OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

63877 "David Sawyer" <dsawyer72@h...> 1999‑06‑11 SWMBO Involvement
While I was smoothing a rough cut walnut 2x6 last night with a #5, I brought
SWMBO down to show off the wood (sorry, I'm still a newbie and the only
woods I've worked with till now are pine and white oak, so new woods impress
me easily).  She was impressed with it and asked if she could try using the
plane.  I let her, and she enjoyed it.  Now what?  Do I encourage this?  I'm
worried because she might start noticing tools appearing in the work shop if
she spends time in it.  Although it could make the case for some tools
easier.  I like the arrangement the lady we bought the wood from had.  Her
husband built everything, and she finished everything.  I'm not big on
finishing, so this sounds like a good plan.  I was wondering how much others
get their SWMBOs involved in the work?

David Sawyer


63883 Tom Holloway <thh1@c...> 1999‑06‑11 Re: SWMBO Involvement
At 11:37 AM -0400 6/11/99, David Sawyer wrote:
>I was wondering how much others
>get their SWMBOs involved in the work?

        Mine has been getting pretty heavy into stained glass.  Over the
past months we have turned out several gifts and items for the house in
which she makes the glass part and I make the wooden base.  Most stained
glass lamps I've seen have bases of cast pot metal bought from catalogs.
Ours have A&C-inspired fumed oak bases under her shades.  Other items have
been "fan lights" and four-sided lanterns (for candle or nightlight bulb)
for which I make the bases out of cherry or maple.  This way we don't
compete, either for tools or achievement points.  We complement each
other's contribution to the finished product.  And as long as I don't
flinch when she buys another glass-cutting jig or whatever, she doesn't
roll her eyes when I get another WW instrument--only essential items,
o'course.
                Tom Holloway


63884 "Ken Greenberg" <ken@c...> 1999‑06‑11 Re: SWMBO Involvement
On 11 Jun 99 at 11:37, David Sawyer wrote:

> Now what?  Do I encourage this?  I'm
> worried because she might start noticing tools appearing in the work shop if
> she spends time in it.  Although it could make the case for some tools
> easier.  I like the arrangement the lady we bought the wood from had.  Her
> husband built everything, and she finished everything.  I'm not big on
> finishing, so this sounds like a good plan.  I was wondering how much others
> get their SWMBOs involved in the work?

Yeah, this is a good thing. I showed my wife how to use a side bead a
while back, and explained about different shapes and sizes. It makes
it much easier to explain why I have more than 30 molding planes.
Also, she has a casual interest in carving, so I can come back from
tool hunting and say "Look, I found you some carving tools." While
she's checking them out, I can sneak my stuff into the shop without
her noticing. But if you are really concerned about her noticing new
tools, just remember the standard advice on not storing all your
tools in one place. A big shelf o'planes can be pretty obvious.

I'm with you on the finishing aspect. I've always found it to
be more of a pain than a pleasure. Maybe all this shellac will change
my mind, though.

-Ken, happily building a Krenov-style smoother these days

Ken Greenberg
IT #321; Blue Galoot #82
400 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos, CA 95032
http://www.calast.com/ken/Personal/wood.htm


63886 "Generations Furniture" <genfurn@e...> 1999‑06‑11 Re: SWMBO Involvement
David and All,

I think this would be a good time to chime in and express my opinion,
humble though it is, about SWMBO involvement.  My wife and I are involved
full time in a custom furniture business.  We also do repair and
refinishing to old, as well as new, furniture.  Before we went full time, I
referred to my wife as Inspector 12 (remember the Hanes commercials?)
She would not let me get by with anything!!!  Does wonders for your
learning curve.  Since we moved to a new community, she has been working
with me.  She does the strip and refinish work, and does an excellent job.
I do the new and repair work.  This makes for excellent division of labor
and speeds the work.

What does this say for acquisition of old tools?  Well, if I need it, she
is very supportive and usually pushes for me to get it.  If I already have
2 - 20 of 'em, she says WHY?  In short, she's supportive of useful,
disdainful of needless redundancy.  And you know what?  She's a whole lot
smarter than I am in that regard.

