of whom are still at home). Lives
in Santa Fe TX, near Galveston, but is going to go back to east Tennessee in
the spring of '98, never to roam again.

I expect that I rate as a bottom feeder, as I prefer to buy cheap users and
disdain collecting as a waste of good tools. Mind you, I have no disregard for
those who choose to hoard these tools, and am appreciative of the contribution
those misguided individuals have made to the knowledge base. I also
appreciate the fact that we "real tool users" get to buy their castoffs
occasionally. Anyway, I like tools that show that they have been used, and
will normally buy the less-collectible tools if lower price encourages it. I
feel that in that way, I can make life better for the collector who may be
willing to waste his money on the finer item (I hope that collectors recognize
that this is written as irony... sometimes irony doesn't come across in this
medium).

I have exercised a desultory interest in woodworking since childhood. My
grandfather had a basement shop where I would help him and in which I built a
few simple items. I have never been capable of (or maybe inclined toward) high
craftsmanship, though I very much admire it.

My favorite field of woodworking is musical instrument making, having made a
harpsichord, a hammered dulcimer, and some few wind instruments. I also have
done a good bit of home remodeling, though I think of that as butchery rather
than woodworking. I am now seasoning wood for an attempt at making a basset
sordune. This is a renaissance double reed instrument, and a forerunner of the
modern castrated bassoon. The sordune has two parallel cylindrical bores in a
single tube, connected at the bottom. The "end" of the sounding length of the
tube is up near the mouthpiece and finger holes go into both descending and
ascending bores. Additionally, it has holes covered by the middle joints of
some fingers, so there are more than the normal 9 holes that one thinks as
being available to human-style hands.

I prefer hand tools for the satisfaction they give and I am working toward
equipping my shop (2 car garage) to encourage less use of the tailed types and
more hand work. I do use power to get rough sizes and shapes, but go to hand
tools for the joinery.

My business career started with ten years as a toolmaker, so I also have
metalwork experience. I have an interest in blacksmithing work as it relates
to hand tools, plane blades, drawknives, etc. My 13 year old son is also
interested in forge work and we intend to set up a small smithy when we are
relocated to TN. Right now (12/97), I am making planes with irons I make from
trailer springs using a welding torch for heat treating. this will improve
with a proper smithy.

My career moved into engineering in the 70s and then to sales in the 80s. My
field is rotating equipment, specifically turbines and compressors. Most of
this work has been in control and safety systems, but with a good deal of
rebuild/repair/rerate work. I am one of the many who hopes to have his own
business some day, possibly woodworking or springmaking.

Thanks for the education you have all provided via OLDTOOLS. I am pleased to
be a part of this community. I hope that I can give to you all more than I
get.

Cheers/Don Carron

SpeedCom@a...



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