OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

140910 "Christopher J. Scholz" <chscholz@y...> 2005‑01‑21 Bio: Chris Scholz
Galoots,

It all started with SWMBA deciding to remodel the
closet. That was about 4 or 5 years ago. 
We live in a two-bedroom condo in Mid-town Atlanta and
it is amazing how much 'stuff' one can accumulate in a
short time (even without going down the slope). The
idea was to make better use of the space available by
adding shelves, installing shoe racks, moving walls,
etc. Sure, we could have gone to the BORG just a few
blocks away, purchased a pre-manufactured
wire-frame-type closet organizer, installed it in a
few hours and moved on to other activities. Well, we
turned the other way. Did some research, various
design studies and kicked off a new project. Soon we
discovered that electron-burning tools are of very
limited use in confined spaces like condominiums (for
all the known reasons: noise, dust, etc.) and that's
how it started... 
What tools is concerned, we started from scratch
(except the ubiquitous monkey wrenches, that will
hardly count as woodworking tools). Some 'legacy'
tailed tools  from the BORG, a no-name #4 'made in
India' from Harbor Freight as well as a set of
chisels; back saw, rip saw, #9 1/2 from the BORG,
stuff like that. Little did I know about old tools in
general and this on-line forum in specific. 
It my not be a good idea to start with sub-par tools,
but it has been a good learning experience.
Understanding the limitations of such tools and
developing the basic motoric skills, learn for example
how to sharpen blades, gradually improve and slowly
reaching the somewhat self-imposed limitations has
kept us somewhat true to the original goal. And then,
when 'graduating' from the old tool, one can truly
appreciate the improvements. Bought a Ron Hock blade
recently, what a difference! 
And there was a trip to a 'small town' (about 300k
residents) in the middle of China (SWMBA is Chinese).
Picked up a few tools (set of hand-forged chisels
without handles, bowsaw, wooden smoothing plane with
wrong blade, spokeshave) at a street market. Nothing
fancy, probably  good users in the hands of a skilled
woodworker. 
Also a trip to a 'small town' (about 2k residents) in
Southern Germany (I am German, please excuse my bad
English). Picked up an old wooden jointer that my
father must have bought many years ago (I can't
remember seeing him ever using it. Looks like an ECE
or Ulmia plane, double iron, no fancy adjustments).
Also a wooden rabbet plane (ECE/Ulmia style with
adjustable and unfortunately in-operable mouth). 
It is amazing what surfaces when working with wood! I
totally forgot that my Grandfather, Helmut-Otto
Hoffmann-Schlöndorf, made a living as a sculptor and
stone-cutter working mainly in wood, stone and cast
bronze. A pity that I never had the opportunity to
learn much from him. 
What else? Spent much of my life collecting academic
degrees (Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace
Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering,
pretty much reached the bottom of THAT slippery
slope). Partially financed my various degrees as
photographer, got some local fame playing woodwind
instruments. Worked in high-tech industry in Santa
Barbara, San Francisco, Albuquerque, Atlanta, shot
electrons through thin air (or copper 'pipes')
converting electrons into photons and and back again
(neither electrons nor photons are hurt in the
process!). SWMBA, Prof. in Indiana, working with stuff
on the femto/atto-inch scale (nano-meter scale, Jeff).

I short, it is good to be part of OT! I have learned a
lot already just by listening and look forward to many
more exciting and stimulating discussions.

Chris in Atlanta, GA

		
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Recent Bios FAQ