What do I think about encouraging SWMBO involvement in your hobby and
interests?
GO FOR IT!!!  She can be your greatest ally, and just may enjoy it as much
as you do.
Don't be surprised, however, if she gets better at it than
you......DAMHIKT. Another subject for another time.....But my opinion is
that anything that brings a family together, is just that much better for
them and the country.

Bruce Z.
With no apologies for his opinion in this case. (grin)

> plane.  I let her, and she enjoyed it.  Now what?  Do I encourage this?
I'm
> worried because she might start noticing tools appearing in the work shop
if
> she spends time in it.  Although it could make the case for some tools
> easier.  I like the arrangement the lady we bought the wood from had.
Her
> husband built everything, and she finished everything.  I'm not big on
> finishing, so this sounds like a good plan.  I was wondering how much
others
> get their SWMBOs involved in the work?


63885 "Ellis, Thomas R" <thomas_ellis@r...> 1999‑06‑11 RE: SWMBO Involvement
But if you can't have a big shelf o'planes, what's the point? :-)

-Tom Ellis

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ken Greenberg [SMTP:ken@c...]
> Sent: Friday, June 11, 1999 1:09 PM
> To:   dsawyer72@h...; OLDTOOLS@l...
> Subject:      Re: SWMBO Involvement
>
> On 11 Jun 99 at 11:37, David Sawyer wrote:
>
>
>  But if you are really concerned about her noticing new
> tools, just remember the standard advice on not storing all your
> tools in one place. A big shelf o'planes can be pretty obvious.
>
>


63887 Steve Clark <steve.liz.clark@w...> 1999‑06‑11 RE:SWMBO involvement
Greetings:

Speaking of SWMBO involvement; I found my wife trying to remove the
finish on our kitchen table with a spatula a couple of days ago. Honey!!
I felt it necessary to enlighten her to the wonders of the Stanley #80
(thank God I have two of them). In a few minutes we were peeling ribbons
of varnish from the tabletop. "You mean all of those old tools in your
shop can be used? "  "This is kind of neat! "

One small step for SWMBO; one giant leap for galootdom.

long live the revolution,
Steve Clark
Madison AL


63890 "Bruce Kantelis" <northst@g...> 1999‑06‑11 Re: SWMBO Involvement
BIG SNIP
> While I was smoothing a rough cut walnut 2x6 last night with a #5, I
brought
> SWMBO down to show off the wood (sorry, I'm still a newbie and the only
> woods I've worked with till now are pine and white oak, so new woods
impress
> me easily).  She was impressed with it and asked if she could try using
the
> plane.  I let her, and she enjoyed it.  Now what?  Do I encourage this

David, David, David,
You must learn the art of tying education/honeydo/tool use together. You
have to have more tools to keep up with the honeydo list.  And teach her all
she wants (my wife likes to make twig furn) but before she can commence on a
project she will need some of her own tools in order to commence AND she
really should learn what to look for and where to find it so she can help
locate those items at various fleas etc.

Get it?
Regards,
Bruce Kantelis


63904 "Gary P. Johns" <gpjohns@o...> 1999‑06‑11 Re: SWMBO Involvement
On Fri, 11 Jun 1999, David Sawyer trolled a questions in front of the
porch:

[snip of early galooting being done]

> I was wondering how much others get their SWMBOs involved in the work?

Dave you surely have a gift for trolling! Since many others are weighing
in here (I always thought that side of the porch listed a little. Hey
O'Deen whatcha doing over there with that extra order of bug gook?) I
figured it was time for my $0.02 worth.

My SWMBO (admitedly the best one there is) and I have a great division of
labor. She paints...wallpapers...mows the lawn...weedeats it too...trims
the trees and plants the flowers! I on the other hand spend my all too
precious time in the shop cogitating on which tool I need next OR if the
time is really short...working on a project of designing one. If the need
is present for another oldtool I immediately call her in for consultation.
If the tool in question is deemed an urgently needed one, then she
instantly drops what she's doing and heads to the fleamarket...antique
mall or garage sale to see if she can find it for me. Occasionally I have
had to wait until the next day for the tool to appear.

