Venerable Galooti (sounds like an intro to an Asian Star Wars; and makes my
spell-check very unhappy):
After lurking under the porch for the better part of a year, soaking up
the collective wit and wisdom, I guess it's about time I quit the voyeurism
and join the fun and occasional fray. (Fortunately I am not a "joiner" or a
"jointer," so I can stay out of the current heated thread.) I know you all
hear it frequently, but I am amazed by the wealth of knowledge within this
group and the willingness to share readily and openly. And what I find even
more intriguing, is the diversity of experience, backgrounds, and
temperaments of the group members.
I almost forgot. I am Dan Yurwit, from the wilds of central New Jersey,
where I currently call myself a semi-retired Realtor. I'm much too young to
retire, and much too old to work as hard as I have been for the past 15 years
in this business. (In previous lives, I have been a psychotherapist, social
worker, and home improvement contractor, among other things.) I'm hoping
that the "semi-" part will allow me to do some of the deferred improvements
and maintenance on our 1923 home, and maybe even try my hand at producing a
few pieces of Craftsman style furniture (using vintage hand tools, of
course). SHMBO is more realistic. She'd settle for just having me locate
that elusive leak in the back roof!
Now the confession---I am a collector of antique tools; primarily
woodworking, but including a little of everything that I find interesting or
aesthetically pleasing. On occasion I even part with a few on that on-line
unmentionable. Those that interest me most are those which usually get
classified as "primitive," or those that show the mark of the maker's
hand---whether in wood or iron. Stanley, Millers Falls, etc., tools are
great as users (and I do have plenty--although there is no such thing as
enough), but they hold little interest for me as collectibles. I've been at
this for over 30 years, and still love the hunt. On the other hand, I enjoy
using any of my antique tools when there is a project to be done. Few are of
such value that they have to just sit on a shelf. I knew I was hooked on
using antique tools back in the early 70's when I dragged home a section of
very old chestnut log from the woods and managed to turn it into a beautiful
(although not very well-made) jewelry box, using just the antique tools I
owned at the time: froe, maul, shaving horse, drawknife, marking gauge,
scratch awl, dovetail saw, scraper, a couple of woody planes and chisels. I
guess I did cheat with a modern screw driver, but I still love that box and
thrilled at discovering the beauty and workability of the wood.
Enough nostalgia. I hope to be able to keep learning from this forum,
and to be able to contribute an occasional comment or question. But I surely
do hate polishing brass.
Dan
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