Alright. It's about time for me to write a bio and get a little more
active here. My name is Matt Wollnik and I was born in Germany almost 25
years ago. Ended up working in software R&D in the Suburbs of
Minneapolis.

I started getting interested in wood when I started my first job and
began to look for my first real desk. I favor the big desks rather than
what they sell at the office stores and anything like that was way out
of my price league. Figured I could build something usable (i.e larger
and more stable) for less myself. Boy, that was a mistake. I ended up
buying a few crap handtools, some powertools (I still haven't used most
of them other than to turn them on once...appartment living), and a few
sheets of plywood that I had the borg cut to size. After I realized that
all the boards were really misshapen and I had to recut them all on all
sides with my new (i.e. useless) handsaw, I stacked everything away. :)
Ended up buying a Steelcase desk (big, metal, heavy,...) for $15 at a
closing store.

I put together a few small projects around the house with the
plywood...not sure how they're still standing.

Along the way I found the Wreck. That led to the Pond. And that led
here. Now I can't seem to stop myself from searching ebay and spending
way to much time at garage sales. I've started putting together some
basic user tools and building ones that I can. I seem to be working on
the bottom feeder range here. Still, I couldn't help myself when I saw
the LN adjustable la-block at woodcraft or the Knight coffin smoother
someone was selling. :)

Still haven't given in to the temptation of trying to put together an
infill kit or building one from scratch, but if Shepherd Tool comes out
with a shoulder plane kit I may just cave in immediately. Does anyone
have a source for shoulder plane blades? Making my own is not an option
since carpet burns to easy.

Slowly, I'm starting to (think about) replace(ing) those nailed-together
pieces. Slowly, since that would take time away from the tooling part.

Matt
--
  Matthias Wollnik email: mwollnik@a...

Hey Bruce,

Welcome aboard!  Good to hear you are getting out more (-:

Regards,

-- 
Bill W.
Woodworkers visit me at:
http://Highland_House.tripod.com

Bruce Love wrote:
> 
> Alright, it is time to get this over with, I have been putting off
> sending in a bio for way too long - so I'll try to keep it short and
> to the point.  My name is Bruce Love and I am a 40 year old software
> engineer.  Currently, I live right outside of Doylestown in beautiful
> Bucks County, PA.  I have been lurking on and off for a number of
> years, but for the last year I have been keeping up pretty regularly
> so it is time that I fess-up and come out from behind the bushes.
> 
> I stumbled into Galootism, mostly out of a love of both history and
> "cool old gadgets." To keep this short, the biggest contributors to
> pushing me over the brink of the slope are (in order): seeing some
> "really cool looking wooden planes" during my first trip to
> Williamsburg, a purchase of "one of those planes" at an anteek store
> sometime later, discovery of a copy of Dunbar's "Restoring, Using
> and Tuning Classic Woodworking Tools" at my local library (kudos
> to Howard County, MD for that) and, watching St. Roy (who I
> have really missed in the last four years after moving back to PA
> from MD).
> 
> The arrival of my two GIT's (now 3 and 5), along with moving back to
> SE PA (where I grew up), were a big drain on my time for a number of
> years - but now I find myself again dreaming about tools that I still
> wan...err...need and the projects I will probably never really get
> around to building with them. This summer has been fun because my
> GIT's (particularly the older one) have enjoyed hitting local  garage
> sales with me.  Flea markets, on the other hand, still seem to be a
> little too much for even a five year old - "Dad - How many more tables
> are there?  Didn't we look at these tools before?  I'm getting really
> thirsty"...which, when rectified, creates another problem since the
> "potty" (WC, Jeff) is never anywhere near by.
> 
> Anyway my interest is primarily user tools (I keep repeating that to
> myself over and over and over and over), but by Porch standards my
> "collection" is a still a rather meager mixed bag.  When I started
> out, I was pretty much just into woodies - but I do like the #4 and #5
> I recently picked up.
> 
> One of the problems with hanging around the porch is that the more I
> learn, the more things I recognize and want to buy.  For years I owned
> a Yankee screwdriver (30) with no bits (got it from my wife's
> father) - but I knew nothing about it.  Then I hear lots on murmuring
> about Yankee tools on the porch and suddenly my screwdriver has
> some other "Yankee friends" (but still only one bit...so far).  But, I
> haven't been completely corrupted - I did pass on a (pretty mangled
> up) Perfect Handle screwdriver for $1 this summer.  Just didn't seem
> a direction I was ready to head yet [okay - truth be told I am still
> having second thoughts about why I didn't get it].
> 
> Finally, I want to point out that I also really enjoy hearing
> problems/solutions people have encountered when using their tools.  A
> big part of the fun to me is learning how these tools were originally
> used (and trying to do the same).  In that regard, I think this list
> provides a very good mix.
> 
> bruce love
> 
> - Who actually worked briefly with Bill Webber during my days in
> MD...Hi Bill!
> 
> Archive: http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/archive/
> To unsubscribe or change options, use the web interface:
>     http://galoots.law.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=oldtools