Once she had to stop and feed the dogs and make dinner before she could
leave to look for the tools. But I didn't get upset as I was multi-tasking
at the time and waiting for the large panel to finish drying from the
glueup.

So David I believe you will find a resounding YES! is the answer to your
SWMBO involvement quesiton and good luck!!!

Gary Johns              OldTool Heaven
"RustHunter"            http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/9147


63908 Wesley Groot <wesg@e...> 1999‑06‑11 Re: SWMBO Involvement
    My wife's Oldtools-related forte is pure shopping ability. My
workshop, (And, come to think of it; my wardrobe and marriage) are/is
the better for it. Of course it doesn't hurt that she's an advertising
"rambo" either! I'm proud of her and blessed by her love for the
acquisition game.

    She's also very patient when projects come in late and over
budget!;-)

Wes


63881 Steve_Bussell@i... 1999‑06‑11 Re: SWMBO Involvement
Hi David,   This is pretty much the arrangement my wife and I have.  She
will handle just about
any kind of oil or varnish finish on furniture and does most of the
interior painting, walls, trim, etc, in our
house.   She is very patient and like to help out to get projects finished
up (no pun intended).
I still need to show her about rubbing out finishes and applying wax
(should take about 10 minutes to
show her all I know) and maybe I'll totally out of the finishing business!
As for her involvement in other aspects, she is very helpful with design as
well as choice of color/finish.
Our tastes are simular, but sometimes I'm too involved in the mechanics of
building a piece to
get far enough away to get a really good astetic view.
I'd say encourage any and all interest she may have in your
hobby/addiction.
Good Luck,
Steve Bussell

David said...
snippage.....
.... Her husband built everything, and she finished everything.  I'm not
big on
finishing, so this sounds like a good plan.  I was wondering how much
others
get their SWMBOs involved in the work?

David Sawyer


63914 "Bill Taggart" <ILikeRust@w...> 1999‑06‑12 Re: SWMBO Involvement
>While I was smoothing a rough cut walnut 2x6 last night with a #5, I
brought
>SWMBO down to show off the wood (sorry, I'm still a newbie and the only
>woods I've worked with till now are pine and white oak, so new woods
impress
>me easily).

Hey - no excusing needed - I love black walnut, especially freshly planed...
it's lovely.

- Bill Taggart


63920 Eric Coyle <ecoyle@c...> 1999‑06‑12 Re: SWMBO Involvement
At 11:37 AM -0400 6/11/99, David Sawyer wrote:
>I was wondering how much others
>get their SWMBOs involved in the work?

        Mine has been getting pretty heavy into stained glass.........

Years ago mine was too....just getting into it, taking courses and all
that. Had some curved pieces to cut and was having problems....

she asked and I helped. Showed her how to tap on the underside. She never
touched it after that. Sometimes it's best to play dumb......and let em
revel in their own epiphanies......
************************

And as long as I don't
flinch when she buys another glass-cutting jig or whatever, she doesn't
roll her eyes when I get another WW instrument--only essential items,
o'course.
                Tom Holloway

***************************

But, GG's,  has Tom seen the bill for the diamond bandsaw yet?????

Cowtown Eric


63934 Tom Holloway <thh1@c...> 1999‑06‑12 Re: SWMBO Involvement
At 10:13 PM -0600 6/11/99, Eric Coyle wrote:

>Years ago mine was too....just getting into [stained glass],
>taking courses and all
>that. Had some curved pieces to cut and was having problems....
>she asked and I helped. Showed her how to tap on the underside. She never
>touched it after that. Sometimes it's best to play dumb......and let em
>revel in their own epiphanies......

        Um, much as it might pain some to admit such a possibility, I don't
know nothin' 'bout cutting and shaping glass.  I am not playing dumb, I
*am* dumb in this area, and would not presume to intrude on this turf she
has staked out.  To repeat what I implied in my earlier posting she didn't
get into this to compete with me, and certainly not so that I could show
her how to do it.  The key to harmony here is complementarity, not
competetitive one-upmanship.  I think that in these life-partner
relationships harmony is, in general, a good thing.  Complementarity also
comes in handy.
                Tom Holloway



Recent Bios FAQ