OldTools Archive

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52182 mike Yazel <myazel@m...> 1998‑10‑25 Bio
Bio: My name is Mike Yazel and I have a very bad case of the Oldtool
sickness. I'm just finishing up a small timberframe woodworking shop at
my house for all of my muscle powered tools. This project was done to
prepare for my next timberframe which is the re-raise of a barn built in
1850. My interest in old timberframes is how I got started into the
hardcore end of oldtools. I cannot stop now and have pretty much quit
trying. I live in the middle of nowhere but do have a lot of farm
auctions in the area that make for good tool picking. My collection
ranges from Barnes velocipede equipment to moulding planes and chisels.
I carved for a living at one time so I have a lot of chisels and gouges
and learned to sharpen them early on. I like many others enjoy the quiet
of working with handtools and am continually amazed at what was and can
be done with them. I love the simplicity that hides a level of technical
understanding the manufactures of the past century had that we have
largely lost today. I hope to pass me love and understanding of these
tools and the skills needed to  use on to my son and daughter so they to
can spread the gospel of the simple ways. I'm lucky in the fact my wife
is a bit of a galoot herself as she spins, weaves and knits. I hoard
tools she hoards wool!
    By day I own a machine shop that makes orthopedic surgical
instruments for joint replacement. I also recently began the "Hoosier
Tool Company" in which I make two infill planes at this time and will be
adding more tools as time permits. I make various "Stanley" screws and
also do repairs such as regrinding warped soles, replacing blades and
such. I also am the local internet provider in my area because it was to
rural for anyone else to come into so I set up and did it myself. I hope
to have some knowledge to offer others in thier quest to master the
tools of those who came before us.



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