 Well Bill . . .you have a well constructed web site and I admire your wo=
rk.
But I will not visit your site as long as you have the Pop ups. My system
(at my request) will not allow Pop ups or any other forms of spam.=20
=20
Best Regards,=20
Col. Dick Hucker=20
=20
=20
 =20
-------Original Message-------=20
 =20
From: Bill Webber=20
Date: Friday, August 08, 2003 08:46:34=20
To: oldtools=20
Cc: oldtools=20
Subject: [oldtools] Re: Bio=20
 =20
Hey Bruce,=20
 =20
Welcome aboard! Good to hear you are getting out more (-:=20
 =20
Regards,=20
 =20
--=20
Bill W.=20
Woodworkers visit me at:=20
http://Highland_House.tripod.com=20
 =20
Bruce Love wrote:=20
>=20
> Alright, it is time to get this over with, I have been putting off=20
> sending in a bio for way too long - so I'll try to keep it short and=20
> to the point. My name is Bruce Love and I am a 40 year old software=20
> engineer. Currently, I live right outside of Doylestown in beautiful=20
> Bucks County, PA. I have been lurking on and off for a number of=20
> years, but for the last year I have been keeping up pretty regularly=20
> so it is time that I fess-up and come out from behind the bushes.=20
>=20
> I stumbled into Galootism, mostly out of a love of both history and=20
> "cool old gadgets." To keep this short, the biggest contributors to=20
> pushing me over the brink of the slope are (in order): seeing some=20
> "really cool looking wooden planes" during my first trip to=20
> Williamsburg, a purchase of "one of those planes" at an anteek store=20
> sometime later, discovery of a copy of Dunbar's "Restoring, Using=20
> and Tuning Classic Woodworking Tools" at my local library (kudos=20
> to Howard County, MD for that) and, watching St. Roy (who I=20
> have really missed in the last four years after moving back to PA=20
> from MD).=20
>=20
> The arrival of my two GIT's (now 3 and 5), along with moving back to=20
> SE PA (where I grew up), were a big drain on my time for a number of=20
> years - but now I find myself again dreaming about tools that I still=20
> wan...err...need and the projects I will probably never really get=20
> around to building with them. This summer has been fun because my=20
> GIT's (particularly the older one) have enjoyed hitting local garage=20
> sales with me. Flea markets, on the other hand, still seem to be a=20
> little too much for even a five year old - "Dad - How many more tables=20
> are there? Didn't we look at these tools before? I'm getting really=20
> thirsty"...which, when rectified, creates another problem since the=20
> "potty" (WC, Jeff) is never anywhere near by.=20
>=20
> Anyway my interest is primarily user tools (I keep repeating that to=20
> myself over and over and over and over), but by Porch standards my=20
> "collection" is a still a rather meager mixed bag. When I started=20
> out, I was pretty much just into woodies - but I do like the #4 and #5=20
> I recently picked up.=20
>=20
> One of the problems with hanging around the porch is that the more I=20
> learn, the more things I recognize and want to buy. For years I owned=20
> a Yankee screwdriver (30) with no bits (got it from my wife's=20
> father) - but I knew nothing about it. Then I hear lots on murmuring=20
> about Yankee tools on the porch and suddenly my screwdriver has=20
> some other "Yankee friends" (but still only one bit...so far). But, I=20
> haven't been completely corrupted - I did pass on a (pretty mangled=20
> up) Perfect Handle screwdriver for $1 this summer. Just didn't seem=20
> a direction I was ready to head yet [okay - truth be told I am still=20
> having second thoughts about why I didn't get it].=20
>=20
> Finally, I want to point out that I also really enjoy hearing=20
> problems/solutions people have encountered when using their tools. A=20
> big part of the fun to me is learning how these tools were originally=20
> used (and trying to do the same). In that regard, I think this list=20
> provides a very good mix.=20
>=20
> bruce love=20
>=20
> - Who actually worked briefly with Bill Webber during my days in=20
> MD...Hi Bill!=20
>=20
> Archive: http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/archive/=20
> To unsubscribe or change options, use the web interface:=20
> http://galoots.law.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=3Doldtools=20
 =20

