> Hi all GG's --
>
> This is my first posting to the porch. I've been lurking for a while.
>
> Also, it took a while to be able to post to the listserv. You might say
> I had the opposite problem from Natalie! Luckily, Patrice fixed me up.
>
> A little background on me, before I get to questions that I'll leave for
> follow-up e-mails.
>
> I live on the left coast in Southern California in a town called La
> Canada, just up the road from Pasadena. I've got a little more than one
> bay of a three bay garage for my shop.
>
> I've been a Normie for most of my adult life, although I learned with
> hand tools from my father when I was a kid. He has since passed on (may
> he rest in peace). Now, I'm in the process of reclaiming that heritage
> and a lot of his wonderful saws, braces, rules, gages, et al from NJ
> where I grew up. I bring a little bit back every time I go home to see
> my Mom and family. He had a wonderful old machinist's tool chest. I
> bring back a drawerful each trip.
>
> Most of my work has been finish carpentry and outdoor structures for
> SWMBO and the kids. In the last couple of years I've gotten interested
> in cabinetry and furniture. Unfortunately, as this was happening most
> all of my tools were stolen out of the garage in my former house in
> Pasadena. Now that was a bummer (bonerific?) !
>
> I've been slowly reacquiring what tools I can while attending
> woodworking shows in So Cal to learn more about this wonderful craft. To
> digress for a moment, I was in the workshop with Frank Klausz at the
> American Woodworking Show in So Cal in January that generated Keith
> Rucker's question about mirror mastic. (I couldn't post at the time, so
> I couldn't add my two cents worth.)
>
> Anyway, back to the point. While at the AWW show, I bought a Stanley #7
> (jointer plane, Jeff) from Clarence Blanchard of FTJ. Before I bought it
> I had Frank Klausz look at it and he gave a thumbs up on the purchase. I
> later determined from Patrick Leach's Bench Plane Type Study that it is
> a Type 8. Now I want to recondition it and tune it up for using. (More
> on that in a separate missive.)
>
> I don't see myself as a collector, although I do see myself acquiring
> more planes. I must confess that before I learned about galootishness I
> bought a brand new Stanley #5 and #60 right off the store shelves (what
> did I know about oldtools and I needed something then). I hope not to
> make the same mistake again.
>
> I have started haunting e-bay in search of a #4 and/or a #4 1/2
> (smoothing planes, Jeff). I have found some really strange bidding
> patterns over the last four weeks or so. I did bite on a #4 this
> weekend. I'll let you know how I made out after I receive the plane. If
> anyone has a reasonably priced (cheap) 4 1/2 user they would be
> interesting in parting with, you can ping me off-line. I even went to
> the Pasadena City College flea market last Sunday looking for one, the
> first time I went in the 20 years I've lived in the area.
>
> The next projects I will be doing are a Mission style garden bench and a
> matching porch swing. If anyone knows of plans and inexpensive sources
> of wood in the area let me know.
>
> Anyway, I look forward to listening and learning from the remote reaches
> of the porch. I'll pop off once in a while, so you'll know I an still
> here.
>
> Regards,
>
> Lew Soloway
> GIT
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