I come from an Ozarks farm background, our use of wood was framing a barn
or setting a fencepost.  I made (very rough) bookshelves but that was
about it.  Powertools were always it.  Imagine my shock when I sat
down and SS'ed an el-cheapo block plane and found I didn't get the
tearout I expected.  I'd thought there was some "trick".  I have just
purchased a #8 Millers Falls plane and am amazed at how everything
feels like a real machine.  (My grandfather, whom I lived with, was
an ex-machinist who had a small machine shop down the hill, I can
run metal lathes, drill presses, welders, etc etc).

By day I am a Unix SysAdmin.  By night I have been fretting because
my router/routertable/powersaw/dremel/sander make so much noise I
can only use them on weekends.  That and the dust is a pain in my
contacts.  I am a firm believer in the proper tool for the proper
job.  I'll probably keep my stuff, but things are beginning to
look like a switch to hand tools for finishing and power for roughing
it out.

In the rest of my copious free time (yeah right) I take and develop
pictures with my 4"x5" Super Speed Graphic.  When I get good with
dovetails I may have a shot at making a view camera with a bit more
in the way of movements for my B&W photography.

My big experiment currently is pulling the light tripod trick with
my B&D workmate.  I'm looking for about 100lbs of weight to suspend
on it to make it more stable.  Unfortunately I currently am working
out of a 3ft x 4ft x 2ft box with the workmate sitting on it's own.

My one big advantage is my SO.  She likes to make things also.  I
handed her a SS chisel, she tried it on a piece of wood and
immediately stated "I want more than just this one".  :)  She is
the one that spotted the Millers Fall plane.  I would have walked
right past it.  Of course, the next 6 projects are ones she wants.

Anyone working out of a storage rental unit?  I need someplace I
can work anytime and run those tailed things from time to time
without annoying the neighbors.

Roger Books