Steve Denvir wrote:
> I guess I've been lurking for about a year or two, sneaking in the
> odd post here and there, but I think it's finally time to crawl out
> from under the porch.

Welcome!

> I'm married, with 2 dogs(golden retrievers), and when I'm not in the
> shop, I write TV and radio commercials and print ads. You can see
> the fruits of those particular labours at:
>
> www.itaintrocketscience.ca

I enjoyed that. Mrs Costello's testimonial was the best thing.

Peter Marquis-Kyle
www.marquis-kyle.com.au

don't tell me, it's the shoes...

bill
felton, ca

just say i grew up wearing converse all-stars...

On Wednesday, September 24, 2003, at 10:49 AM, Chuck Taylor wrote:

> Esteemed Gentle Galoots,
>
> I have been lurking under the far corner of the porch
> for some time now, so I suppose it is past time to
> introduce myself.
>
> I live in the great Pacific Northwest, where summers
> are dry and not too hot, and winters are wet and not
> too cold, and life is good.  Douglas Fir is king here.
> Hardwood trees (mainly Western Red Alder and Bigleaf
> Maple) are greatly outnumbered by Douglas Fir, Western
>
> Red Cedar, and Western Hemlook in the woods around
> here.
> That's why Washington is called The Evergreen State.
>
> My roots are in the wood products industry.  My dad
> was a sawyer back in the 1930's and 1940's in a
> softwood sawmill.  In 1945 he bought into a co-op
> plywood mill and operated a lathe for the rest of his
> working years.  Plywood put food on the table when I
> was growing up, so I don't have the same aversion to
> it as some of you seem to.  In fact I make dovetailed
> boxes (handcut of course) for the shop out of plywood
> scraps, and make no attempt to hide the edges.  I
> worked in that very same plywood mill summers and
> vacations while going to college.  I love the smell of
> fresh-cut (or peeled) Douglas Fir.
>
> I served in the US Navy for 20 years before returning
> home 15 years ago.  Too bad I wasn't into old tools
> when I was stationed near Harrisburg, PA.  I now
> make my living trying to break computer software.
> SWMBO and I have been married for 35 years, and we
> have one chick left in the nest.
>
> My earliest woodworking memory is of, as a young teen,
>
> making a box for my dog, a toy fox terrier, to sleep
> in.  I used 1/4-inch plywood with butt joints held
> together by brads into the end grain.  The 5-pound dog
>
> easily destroyed it in short order, discouraging my
> woodworking aspirations for some time. Since then
> I have tended to make things twice as strong as they
> need to be (at least).
>
> I don't get nearly enough shop time, but my most
> recent
> galootish project was to make a shavehorse out of a
> downed maple log.  The legs are maple branches in the
> rough.  It's a bit on the rustic side, but that's how
> shavehorses are supposed to be, isn't it?  How many
> other people have spalted maple shavehorses?
>
> I also run a home for unwed chisels in my
> gar^H^H^Hshop.
> I enjoy sharpening them up nice and mating them to
> new handles I have made. I find it hard to resist a
> $1 socket chisel at a flea market.  I made a nice
> chisel handle last night out of some crabapple wood.
>
> My other manias include my wooden boat
> (mahogany-planked) and celestial navigation (kind of
> galootish in its own way).
>
> I hope you all don't mind if I sit real quiet down
> here
> under The Porch and listen in on the conversation.  I
> learn a lot that way.  Maybe I can even contribute now
> and again.  I learned how to polish brass when I was
> in
> the Navy, and that may come in handy when it's my turn
> to polish the spittoon.
>
> Best regards to Galoots everywhere,
>
> Chuck Taylor
> Stealth Galoot
> Everett, WA, USA
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
> http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
>
> Archive: http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/archive/
> To unsubscribe or change options, use the web interface:
>     http://galoots.law.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=oldtools
>

