Thanks to my very good friend, Anne, my tools are finally off the back deck and inside. The bad news is that they are "inside" of my shop. That does not make me happy. I swore I wouldn't move anything into my shop..... ever. I've kept that promise to myself for 13 years. Several times, I've let some homeless persons move their stuff (and , yes, sometimes themselves, too. ....That's a few other stories) into my house....... my only rule was,
"Your stuff goes somewhere inside the house. It DOES NOT GO IN MY SHOP!" I didn't even care if they stole money from me... which some did. Just "don't take up any of my shop!"
So, you can imagine my dismay when I had to break my own rule and put stuff in my shop. Granted, they are tools. But, they are still taking up space in my one sacred area. So, I'm working as quick as I can to move them all somewhere.... anywhere that it is out of my shop! I'm frantically building makeshift shelving ..... ripping down random pieces of plywood (yes, often cheap plywood!!!!) that can serve as shelves ..... where those shelves will go, I have no idea. Any free wall space is fair game. Currently, in my office where I am sitting, I have six shelves of molding planes behind me, the rest of the wall space is covered with peg board.... accept the alcove my desk is in which is filled with books from desk to ceiling. Of course, important books..... "dictionary, yes.... I still use one, also dictionary of machinist tools, leather working tools, woodworking tools, brace patents, farm implement wrenches, wrenches, British plane makers, American plane makers, antique tool price guides, antique machinery......" you get the picture.
But, as I think about how terribly broke and potentially misguided I am in my love for tools, I have no regrets. I can literally sit in my house, and begin to trace history ..... the tools that created our country .... most of you folks spend time thinking about that. But, your average person doesn't spend a moment thinking about the tools that "built America." It's not a cliche or a PBS show (actually, it might be..) , it's the truth of the matter. I've always been one for truth :)
I can't imagine most of you are still reading this message. But, if you are, I have a new fascination with the various "multi tools." I'm guessing the swiss army knife, leathermen, ect. was the culmination of the "multi tool." But, it seems to have taken many forms before then. I have various "tool handles" that have different tools tucked away in the handle that fit into a chuck. Also, there are the tools that incorporated as many tools as possible without having anything interchangeable in them. I suppose the marketing strategy of coming up with something new hasn't changed over time. The idea of buying several tools in one has always been appealing (after all, isn't that notion how we wound up with socket sets???) . But, my question is has there ever been a "multi tool" that actually made sense and was worth the money?
I suppose I've answered my own question with "multi tools" when it came to sockets ..... one wrench with all the sockets to go with it. But, that is kind of a different beast, in my eyes. .... which aren't always so clear!
Well, I've probably put some persons to sleep, entertained some persons, gave some persons "food for thought...... tools for thought...." and plane old annoyed others...... but, that's your fault.... you kept reading!
I hope everyone is doing well. And, as always, I wish you folks lived next door ..... so many things to unpack and so many tools to talk about!
cheers
jenny bird
