Dear Don and GGs, 

Welcome to the porch, Don. Sounds as though you'll have a lot to
contribute. When you mentioned giving others the benefit of learning
from your mistakes, it rang a bell. Probably the echoes in my
not-so-large head. 
	Last Sunday, I went over to sell at the local flea -- took lots of
tools and some other stuff. Well, two of the tools were a real nice
brass-backed Diston tenon saw and a sweet little steel-backed dovetail
saw. Long about 11:30, my wife stopped by and I was pointing out a
couple of items on my table and I noticed that the tenon saw had a crack
in the handle; in fact, it was a complete break. The crack was large
enough that the wood on either side of the crack had separated. I said,
"Damn, that must have happened this morning." Then I looked at the
dovetail saw and it had a crack in about the same place. 
	Anyway, it turns out that it had gotten pretty hot that morning and it
was enough -- especially with those attached saw blades -- to shrink the
wood and cause a break in the short grain. I'm still teed off at myself
about that. Should have known. 
	So, if my oversight (sounds better than stupidity) is a reminder to
someone else, I'll be glad I posted this. 

Good fortune to one and all, 
John