Sunday, December 14, 2008

I'm not making this up.

I'm building a project in my workshop this morning (surrounded by a sea of woodworking tools) when my partner walks in and asks, "Where are your tools?"

And she was serious.

Huh?

(Translation: when a person who is not a woodworker asks where he/she can find your "tools", he/she means they need a wrench, hammer, pliers, or drill).

7 comments:

will said...

Wait, that's too too serious and crushing.

Kari Hultman said...

I was shocked into silence and probably had a dumbfounded look on my face.

Anonymous said...

Kari, I think you are looking at this all wrong. She was asking for one of those tools she could actually use (abuse), knowing what most of them meant to you. How would you have responded if she asked for one of your nice chisels? Would you not be worried she would want it to open up a paint can or something? Everytime my wife asks where one of my tools is, I can't help but ask, "What do you need it for?!". Maybe I am just paranoid.

Metalworker Mike said...

I'm with Bill on this one. I have a whole closet full of such things. I call it The Closet of Unloved Tools. The old Canadian Tire chisels, the wretched Stanley (sorry!) planes, and other such mistakes. They've been fettled and cleaned enough to make them usable, but I'd rather suffer in The Hell Of Having A Lower GI Biopsy Performed With Barbed Wire than use them myself. So when Dad (or Mom) come to visit, looking to borrow a tool, I head right for The Closet of Unloved Tools.

M.Mike

Anonymous said...

VC,

I have a rather crude written notice on a piece of wood, (I really should take time to carve up a good one) that says "Authorized Use Only'. It is positioned so anyone coming near my 'tools', know the conditions, restrictions, limitations and situation relating to the tools with which I make my living.

I also tell first time visitors and remind those who may have developed a cavalier attitude, that all of my tools are very shape, so when they cut themselves, please don't bleed on the furniture or tools, it rusts the tools up something awful and makes the furniture hard to sell.

Good Luck

Stephen

Kari Hultman said...

Great suggestions!

At least I've taught her not to borrow any tools without asking....but she had to learn the hard way.

John Walker said...

Well Metalworker Mike,

All I can say is, if your Stanleys are not up to the mark, then you haven't fettled them properly. They should perform as well as any of the modern bench-planes; Bedrocks included.) Have a look:

http://khalafoud.com/media/roubo.wmv

John