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When I signed on last week I did see that a short bio was requested, but =
then FS Monday started up and I've been in a whirl of old tools, e-mail, =
lust, and lowering savings account numbers ever since. :) Then I saw =
another galoot (I'm not gonna ask, I'm gonna figure it out from context) =
stepped up to do his duty so I thought that some of the handful (okay =
make that double handful) of people that I've been recently =
corresponding with and pestering with boucoup questions about their =
tools would at least be mildly interested in knowing a little about the =
pesterer.
I'm a long time hand tool woodworker who has lived mostly in the boonies =
of the not-too-famously-well-known-for-old-tools Rockies. Until last =
week, I didn't know much about the trade in old tools. I've mostly made =
do (read cursed and fumed while using) with what I can find on the new =
tool mail-order market. Not good enough.
I'm a doctoral student now (don't let that confuse you about my age) in =
(get ready for this earth-shatteringly practical field) philosophy at =
the University of Texas at Austin. Mostly Ancient Philosophy, so my =
interest in things old comes naturally. Actually, I'm just a teacher. =
It's one of the only other things besides working wood by hand that I =
can work up some passion about.
In the past, and there's been plenty of it, I've been a carpenter, =
framer, finish carpenter, remodeler and furniture maker. I've worked in =
(God and Galootdom forgive me) power shops making one-off Stickley =
stuff, Santa Fe style (please don't kick me off the list, I've already =
developed a habit) and regular old upscale cabinetry. I've seen the =
other side of the force and it ain't pretty. On my own, I do a lot of =
slow hand-making of whatever strikes my fancy. Mostly Shaker for the =
lines, and whatever looks like interesting joinery to try. While I am =
currently living a vow of poverty which includes student housing (sigh) =
while in school, I do most of this on my balcony (big sigh) and my =
walk-in closet has very few clothes in it, but plenty of tools. (You =
don't exactly have to dress to the tee's to go to graduate school and =
teach college.)
I've only been on the list for less than a week, but I have already =
learned quite a few things that Aldren Watson, Michael Dunbar, or my own =
experience hasn't taught me. The porch seems like a great place to =
learn, and I'm big on learning. Don't expect me to pipe in too often in =
the presense of such sage, hoary-bearded hosts as those I've happily =
stumbled over here on the porch; but if there's something I can offer =
from my humble experience, I'll only be too happy to oblige.
Thanks for contributing to something like this, all. I'm at least one =
frustrated and lonely would-be galoot/neanderthal that has found a nice =
home attached to this porch.
Phil Hopkins
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