I've been lurking here too long without a BIO and I know 
     I'm gonna stay so here it is. 
        I live in Fredericksburg VA (transplanted from Jersey).  
     I'm an IS professional (used to be Data Processing then 
     Information Technology then Information Management Systems - 
     all the same work) for a government agency that will go 
     unnamed.   Before that I was a photographer (weddings, bar 
     mitzvahs, anniversaries etc.), and I still enjoy it as a 
     hobby.  As a matter of fact, the first project after one for 
     SWMBO will be to start work on a darkroom.  
        I just reached the half century mark but still feel 45.  
     I have a wonderful SWMBO of almost 17 years and a great 11 
     year old SWMBOette.
        I've have been a woodworking wanna-be for a long time and 
     have been watching Norm and his friends on TV for a few 
     years and thought that if you wanted to make a table you had 
     to have a few thousand dollars worth of tailed apprentices 
     and a small barn to put them all in.  All in all, pretty 
     discouraging, whenever I would say that I'm going to start, 
     all I could see was money being spent on machines, electric 
     power, dust collection systems and sound suppression.  
     Pretty soon the urge would die. 
        I've seen hand tools at flea markets and antique shops 
     but thought that they were only for collectors,  no one 
     actually used them.  I really mean that, so needless to say, 
     I was delighted to find this group to realize that I could 
     actually learn to use hand tools to build something.  
     I have a typical Harry Homeowner skill level when it comes 
     to experience ( deck, chair rail, shutters etc.) but since 
     finding this group I've done a lot of reading and now I'm 
     ready to start putting together a real workshop with the 
     only electricity being use for lighting.
        I'll go back to lurk mode now.  I was going to say to be 
     gentle with my first few questions but from what I've seen 
     that isn't necessary.  It's a real pleasure and relief to 
     see how patiently newbies are treated here.

Hi Ray,

>         I've been lurking here too long without a BIO and I know 
>      I'm gonna stay so here it is. 
>         I live in Fredericksburg VA (transplanted from Jersey).  

Funny thing, I used to live in VA and transferred to Jersey.


>      hobby.  As a matter of fact, the first project after one for 
>      SWMBO will be to start work on a darkroom.  

Just be sure to put in a good ventilation system.

>         I just reached the half century mark but still feel 45.  
>      I have a wonderful SWMBO of almost 17 years and a great 11 
>      year old SWMBOette.

>         I've have been a woodworking wanna-be for a long time and 
>      have been watching Norm and his friends on TV for a few 
>      years and thought that if you wanted to make a table you had 
>      to have a few thousand dollars worth of tailed apprentices 
>      and a small barn to put them all in.  All in all, pretty 
>      discouraging, whenever I would say that I'm going to start, 
>      all I could see was money being spent on machines, electric 
>      power, dust collection systems and sound suppression.  
>      Pretty soon the urge would die. 

You have to make alot of furniture to justify the cost of a Normite
shop.  The best I can figure, you a couple grand in tools before you
can make anything with p*w*r t**ls.  You'ld be amazed at what you
can make with a few saws, some chisels and a couple of planes.  You
can spend more but you don't have to.  If you shop carefully, you can
get everything you need (not want) to make some decent stuff for
less than a high end r**t*r.
The other thing you'll notice is that you won't have to make nearly
so many jigs.  These things make sense in production, when you're
doing alot of them, but not for the average user.

>         I've seen hand tools at flea markets and antique shops 
>      but thought that they were only for collectors,  no one 
>      actually used them.  I really mean that, so needless to say, 
>      I was delighted to find this group to realize that I could 
>      actually learn to use hand tools to build something.  
>      I have a typical Harry Homeowner skill level when it comes 
>      to experience ( deck, chair rail, shutters etc.) but since 
>      finding this group I've done a lot of reading and now I'm 
>      ready to start putting together a real workshop with the 
>      only electricity being use for lighting.

