I was pleased that Charlie Driggs' Galootaclaus package arrived without
being caught in any of the weather fromthe state of credit card companies
to the state of confusion (and wild fires).

There was a Veritas plane kit snuggled under the other goodies. I'm not
sure how he knew I had machinations to build a plane. In addition to having
all the geometry and hardware worked out, I am curious to try one of the
Veritas O1 blades. This kit is intended for a 'bevel up' application. I
tend to associate upward facing bevels with low-angle planes (hands
wringing). This report has taken so long I should have had the plane done
by now...but I do not.
(Plane kit) http://zengrain.com/?attachment_id=1620

I've been eyeing one of those lineman bags for years after I saw a
photographer hang his camera accessories from his tripod. I also may turn
it into my 'whatever project I'm working on tool catch-all', which my
workbench will appreciate. I finally found the badge stashed in there too!
Some classic Galootacana to go with my Andy Andersen wooden nickle!
(badge) http://zengrain.com/?attachment_id=1622

Aprons have greatly improved my life. Before I started making metal chips,
I'd never worn an apron in the shop. Because every machinist I've seen
wears an apron (or cover-alls) I got one to keep the metal chips and oils
off me. What an epiphany! Ever since, I've been an apron advocate, even in
the kitchen. At some point I realized that there isn't a perfect apron for
every task. My cotton ones are fine for some things but grab wood shavings
and chips. So the included smooth nylon apron is going to be my woodworking
apron. It has a very interesting combination of pockets, likely there's a
spot for my 6" combination square.

Surprisingly, I don't have a single Stanley butt gauge, until now. A very
solid No. 95 will be added to the metrological pantheon.

One of my go-to tools in the shop is a white crayon pencil (the paper
tear-off kind AKA china marker) but they always are too thick, smushed, or
the tear-off fails in some Murphy-esque way. This pencil sharpener solves
my problem. Perhaps it was intended to be a novelty but as the image shows,
this swinging blade style is gentle enough to sharpen crayon pencils.
(sharpener) http://zengrain.com/?attachment_id=1619

I don't know how, but those awl hafts fit my hand so well, my other one had
some damage and the jaw slips.

About every 2 months I think to myself "I'm going to sew a batch of denim
tool rolls". Still hasn't happened but one appeared by holiday magic!

(Everything above) http://zengrain.com/?attachment_id=1621

Not pictured some Lutz file handles. Most people say 'you can never have
too many clamps' I'd say the same applies to file handles.

Thank you very much Charlie for brightening up the holidays and to the
tradition of Galootaclaus!
Brian Rytel