I am 67 years old and live in Austin, Texas with my wife Deborah and one
of my sons who lost his building job in the last economic downturn. I
spent some time in the Army and got out as a captain. I went to law
school, became a prosecutor, trial attorney and then was elected as
County Judge. For the last twelve years I have been the Director of
Customer Protection for the Texas Public Utility Commission. I am
rapidly approaching retirement from public service so I have been
searching every woodworking site to pick the best qualities for a home
workshop. I have shared garages, half the laundry room to an 8 foot by
10 foot outdoor shed to house my woodworking tools over the last 40
years. I am ready for my own space. My love of woodworking began years
ago as my parents had an antique business as a sideline that grew into
store when they retired to Florida. I have been to many tool swaps and
antique markets in Texas on my quest to buy good woodworking tools but I
am convinced that the good tools hit the market on the east coast and
whatever is left over is shipped to Texas. Slim pickings. I had the good
fortune to meet Mark Wells who encouraged me to join the porch and
recommended that I contact Josh Clark. The caliber of the tools I now
can find has greatly improved. I am slowly buying hand planes, hand
saws, gouges, spoke shaves and metal planes that actually work well
without much rehab on my part. I plan to start building a shop in 2013
to be prepared for my new fulltime career in woodworking. I like to
build period furniture and work mainly with walnut and mahogany.
Mesquite is very plentiful in Texas so I have also built some more
modern pieces for my friends, children and relatives. I have also
developed a keen interest in carving as period furniture requires some
carving skills.
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Welcome to the porch Mike and thank you for your service.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Renfro, Mike 
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 11:34 AM 
To: oldtools@r... 
Subject: [OldTools] FW: Bio For Mike Renfro 

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On 11/8/2012 11:34 AM, Renfro, Mike wrote:
> > I  went to law school, became a prosecutor, trial attorney and then was elec
ted as County Judge.

Oh no! Another lawyer!

We're getting thick as thieves - and somehow that expression seems more 
apropos in that context...

hehehe...

Welcome aboard, counselor/your honor. There are several of us recovering 
attorneys here.

- Bill T.
- Recovering attorney
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Mike, welcome. We are the same age and have very similar interests. One of the m
ost useful things I have discovered about the porch is the ability to post  WTB 
notes and tell the porch what you are looking for. More than likely someone has 
an extra.

Sent from Xfinity Connect Mobile App

-----Original Message-----
From: John pesut
To: harperron@c..., oldtools, Mike Renfro
Sent: 2012-11-08 16:44:02 +0000
Subject: Re: [OldTools] FW: Bio For Mike Renfro

Welcome to the porch Mike and thank you for your service.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Renfro, Mike 
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 11:34 AM 
To: oldtools@r... 
Subject: [OldTools] FW: Bio For Mike Renfro 

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Welcome, Mike.  In addition to Josh, there are a number of other 
purveyors of fine tools here, all of whom can be relied upon to deliver 
fine goods.

Ed

On 11/8/2012 12:14 PM, harperron@c... wrote:
> > Mike, welcome. We are the same age and have very similar interests. One of t
he most useful things I have discovered about the porch is the ability to post  
WTB notes and tell the porch what you are looking for. More than likely someone 
has an extra.
>
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On Thu, Nov 8, 2012 at 10:34 AM, Renfro, Mike  wrote:
> > I am 67 years old and live in Austin, Texas   I had the good fortune to meet
 Mark Wells who encouraged me to join the porch

And I had the good fortune to meet Mike Renfro!  As far as I know, you
and I are the only active people on the list from Austin.  A lawyer
and a programmer walk into a swap meet...

Welcome.

Mark
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