Highdesert Splintermaker

DR99: I'm thinkin' I might try this technique with a sturdy pair of BBQ grille tongs. Without fanfare, drum rolls, or any other advanced warning, the element of surprise could be quite a shock.

Tyler: The guy in your video doesn't demonstrate as much follow through as a good golf swing but he sure creates a lot of scrap aluminum and wastes a couple gallons of good beer in under a second!

Just watched that video. Saw the ratchet. The knockout system itself is pretty cool too.

Unfortunately, being honest and forthcoming with all the facts in any profession, soon finds you looking for another career. One great reason (somewhat related to the stuff diapers are often filled with) politicians should be changed frequently.

I'd buy as much of all that stuff I listed under another topic - suggestions for the upcoming 2014 Tool bag. Mostly I'm foaming at the mouth over an 8" benchtop helical jointer and a 13" helical planer. Hopefully Steel City will introduce the jointer I'm looking for this August in Atlanta. The rest of the stuff is pretty much already out there. I just got a pretty good deal (I think) on a 14" band saw. Woodcraft was offering Rikon's model 10-321 for $420 plus $20 shipping plus $55 overweight shipping, plus sales tax. It would have ended up costing me $525 - not too bad, right? But, I called a local tool house specialty store, and they called the manufacturer, and as a result they can have the same saw for me in about ten days for $494 out the door. Keep it local and give the local dealers a chance to compete with the high volume dealers. Most manufacturers will support their reputable smaller local dealers when asked.

I can respect anyone's religious beliefs so long as they don't include the promotion of hostility toward those of other faiths. That's where I tend to draw a pretty clearly definable line. Any religion that would turn its followers against his fellow man, as opposed to defending their right to their own belief and/or offering aid instead of hostility, is simply not a faith worthy of my respect.

Hey! I've just noticed, sometime in the recent past, I've apparently gone from Member to Full Member. Full of what, exactly? Ooopps! On second thought, please... don't answer that!

Damn! THAT is COOL! I have to agree with some of the comments above regarding wood being so close to the hot embers but, I do like the idea of everyone being able to sit around the grill kibitzing (discussing their favorite tools, of course) while cooking their own food. Grill it as you consume it - kinda' like a fondue bar-b-cue. In the interest of both safety and a more hospitable atmosphere, Id like to see the grille itself limited to the raised section in the very center but perhaps a bit larger. The area shown as lower level grille should be converted to a more fire resistant lazy Susan (perhaps with a vertical ceramic back wall) that could be loaded with trays of beef chunks, burgers, dogs, condiments, onions, pickles, spices, utensils & napkins, etc. The third and outer surface, shown in the photo as wood picnic table segments, I'd like to see left stationary and otherwise pretty much as is except for the possible addition of cup holders. I do have to say it appears the execution of a quite unique design, however, is very well done. My respect and admiration for both the unusual design and the professional looking execution.

Well if Bosch doesn't like me for Fathers' Day pretty soon, I just may just have to cross blue off my shopping list. You'd think Bosch would be giving away as much of their basic stuff as possible just to get more of us hooked on the brand and buying more tools and batteries.

Hell, I just may have to consider taking an interest in Milwaukee stuff.

I'm slowly but surely beginning to get the distinct impression Bosch isn't giving away a whole lot of tools.

I just happened to remember that I do have an old Black & Decker Model 7510 Jig Saw. It was given to me by an uncle (now deceased) sometime in the early 70's, I believe - which means it is at least 40 years old. I don't believe it to be older than 1970. B&D's model numbers changed that year. The previous model number for this saw was U153. It is a single speed, 2.4 amp., 1/7 hp unit with a gray metal case and a mostly orange label. An old ad I found online advertised this tool for $12.88. From that ad, and finding another model 7510 jig saw on eBay, I learned this saw originally came in a hinged plastic case with a set of 6 blades. Mine was bare when I got it. And, despite the fact that I have owned a newer jig saw for quite some time, I still use this older one quite a bit. I just dust all the sawdust off after each use, and give it a couple drops of 3in1 now and then. Guess I should check the brushes huh? I just found the two page manual and a parts drawing (PDF files) online and downloaded them.

I just recently bought from Amazon a book called "Great Book of Woodworking Tips." 336 pages, 8- 1/2 x 11, with color illustrations, containing "over 650 ingenious workshop tips, techniques, and secrets from the experts at American Woodworker." It's nicely done and easy enough to digest a few tips at a time. Makes the perfect throne room companion. Another book I thought was excellently done is Terrie Noll's "The Joint Book." It's a complete guide to wood joinery citing both manual and power tool ways to accomplish a multitude of joints - some I never knew existed. It has a covered ring bound spine so the pages will lie flat and the pages are heavy gauge treated paper that will easily wipe clean with a damp cloth.

