"Paul G. Johnson" wrote:
>
> Now for my question:
> How do you respond to a well-meaning neighbor when they see you
> hand-sawing a board and offer to let you use their power saws? I'm sure
> this is a common occurence for all of you and thought it would create
> some great quotes.

Paul,

It would depend on what I was doing.

If I'm crosscutting a couple of boards I'd just say that "Thanks, but I'll be
done before you could get back."  You actually might be done before you finish
speaking, making the statement a bit redundant.

If I'm working a stack of lumber I'd probably take a break and explain that I
really like using my handsaw.  Note that this will not compute for some people.

I might also mention that "I've grown attached to my eyes, ears and fingers and
I'd like to keep it that way."

If you're ripping a bunch of Hickory I suppose that you could try to convince
him that you enjoy the "burn" in your sholder (and the blisters on you hand.)
I
wouldn't know :-)

-Ken

> Now for my question:
> How do you respond to a well-meaning neighbor when they see you
> hand-sawing a board and offer to let you use their power
> saws? I'm sure
> this is a common occurence for all of you and thought it would create
> some great quotes.

Howdy Paul, and welcome!

I usually resond by either explaining that taking my photo will steal my
soul, or else by throwing a spiffy Buck Bros. cranknecked gouge at them
while yelling "Powerfiend!!"

Seriously, people seem quite receptive to the gentle tack of "No thanks, I
actually use just hand tools - it's really a lot of fun.  Here, check out
the shavings that this Lie-Nielsen plane makes..."

Before you know it, they're talking about you like they would their neighbor
who does Triathalons, or the one plays poker with that X-Files guy.  Kinda
cool.  Either that, or they think you're a loon :)

Paul Johnson asks:
>
> Now for my question:
> How do you respond to a well-meaning neighbor when they see you
> hand-sawing a board and offer to let you use their power saws? I'm sure
> this is a common occurence for all of you and thought it would create
> some great quotes.
>
I am always at a loss on this too. I have a neighbor who walks by frequently
as we share a driveway. When I was building my wall hung tool cabinet, she
wanted to know why I couldn't just go to Home Despot and buy one. The other
day she was watching me turn a leg on the lathe. "That's beautiful. What's
it for?" I explained it was for a Windsor style shop stool.  "You're doing
THAT for your GARAGE?" ...and she walked off shaking her head. They simply
don't get it.

Bill

    Hey, I resemble that remark!  I'm not only the guy who uses old tools,
but also the nut who does triathlons (up to and including Ironman).
    I think that you'll find it kind of fun.  I've graduated from being a
little odd about tools to the guy who has the tool to get the job done
easily.  Case in point, neighbor across the street (we'll call him Bob,
cause that's his name) Is putting up tongue and groove cedar paneling.
"Hey, George.  Do you have a tool to tongue and groove the ends?"  Let's
see, match planes, where did I put them?  Just the ticket.
    Got to be careful though.  When you plug in some screaming demon (Not
that I would, of course),  They wonder over to find out what the awful noise
is and to make some comment about out of character and "Don't you have a
hand tool for that."

George

George Wallace
Rocky Mountain Fine Furniture
Custom made furniture and pens
www.rmi.net/~georgew

> I usually resond by either explaining that taking my photo will steal my
> soul, or else by throwing a spiffy Buck Bros. cranknecked gouge at them
> while yelling "Powerfiend!!"
>
> Seriously, people seem quite receptive to the gentle tack of "No thanks, I
> actually use just hand tools - it's really a lot of fun.  Here, check out
> the shavings that this Lie-Nielsen plane makes..."
>
> Before you know it, they're talking about you like they would their
neighbor
> who does Triathalons, or the one plays poker with that X-Files guy.  Kinda
> cool.  Either that, or they think you're a loon :)
>

> I got interested in hand tools by watching Roy Underhill's program, and
> because I'm sort of a Luddite. It also goes along with my interest in
> human powered transportation (bicycling). I have raced in the past (road
> bikes) and may again in the future.

Ah, but just how dedicated are you?  Do you still use sew-up tires like a
true galoot (or as we are known in bicycling circles, retro-grouch.)?  You
haven't succumbed to the siren song of indexed shifting and clipless pedals,
have you?

Dick Durbin
Tallahassee, FL

Dick Durbin wrote:
>
> Ah, but just how dedicated are you?  Do you still use sew-up tires like a
> true galoot (or as we are known in bicycling circles, retro-grouch.)?  You
> haven't succumbed to the siren song of indexed shifting and clipless pedals,
> have you?

Shifting?!?  What's shifting?  You mean you aren't running fixed gear?

-Ken

----- Original Message -----
From: Paul G. Johnson <pjohnson@m...>
Sent: Friday, 11 February 2000 11:04
Subject: Galoot apprentice (Bio and Question)


> Accomplishment: I cut my first mortise! And it actually looks pretty
> good! Thanks to the guidance of one of Roy Underhill's books. I have a
> scraped knuckle to show for my efforts (Don't ask me how that happened.)

Hey, well done!  That's always an epiphany, ain't it?

>
> Interesting tidbit: My son (3 years old) is an aspiring old tool fan. I
> have a portable circular saw and power drill that I use for house
> projects, but my son likes the hand powered tools better.
>

Yup, got two of those at home. When I rip out a p***r tool, they run away
like they saw the devil (they probably did!).  Both the girl and boy love
to watch me work. When I show them how I'm doing stuff with quiet
hand tools, they join in, grab the first hammer they can find and bang
away at offcuts.

Can't win...

:-)

> Now for my question:
> How do you respond to a well-meaning neighbor when they see you
> hand-sawing a board and offer to let you use their power saws? I'm sure
> this is a common occurence for all of you and thought it would create
> some great quotes.

Oh yeah I know the feeling.  A while ago "Next Door" decided to throw down
the cypress that was killing the lawn and my magnolia.  I was asked if I wanted
the main log. Not being one to say no to fresh wood, I offered to help
cutting it down.  After "ND" lost half an hour getting the buzz-saw to work,
the tree came down. (old tool content just about to come)
I then pulled out the big Disston with the dirty big rip teeth and proceeded
to cut the log into a usable size and trim the branches in about 5 minutes flat
.

During this period I got about ten offers to use the noisy thing to help me.
When I finished, "ND" was very surprised that it took such a little time to do.
Buzz-saw went back into the garage with no more noise for a while...

Cheers
Nuno Souto
nsouto@n...
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/the_Den

"Paul G. Johnson" wrote:

> Now for my question:
> How do you respond to a well-meaning neighbor when they see you
> hand-sawing a board and offer to let you use their power saws? I'm sure
> this is a common occurence for all of you and thought it would create
> some great quotes.
>

"I'd rather kiss a Wookie!"

Carl

Carl W Muhlhausen wrote:
>"Paul G. Johnson" wrote:
>> Now for my question:
>> How do you respond to a well-meaning neighbor when they see you
>> hand-sawing a board and offer to let you use their power saws? I'm sure
>> this is a common occurence for all of you and thought it would create
>> some great quotes.
>
>"I'd rather kiss a Wookie!"

"No thanks.  My boat already has an anchor."

A bunch of good stuff snipped but:

I usually respond that its fun and my daughters can use the saws without me
worrying too much.

Bill Taylor
Rockets R' Us

-
> >> How do you respond to a well-meaning neighbor
> when they see you
> >> hand-sawing a board and offer to let you use
> their power saws?

> >"Neither a borrower nor a lender be..."

> >"I'd rather kiss a Wookie!"
>
> "No thanks.  My boat already has an anchor."
>
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