OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

172975 "Jeff Heisz" <jeff.heisz@x...> 2007‑09‑13 Long Time Lurker Bio
(Trying again, first disappeared into theinternet ether. Apologies if it
reappears)

Ok, I need to ask a question of the list (nextmessage) and so I feel I
should post a bio (beenmeaning to do it for a long time, so here goes).

Hi, my name is Jeff Heisz (no, not that Jeff, seebelow). I'm a 40+
individual who by day managesa software development team as part of
a set ofcompanies and by night/weekend I'm a home renovator (mine)
and woodworker. Located in Toronto. I have a very understanding
SWMBO and two GIT's, who are soon going to be old enough to promote
to galoot status.

I would have to classify myself as the ultimate lurker. So much so that
I've sank below the muck and now reside somewhere in the sewers below
the porch. If I estimate correctly, I've been lurking for almost 20
years. Now before you tell me that's not possible, since the list was
started in around 1996, I'll admit you are correct. But I was a lurker
when everyone was originally on rec.woodworking. I livedvicariously
through others (since I was a poor graduate student) reading the
adventuresand discussions on the list of people like Spokeshave and
Odeen (I can remember when Odeengot his first planes from Patrick).
Heck, I'm even a long-time lurker on Patrick's tool list(customer number
23, even though I've neverbought anything, just drooled and watched his
kid grow up).

Sometime around '94, I lost my newsfeed. When I got it back again,
everyone had disappeared (a common netnews occurence once the signal to
noise ratio grows). It took me a while to find the old-tools list. Then
I had to get over everyone directly telling me things I already knew
(thanks to my namesake).

Anyways, due to purchasing homes that need extensive renovation, my tool
c********n is somewhat focussed on that side of things. So, yes, I have
rat-tailed devices. I also have the most miserable luck at
getting/finding old non-tailed tools. In my family tree there
werewoodworkers and blacksmiths, but a couple ofgenerations ago it was
all sold off. In 15+ years of garage and estate sales, I haveaccumulated
one Yankee 130A (screwdriver, Jeff, see how weird that is?), two
unremarkable Stanley braces and some bits and a #7 jointer plane (which
itself came in bits and piecesover an 8 year period!). I actually have
more older p***r tools than hand tools.

I can't even resort to that horrors of horrors electronic auction site,
since software work Idid in the valley during the Web 1.0 boom andbust
led to a personal lifetime ban from that site.

On the positive side, I do have a very understanding SWMBO (she
tolerates drywall dust) who didn't even blink when it was declaredthat
there was no way a car was going into thegarage of our latest house.
And I now live within biking distance of a Lee Valley tools store where
most of the staff know me by name. So I have lots of tools (although
their planes are out of my budget) and I've done lots of woodworking at
their seminars.

I have no particular specialty. I've done large case/cabinet work,
furniture, custom built-ins, sign and figure carving, turning and toy
making. I'm also equally at home watching Norm or Roy.

Ok, I think that's enough for now. Sorry for the long-windedness, that's
one of my weaknesses in e-mail.

jmh

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Recent Bios FAQ