--- Bill Kasper  wrote:
> 
> just say i grew up wearing converse all-stars...

For all you fans of the other Chuck Taylor of
basketball shoe fame, check out

   http://sneakers.pair.com/taylor.htm

Cheers,

Chuck

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com

Welcome Chuck,

I didn't spot anything in the bio about your making sneakers??

Best Wishes,
Bob

Welcome!

Sounds like we have a Garrett Wade courier...

> I bought my first house last year, but still maintain a 
> residence in NYC where I work and live on weekdays. With a 

On Friday, October 3, 2003, at 10:18  PM, Chris Kuehn wrote:

>  A quick jaunt
> up to Cookes sharpening in York Pa and a wonderful visit with Steve
> yielded knowledge that I own two fairly special saws from the late 
> 1800's
> and very early 1900's, unfortunatly they both have a wave in them that
> destins them to ornament status.
>

Chris:

A wavey saw can be straightened - it just takes light blows with a 
small hammer in the right place.   Todd might weigh in on this

Ed Minch

Hi Chris..
..and welcome aboard.  Regarding Mr. Anthony Seo.  Please don't call him
Anthony, and for gawdsake don't address him as mister... he is already
unbearable as plane ol' Tony!

As for Jerusalem Mills, we'll likely all be there, funny clothes and all!

Regards,

Chris Kuehn wrote:

