OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

210186 "Dave Nighswander" <wishingstarfarm663@m...> 2010‑11‑28 Resubmit of Biography
When Trevor Walsh wrote in saying he couldn=E2=80=99t find his bio I
went to check for mine. My bio has once again vanished from Galoot
Central. For the same reason I=E2=80=99m submitting a new bio for the
list, and Galootaclaus. Union City is on the St Joe River, which is a
good bow shot from my front porch. My wife Lydia, son Ryan, and I live
in a 116 year old farmhouse with our cat named Gabby. I spend my time
mostly at work and when I can, in my workshop rebuilding tractors or old
farm implements, making the occasional piece of furniture, or just
thinking about the next project.My Dad started me on using old tools
when I was about three, by giving me his worn out ones so I
wouldn=E2=80=99t use his electric drill to put holes in the yard. My
brothers and I spent many a day augering holes in fence posts, trees,
and of course the ground with an old brace and bit. We could have all
the bent nails that we wanted and any scrap lumber that was lying around
was quickly stripped of bent nails, and after straightening the nails,
converted into go carts, tree houses, boats, or whatever the three of us
could think of.

I stayed with the old tools but I have bought a fair amount of
=E2=80=9CTailed Devils=E2=80=9D also. So now I build bigger houses and
create bigger carts and boats. As the old saying goes =E2=80=9CThe only
difference between men and boys is the size of their toys=E2=80=9D

Depending on where the money was I=E2=80=99ve worked as an electrician,
carpenter, welder, plumber, engineer, and manager. The skills I picked
up from some of my different jobs have allowed me to play at all these
things while someone else foots the bill. My favorite place to be is in
a converted 2 story hog barn, no there weren=E2=80=99t any hogs on the
2nd floor, that with stubborn determination, =E2=80=9CNo I won't burn it
down, or tear it down it's mine d*mn*t=E2=80=9D, where I keep my
collection of old and new tools handy for the occasional use in
restoring old tractors, creating toys, building hay wagons, restoring my
1946 Ford 3 Ton truck, restoring antique furniture, rock carving,
blacksmithing, and in general fiddling around.Blacksmithing is kind of
the beginning and end of the circle. It takes me back to working with
old tools like my forge, anvil, and post vice, and on to new ideas and
concepts of decorative artwork and the practical touches of hinges,
hooks, and hardware for my woodworking projects.

I=E2=80=99ll never be monetarily rich from the results of my blacksmith
work, but my wife is proud to show the bird baths, trellises, and rustic
artwork, both wood and steel, that I=E2=80=99ve made. Outside of family
presents, my sister has sold a few things at her green house, so the
respect I gain is well worth the time spent playing.
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Recent Bios FAQ