GGs,
As one of the durned idjits who started this list, I would say that things
change, but some traditions don't.. maybe? I can certainly see the value in a
multi-media capable, thread-friendly forum. I still like this. I actually have
read more posts in the last couple of years than, say, from the late 2000's to
mebbe 2014. Life, drastic changes in how my various email platforms work (for
instance, Yahoo doesn't care that hundreds of thousands of subscribers can't
access their paid accounts via POP3/gmail), and possibly the feeling that I've
told all my fun stories (a total cop-out, of course) have greatly diminished my
participation.
This doesn't mean I don't love old tools, nor oldtools. I'm facebook friends
with a few Galoots, but I'm very circumspect about blending the two worlds of my
love/respect for woodDorking - and the gentle, supportive nature of discussions,
and what I've really become, which is a cranky old hippie, who uses a LOT of
salty language in describing the vagaries of non-woodworking topics. It's not
very pretty.
Necessity, and the harsh reality of too few hours in the day has just about
eliminated any furniture-making for me. Most of my hand-tooling skills have been
directed towards keeping the lights on. I had a vary adventurous 2016, where I
was disable from the day-typing job (bi-lateral carpal tunnel syndrome), and
then subsequently laid-off (try finding a day job when you're 55+... how the
hell did that happen?). Turns out I'm reasonably efficient (spell that
profitable) at doing house wiring, plumbing, flooring, and just your basic
remodeling skills. The famous Gerstner chest, and IT saws accompany me to my
various gigs, but most work is accomplished with an array of air/electrical
powered tools that'd founder a medium cruiser.
I did recently bag a serviceable old jack plane from Tony Seo, just because it
was affordable and I felt like having it :-). It's still in the shipping carton.
And now I have to run off and finish installing a tankless water heater.
Grateful for all of you.
Best,Paddy
p.s. I still use shellac, and make sure my alcohol is fresh!
From: Archie England via OldTools
To: Archie England ; James DUPRIE ;
Galoots ; Bruce Zenge
Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2017 6:25 AM
Subject: Re: [OldTools] Concern for the list
Well, the bold did not show up, where I stated that "my skills are not nearly as
well developed..."
And, one more comment (sorry to reply to my own post--bad form): I follow
SawMill Creek, Woodnet, Wood Central, and Woodtalk online, as well as checking
out this list daily. Every "list" appears much less engaged than in the past few
years. Woodtalk handtools is virtually dead. SMC and WoodCentral have the most
traffic, but it's nowhere near previous years activity. So, I suspect that we're
experiencing what everyone else is, too.
From: Archie England via OldTools
To: James DUPRIE ; Galoots ; Bruce Zenge
Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2017 8:19 AM
Subject: Re: [OldTools] Concern for the list
I'm in a somewhat similar mode as James, adapting a few of his statements (bold
print is mine):
I pretty much lurk now because my skills are still
not nearly as well developed as so many of you guys. The majority of the content
now is collector oriented, so I tend to skip those posts (so of course, I never
reply to them). I still scan the list every day looking for the occasional bits
that match my interests, but the vast majority of the traffic I simply glance at
the title, and move on...
-James
Archie
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OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
To change your subscription options:
https://oldtools.swingleydev.com/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
To read the FAQ:
https://swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html
OldTools archive: https://swingleydev.com/ot/
OldTools@s...
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