> Hello Everyone,
>
> My name is Chris and I have a AHEM!, tool problem.  I found this group
> from some of my bretheren at Old Wood working machines.com. I have always
> been interested in working with wood ever since I was 5 years old. I was
> urged to come here after I took two back saws, a 10" disston and a 10"
> richardson, that my dad nearly sold for $1 each at his moving sale when he
> retired last year, and found etchings under the oxidation.  A quick jaunt
> up to Cookes sharpening in York Pa and a wonderful visit with Steve
> yielded knowledge that I own two fairly special saws from the late 1800's
> and very early 1900's, unfortunatly they both have a wave in them that
> destins them to ornament status.
>
> I have mostly old planes and recently aquired a No 7C to complete a whole
> number set of 3-7. I am enjoying this new addiction and have developed a
> bit of a habit for chisels. I have amassed a nearly complete set of
> Stanley 750 chisels with only 7/8, 1 3/4, and 2" sizes remaining. If any
> of you have extra's of this size even if they are not stamped 750, I am
> very interested in purchasing them. Just before the prices went to the
> heavens I was fortunate enough to win a few everlasting chisels on e bay
> as well.  But as others have seen and posted here, there seems to be quite
> a run on these as of late.
>
> I am now 32, ave two beautiful daughters 4 and .5 Years Old. I was born
> and raised in Massachusetts and now reside in NE Maryland. I have grown
> more and more attached to the the woodworking implents of yesteryear Both
> motorized and human powered. My great grandfather owned a saw mill in
> Rhode Island in which he produced the Oak Lathe that was used on 90% of
> the lobster pots made in New England in the days that lobster pots were
> wood. I have always enjoyed the sptries from my dad and Granddad, I
> remeber the mill and the huge circular saw, only the building and memories
> remain.
>
> I have contacted some of you off list and thank you for your help. I have
> been lurking offically as a memeber for a month, and a little more as an
> outsider.  Its time to come out and annoouce my desire to listen and
> learn.
>
> I also have a question, I have a business trip next week to CA and am
> looking for antique dealers or tool dealers to visit in the LA or San Jose
> area.  I was crushed to find out that the legendary Andy Anderson shop (as
> I have salivated over pictures in Mike Dunbars book)is no more. I happen
> to be staying in santa monica while in the LA area...
>
> I have been enjoying all the posts and finding tools in my area, the first
> offical Galoot I hope to meet in person, will be Mr Anthony Seo at the
> Jerusulm Mill function next weekend (its just minutes from my house).
>
> I hope that I am accepted and allowed to dwell on the porch as its become
> a comfortable hangout for me. I also hope that even though I do own some
> power tools I am not shunned, they are old noble machines that have been
> lovingly restored to thier proper glory.
>
> Sorry for the length, thanks for your time.
>
> Regards,
>
> Chris Kuehn - GIT
>
> Archive: http://www.frontier.iarc.uaf.edu/~cswingle/archive/
> To unsubscribe or change options, use the web interface:
>     http://galoots.law.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=oldtools

-- 
Bill W.
Woodworkers visit me at:
http://Highland_House.tripod.com/

At 06:12 PM 10/4/03 -0400, Bill Webber wrote:
>Hi Chris..
>..and welcome aboard.  Regarding Mr. Anthony Seo.  Please don't call him
>Anthony, and for gawdsake don't address him as mister... he is already
>unbearable as plane ol' Tony!
>
>As for Jerusalem Mills, we'll likely all be there, funny clothes and all

Gee Bill, thanks for the warning!

>Chris Kuehn wrote:
> >
> > I have been enjoying all the posts and finding tools in my area, the first
> > offical Galoot I hope to meet in person, will be Mr Anthony Seo at the
> > Jerusulm Mill function next weekend (its just minutes from my house).

Well Mr. Walt Henderson will be be there,  he's on this list although 
mainly in lurk mode.

AND, if you are real lucky, and he remembers what days it is (which I kinda 
think cause I owe him some coin..) you might even get to meet Todd Hughes.

So far the weather looks good.

Tony

                         Olde River Hard Goods
                             350 West Catawissa Street
                               Nesquehoning PA 18240
                                         570-669-9421
               The best old tool store in Pennsylvania!
                     http://www.oldetoolshop.com  

Chris,
The waves in the blades of those saws can be pretty easy to work out.  The 
quick fix in older days was simply to raise the toe end of the saw up, with 
a block of wood supporting it at the toe, and tap the spine from the 
top--driving the front end of the blade more deeply into spine.  This 
usually tensions the blade enough to straighten it out.  It also explains 
why so many back saws seem to have less depth under the spine at their front 
ends (no--they haven't been sharpened down).

Of course, you can also tap and bend the blade to bring it back into 
alignment.  Perhaps the best way to do this is to remove the blade entirely 
from the spine before working on it.  After removing the handle, this isn't 
hard to do either.  Just grip the blade, upside down, in a vise with padded 
jaws, and tap the underside of the spine (use a piece of hard wood, or a 
well padded pin for this) until the spine is off the blade.  Then straighten 
the blade and return it to the spine.

The best way to keep a good saw in good condition is to use it--not hang it 
on a wall!

Best regards, and welcome to the porch.