You might want to use a little electricity for AC, it gets hot in
VA, I remember.  One word of caution, there is a strange disease
on this site called "COLLECTING".  Initial symptoms are "I already
got a #5 but I'll just get a 5C to keep it company."  If this begins
to happen, pray to User Tool Gods for deliverence, because the road
down to collecting is steep and slippery.

>         I'll go back to lurk mode now.  I was going to say to be 
>      gentle with my first few questions but from what I've seen 
>      that isn't necessary.  It's a real pleasure and relief to 
>      see how patiently newbies are treated here.

BTW (that's by the way around here) that "irs.gov" would be THAT
IRS.GOV would it.

Jake Spiller
spiller@b...

I'm just a user. I don't have time to collect.

--
*******************************************************************************
Bear Stearns is not responsible for any recommendation, solicitation, offer or
agreement or any information about any transaction, customer account or account
activity contained in this communication.
*******************************************************************************

Jake Spiller:
> on this site called "COLLECTING".  Initial symptoms are "I already
> got a #5 but I'll just get a 5C to keep it company."  If this begins
> to happen, pray to User Tool Gods for deliverence, because the road
> down to collecting is steep and slippery.

Believe this. Especially the part about the #5. I've only been on this
list for a few weeks. Yet last weekend, I started sliding down this
slope myself.

I was at a flea market with SWMBO. She says, look one of those planes
you like! I say, I already have a #5. But then it starts calling to
me. I look at it. It's in better shape then the one I've been
using. The lateral adjustment is different (better too).

Before I know it, I'm saying, "I could set one rank, and...".

Yep I bought it.

There's still hope, I've actually used both #5's since then, but I
caught myself looking at marking gauges too. Why would I need another?
To set one to each possible setting? Well, then I could get a *lot* of
them...

I may need help.

On a more serious note, I also saw the most cheaply built #5 I've ever
seen. All sheet metal, body, frog, cap and all. It was so awful that
if it had been priced accordingly, I would have gotten it as a bad
example to show people. As it was, the marked price was three times
what I paid for an average #5 (of indeterminate brand, at least to
this newbie, but lots of real cast iron).

Jim Buchanan        c22jrb@d...      jbuchana@e... 
================== http://www.earthcorp.com/jbuchana =====================
"When the stars threw down their spears, And water'd heaven with their
 tears, Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?"
 -Blake
==========================================================================

Jim Buchanan wrote:

> Jake Spiller:
> > on this site called "COLLECTING". Initial symptoms are "I already
> > got a #5 but I'll just get a 5C to keep it company." If this begins
> > to happen, pray to User Tool Gods for deliverence, because the road
> > down to collecting is steep and slippery.
> 
> Believe this. Especially the part about the #5. I've only been on this
> list for a few weeks. Yet last weekend, I started sliding down this
> slope myself.
> 
> I was at a flea market with SWMBO. She says, look one of those planes
> you like! I say, I already have a #5. But then it starts calling to
> me. I look at it. It's in better shape then the one I've been
> using. The lateral adjustment is different (better too).
> 
> Before I know it, I'm saying, "I could set one rank, and...".
> 
> Yep I bought it.
> 
> There's still hope, I've actually used both #5's since then, but I
> caught myself looking at marking gauges too. Why would I need another?

Let's see if I can help (chucle) you here. You'll need one with a pin
for with the grain, one with a knife for against the grain, and one with
two pins (blades) for mortising. Now you can get three and still not be
a collector.

> To set one to each possible setting? Well, then I could get a *lot* of
> them...
> 
> I may need help.
> 
Just keep praying to the User Gods. They'll protect you.

Jake Spiller
spiller@b...

I'm just a user. I don't have time to collect.

--
*******************************************************************************
Bear Stearns is not responsible for any recommendation, solicitation, offer or
agreement or any information about any transaction, customer account or account
activity contained in this communication.
*******************************************************************************