OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

40775 JLMOORE <JLMOORE@a...> 1998‑04‑04 Bio: John Moore
Greetings Galoots,

I have only been here for a short time but already it feels like home. I am
34, married for 14 years, and have two sons age 10 and 12. I work as a
'Functional Analyst' (graduated from being a dysfunctional analyst, I guess)
for a company that develops healthcare applications. Here is a little more
about it, http://www.cerner.com/3/3a-overview.htm, if you are so inclined.
Prior to this I worked in the Radiology field for about 10 years. My work
allows me to spend some time on the Internet, although I am beginning to feel
to only redeeming value from it is all the woodworking and tool information I
can glean at places such as the this.

Now on the WW and tools parts... No one in my family did any woodworking when
I was a kid. I got into it out of necessity after I got married. We
purchased a house. My grandmothers house, which she told me was made out of a
lot of second hand lumber around 1928. So over the years I became a
carpenter, electrician, plumber etc. I had a small workshop in it, but
dreamed of a larger one, with the help of Norm. About 2 years ago, we bought
a new (I mean new) house and I started off early with the Chief Financial
Officer (SWMBO, Jeff) laying out my space for a workshop. I told her all I
would need is half the basement. Big mistake - I really needed the whole
basement! Instead of repairing things, I wanted to start making things. I
bought all the big power tools which I still dearly love, but am feeling the
need to make less, but enjoy it more. I started out cutting dovetails by hand
because I didn't have a jig, bought an expensive jig, and found I missed
cutting them by hand. Now that I have been with the group for awhile, it
seems I have various Galoot-ish tendencies all along, but didn't recognize it.
I even drive a gen-u-wine bubbamobile! A 1988 4x4 station-wagon-on-steroids,
Suburban.

I am a newbie to old tools, but with the info from this great group, I have
purchased a few; a Millers Falls #9, a Stanley #151 spokeshave, a Stanley
block plane, and a Cabinet Scraper (#80, Sweetheart logo, with the box!) as
much as using them, I enjoy the history they have had. I have not had good
luck finding tools though and have passed up a few because I am unsure of what
a fair price is. As I write this, the family and I are getting ready for a
weekend trip through hitting all the antique shops and flea markets we can
find. And I plan to attend estate sales this spring.

Thanks to the listmoms for all the work they do to produce this list and to
each of you for the knowledge you provide. I look for your support as I work
to cast away the crutches of my tailed apprentices. And with FMM coming up
remember my favorite saying "He who lives by the sword should go out and get
himself a really nice sword."

Is it bad that I have begun measuring time in FMMs?

John Moore
Kansas City



Recent Bios FAQ