Sandy

Chris Kuehn has a couple of back saws:

>  A quick jaunt
>up to Cookes sharpening in York Pa and a wonderful visit with Steve
>yielded knowledge that I own two fairly special saws from the late 1800's
>and very early 1900's, unfortunatly they both have a wave in them that
>destins them to ornament status.
>

Chris,
The waves in the blades of those saws can be pretty easy to work out.  The 
quick fix in older days was simply to raise the toe end of the saw up, with 
a block of wood supporting it at the toe, and tap the spine from the 
top--driving the front end of the blade more deeply into spine.  This 
usually tensions the blade enough to straighten it out.  It also explains 
why so many back saws seem to have less depth under the spine at their front 
ends (no--they haven't been sharpened down).

Of course, you can also tap and bend the blade to bring it back into 
alignment.  Perhaps the best way to do this is to remove the blade entirely 
from the spine before working on it.  After removing the handle, this isn't 
hard to do either.  Just grip the blade, upside down, in a vise with padded 
jaws, and tap the underside of the spine (use a piece of hard wood, or a 
well padded pin for this) until the spine is off the blade.  Then straighten 
the blade and return it to the spine.

An old master cabinet maker in Saybrook, Ct told me about 40 years ago that 
the best way to keep a good saw in good condition is to use it--not hang it 
on a wall!

Best regards, and welcome to the porch.

Sandy

_________________________________________________________________
Share your photos without swamping your Inbox.  Get Hotmail Extra Storage 
today! http://join.msn.com/?PAGE=features/es

> I=92ll probably end up as a hybrid galoot/normite, but my heart will
> always be in the hand-tooling. I think that it=92s the artist in me.
> The tailed apprenticed will do the milling and sizing, but the

I think you'll find that most people here have tailed apprentices.  I=20
think the difference here is that those sitting on this porch=20
actually know how to use a tool that doesn't plug into the wall :-)

I've got power tools, though I have found that I don't need to replace=20
the table saw I sold way back when I moved last time.  More and more=20
I am more and more reluctant to flip a switch, mostly because of the=20
noise, risk and break from the otherwise 'sanctuary-like' nature that=20
woodworking is for me.

=2D-=20
Cheers --- Larry Marshall
Quebec City, QC=20

> That t@b...*s#w does make a nice stand for my MF Langdon mitre box
> though.

....good point, Al.  I'm in the process of organizing a new 
shop, not having had one for over 3 years.  One of the big things I 
notice about not having a table saw is how much space I don't need to 
hold one :-)

Speaking of miter boxes, I need one.  I'm faced, however, with the 
grim reality that they aren't the lightest/cheapest things to ship so 
buying local is really the best solution.

The only non-screaming miter saws I've ever used had a standard 
backsaw as the cutting device.  What I see in stores, however, are 
miter boxes with big hacksaw-like thingies.  Anyone have any opinions 
about these saws and their respective miter boxes?

-- 
Cheers --- Larry Marshall
Quebec City, QC 

Larry asked about them new fangled miter boxes you see in stores today.....

I've got a NOBEX and think its ace.  It's very accurate with a high degree
of repeatability ( the turret has tight detents with a positive lock ).  The
"bow saw" makes for a highly tensioned blade which has very little flex
allowing you to trim extremely small amounts off stock.  It'll actually
accommodate stock larger than my 10" 'lectric chop box ( which has gotten me
out of a pinch more than once ).  It has cleverly placed groves along the
bed which will aid in holding stock "tilted over" so you can do compound
miters ( never actually tried this - but think it would do a pretty good job
).  All this and its a pleasure to use as the noise level is obviously
pretty low.  All and all - very well made.

Incidentally - I got this thing about 10 years ago when I needed to do some
finish trim work at my folks house.  I bought this thing more out of
necessity as at the time I couldn't swing the dough for a decent tailed
miter saw.  Now that I think about it - it's probably that saw that got me
on the hand tool slope ( eventually finding the older variety to be superior
in most instances ).

Oh ya...No affiliation...bla,bla,bla...

Later -
Eric
-_-_