Gentle ones,

Uh, I haven't been active around here for a long time - though I've
done some lurking all along - but I'm hoping to change that Real Soon
Now.  Life has been taking most of my time for several years but
there's some hope that our new surroundings will help.

----------------------- Start Updated Bio-----------------------------
I'm a married, 46 year old computer programmer who has just moved into
a gorgeous old house (1898 Queen Anne Victorian) in the midwest of the
United States.  I got interested in handtools back in the mid-90's
while living in Tacoma, Washington and found that I enjoyed working
with them much more than I the tailed demons that I had sitting in my
shop.  Since then I've used handtools when I could while doing some
wood mangling and household repairs.

A couple of years ago it struck me that my mood deteriorated markedly
around late September when the sun went away for the next 9 months in
Tacoma.  Hmmmm....  Maybe there's a correlation?  Last year I started
scouring the internet for places that got more sun in the winter than
Tacoma - turns out that virtually everywhere below the Arctic Circle
qualified so we started adding other criteria to our searches and
ended up concentrating on the midwest.  Eventually we found a place in
Missouri that seemed promising but we didn't jump fast enough.  Turned
out that was OK when this place came up in Waupun, Wisconsin:
http://i9.tinypic.com/2j4c113.jpg
http://i17.tinypic.com/2cxxq2v.jpg
http://i18.tinypic.com/2r7byw9.jpg

Since we moved in 3 weeks ago I've only had my handtools available and
they've done just fine with everything that I've need to do around the
house.  I do need to try out a Yankee drill some time - the eggbeater
has been fine but I've heard so many good stories of the usefullness
of the push drill that I know that I've got to give it a shot.
------------------------ End Updated Bio ------------------------

Ken Stagg
Waupun, WI
------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 6/5/07, Jim Esten  wrote:
> Welcome to Wisconsin Ken!  Hey, that's just down the street from the
> penitentiary, no?

Yes - almost literally.  If Wilcox ran through we'd be three blocks
away - yet I feel much, much safer than I ever felt in Tacoma.

> .............    You're up in the neck of he woods where I
> grew up .. my folks still live in the middle of a triangle drawn from
> Berlin to Princeton to Green Lake, overlooking the White River marsh.

I've heard of Green Lake but the rest of them are new to me.  When we
arrived from Washington it marked the 3rd time that I'd ever been in
Wisconsin (and Cindy's 2nd time.)  I'm looking forward to exploring
the southern half of the state by bicycle once I get them unpacked and
we get some free time.

>
> You're in pretty good rust hunting country up there ... especially on
> the rural auction circuit..

I'm hoping to get out to do some hunting this summer but I'm not
betting on it.  More likely it will have to wait for next summer as by
then most of the place should be unpacked :)

> Welcome topside!

Thanks!

-Ken
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to Wisconsin Ken!  Hey, that's just down the street from the
penitentiary, no?    You're up in the neck of he woods where I
grew up .. my folks still live in the middle of a triangle drawn from
Berlin to Princeton to Green Lake, overlooking the White River marsh.

You're in pretty good rust hunting country up there ... especially on
the rural auction circuit..

Welcome topside!

cheers,

Jim E #2 in (Cedarburg) Wisconsin

On 6/5/07, Kenneth Stagg  wrote:
> 
> Gentle ones,
>
> Uh, I haven't been active around here for a long time - though I've
> done some lurking all along - but I'm hoping to change that Real Soon
> Now.  Life has been taking most of my time for several years but
> there's some hope that our new surroundings will help.
>
> ----------------------- Start Updated Bio-----------------------------
> I'm a married, 46 year old computer programmer who has just moved into
> a gorgeous old house (1898 Queen Anne Victorian) in the midwest of the
> United States.  I got interested in handtools back in the mid-90's
> while living in Tacoma, Washington and found that I enjoyed working
> with them much more than I the tailed demons that I had sitting in my
> shop.  Since then I've used handtools when I could while doing some
> wood mangling and household repairs.
>
> A couple of years ago it struck me that my mood deteriorated markedly
> around late September when the sun went away for the next 9 months in
> Tacoma.  Hmmmm....  Maybe there's a correlation?  Last year I started
> scouring the internet for places that got more sun in the winter than
> Tacoma - turns out that virtually everywhere below the Arctic Circle
> qualified so we started adding other criteria to our searches and
> ended up concentrating on the midwest.  Eventually we found a place in
> Missouri that seemed promising but we didn't jump fast enough.  Turned
> out that was OK when this place came up in Waupun, Wisconsin:
> http://i9.tinypic.com/2j4c113.jpg
> http://i17.tinypic.com/2cxxq2v.jpg
> http://i18.tinypic.com/2r7byw9.jpg
>
> Since we moved in 3 weeks ago I've only had my handtools available and
> they've done just fine with everything that I've need to do around the
> house.  I do need to try out a Yankee drill some time - the eggbeater
> has been fine but I've heard so many good stories of the usefullness
> of the push drill that I know that I've got to give it a shot.
> ------------------------ End Updated Bio ------------------------
>
> Ken Stagg
> Waupun, WI
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Ken,

Welcome Back! You are going to have so much fun w/ that Victorian,  
they usually provide ample opportunity for hand tool use. Beautiful  
house.

Bill

On Jun 5, 2007, at 11:46 AM, Kenneth Stagg wrote:

> 
> Gentle ones,
>
> Uh, I haven't been active around here for a long time - though I've
> done some lurking all along - but I'm hoping to change that Real Soon
> Now.  Life has been taking most of my time for several years but
> there's some hope that our new surroundings will help.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Ken,

Good to see you back!  Hope the move works out as well as it sounds.

Bruce Z.
Kearney, Mo

Ken wrote:
> Uh, I haven't been active around here for a long time - though I've
> done some lurking all along - but I'm hoping to change that Real Soon
> Now.  Life has been taking most of my time for several years but
> there's some hope that our new surroundings will help.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcom back. I find this list to be relaxing. A change of pace from the
"real" world.

On 6/5/07, Kenneth Stagg  wrote:

>
> Since we moved in 3 weeks ago I've only had my handtools available and
> they've done just fine with everything that I've need to do around the
> house. I do need to try out a Yankee drill some time - the eggbeater
> has been fine but I've heard so many good stories of the usefullness
> > of the push drill that I know that I've got to give it a shot. -------------
-----------
> End Updated Bio ------------------------
>

Funny you mention this. The other day I needed to screw a cleat to the
wall in my shop. I had left my <*cough*>cordless drill in the van and
needed to drill a pilot hole. I was going to go get it, but 4 inches to
the right of where the hole was to go, sat my Yankee 41Y Yankee push
drill. I had just cleaned and oiled it last week, shapened some of the
bits, and did a test hole. I figured I got it ready, might as well use
it for the pilot hole. Well... It took LESS time than the new tool would
have. I put it back and used the Yankee screwdriver (I always use one of
these. I have three on the wall with different bits and just grab the
one I need) to put in the screw. It all happend so fast I couldn't
believe it! Now- I know this is common sense to most of you Galoots, but
was a revelation to me. Guess that's why I'm still a GIT. Thanks,

Marc
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marc wrote:
 I put it back and used the Yankee screwdriver (I always
> use one of these. I have three on the wall with different bits and
> just grab the one
> I need) to put in the screw.

And Bruce sez:

Just three!?!?!  Now *that's* why you're still a GIT!

Bruce Z.
Duckin', grinnin' and runnin' in Kearney, MO
tools for sale at www.generationsfurniture.com/tools 

------------------------------------------------------------------------