OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

71845 don porter <dporter@u...> 1999‑12‑02 Overdue Bio...
Greetings Galoots,

Is there a record for lurking?  I must be close

I have had what can best be described as a fascination with woodworking for
most of my life.  My grandfather has been a recreational woodworker for
some time, and I remember dodging shavings and dust with him starting at
about age 8 or so.  Grandpa was a patient man, you see, and tolerated my
presence and questions.  I have never lived within 300 miles of him, but
have spent many of my happiest days with him in his basement shop working
on some project.  I couldnt believe it the first time grandpa ran a chunk
of what looked like firewood to me through a jointer, and then rubbed a
little mineral spirits on the wood to highlight the grain.  I have a bit of
that wood today (shaped like a jack plane) sitting on my piano.  In recent
years, however, I have noticed that most of the tools in grandpas shop are
pretty dusty and only his chair and woodworking magazines seem to avoid
accumulating dust (I must explain that grandmas hobby is scrubbing the
house, and she is not shy about recruiting help).  I keep reminding grandpa
that he has just over 1000 bf of walnut to use up (stop lining up over
there), he just smiles and says something about old knees.  Har, I wish I
could keep up.

On my own, I have usually only had one or two of the three required
resources to do my own woodworking (space, time, money).  Attending
college, getting married, apartment living, starting a career, etc. have
limited my ability to pursue woodworking.  I have completed a dozen or so
projects in as many years (usually in grandpa's shop or at the local high
school), and am finally about 4 months away from having my first dedicated
shop space.  We are finishing our basement, and I will get an area about
17 by 22 for my shop.  All that time lurking under the porch was not
wasted.  I have actually emailed many galoots off-list for advice as well
as tools.  I have collect, er, purchased a type 1 maroon Galoot hat (told
you I was under there a long time), 15 Stanley/Record/MF planes, 17 (gulp)
Lie-Nielsen planes/saws, braces, bits, saws, marking and layout tools,
scrapers, chisels, pretty much everything I think I need to get started
(dont tell SWMBO, cause my tool budget is ongoing).  I ordered a 2 by 8
by 3 maple bench top (learned about it from Mark Becker), Lee Valley cast
iron legs (cause Paddy and/or John G. said so), and have a pair of Record
53s waiting to get installed.  I would say that this will replace my
WorkMate as a bench, but seeing as how the WorkMate ran away and took my
wood with it whenever I came at it with even a little #3 (small smoother,
Jeff), I hesitate to say that my WorkMate was ever really a bench to me.  I
do have a few electron killers, but plan to avoid them whenever possible.
I just picked up a set of carving chisels and a mallet (thanks to Steve
Patnaude), and intend to play around with them a bit.

Salt Lake is tough for finding oldtools.  I have looked and found a few,
but seem to have had better luck out of state.  I haven't eBay'ed yet, but
I have ordered from many I met on this list.  There are a few locals who
lean towards the galoot ways.  I have taken classes from a local named
Chris Gochner (FWW Dec 98) who has taught me a lot about sharpening and
using hand tools.  I only know of one other galoot in Salt Lake.  I have a
project list a mile long, but near the top are a toolbox, an armoire for
SWMBO, and a kaleidoscope for my mother.  Also, some shaker end tables for
SWMBO.  Oh, and bunkbeds for my kids.

Lets see, what else. I am 32 years old and work for the University of Utah
(computer gunk).  I am married and have 2 kids.  My 5 year old can name
every tool in my shop (gloat).  Now that I have de-lurked, Ill try to toss
in my 2 cents a bit more often.  Besides, last one under the porch has to
sit under the spittoon and Im sure my spot is gone by now



Recent Bios FAQ