I got the Dangerous Book For Boys for my oldest grandson a few years back. I honestly don't know what he's done with it but I thought I sure would have found it interesting in my early teens.

Sounds kinda' like the plain sheet of paper the third grade girl turned in to her art teacher. When the teacher asked her why it was blank the little girl said, but it isn't! The teacher looked again and said, I don't see anything, what is it? The little girl said, it's a cow eating grass, of course. The teacher said, I don't see any grass. The little girl said, the cow ate it all. Then the teacher naturally asked, and where is the cow? The little girl said, it went somewhere else to look for more grass!

Actually, regopit, I'm kind glad I asked. Now ChrisK can sleep and I can quit trying to make something out of it on my own.

Pennywise & Conductor: It sounds like both your lives just go to prove that the system isn't always right but, more importantly, that when you pursue what you feel most drawn to, stay with it, and do it well - it pays off. Not in just monetary rewards but more importantly in satisfaction as well. You're right about the cost of a college degree these days. My daughter-in-law had student loans to become a landscape architect. After graduation she spent the next four years working for the State of California paying off most of her student loan debt. She and my son married while they were still in school. About the time her student loan was close to being paid off they started having kids. Six kids later, and she is home schooling them, and just in the last couple years they managed to finally pay off the last of her student loan. My son has a good job with the Ca. Dept. of Corrections.

The sad part about seeing all that Made in China merchandise on American retail shelves is; so many Americans have recently been furloughed from good paying jobs and have to accept lower wages somewhere else just to feed their families. As a result many Americans can no longer afford to buy American made. In essence we have exported our labor and, in so doing, have literally fired a large portion of America's consumer base. So many of us who have personally experienced this, and many others who haven't had a wage increase in years, largely a secondary affect of our ever shrinking job market, can no longer afford to buy American so they have to buy the less expensive imports. I do agree with those who prefer to keep Americans employed by buying Made in US but, on the other hand, so many higher priced products produced by union labor are, I'm saddened to say, of no better quality than many of today's imports. American industry is so focused on today's bottom line they are holding every nickel so close to their eye they can't see a dollar bill five feet away. We need to stop being so tunnel visioned on the bottom line. Easy to say but next to impossible to do. It seems to me that if our federal government really wants to affect our economy in a positive way it has to take a number of steps simultaneously. We need to return American name brand products to being made on American soil. We need to refine our labor market at the top by restoring competition based on skill rather than solely on union membership. We need to refine our labor market at the bottom by insuring every new hire is here legally. I have nothing against immigration - LEGAL immigration. I do NOT believe in rewarding people here illegally with jobs that legal American citizens need. If in fact there are some jobs legal Americans will not do, let new technology fill that gap. Necessity is the mother of invention. Americans developing new technologies to do those jobs also creates jobs for Americans. One of the simplest ways to return jobs to America is to put Americans on the phone in the consumer service centers of American companies. If you've ever tried to solve a technical issue over the phone with HP, OnStar, or any number of other high volume high tech manufacturers, you know what I mean. I do believe that once those steps were taken the minimum or living wage issue could resolve itself.

Chris: From personal experience I can say, an occasional rant is a good thing. If you've read some of my posts on this forum, you already know what I mean. Hold your head up and don't let any venue where political correctness is the rule suggest you do otherwise. You sound like a person of integrity, a quality that is it's own reward and brings peace of mind. Good for you! A lot of those around us, especially those who have little or no ability to do anything with their own two hands, desperately need something to boast about just so they can feel worthy in your presence. In the final analysis we aren't judged by how much and how expensive our possessions are but what we've done with what we have and what God gave us. Keep in mind, never be afraid to make a fool of yourself by simply being yourself because, people who mind don't matter and people who matter don't mind.

I don't know if its just that I'm getting old(er) or what, but most big cities are beginning to affect me the same way.

As an interesting aside, you might want to check out Randal Knives. They have been around since before WWII, I believe, and have custom made knives for a really long time. They aren't cheap and the waiting list is hella long but they are definitely worth waiting for. I don't personally own one but have had coworkers who did and loved them. Thinking about quality knives reminds me of another knife maker - Warthers. It's in the small town of Dover in Northeastern Ohio. The knife works is a family operation located in a museum of all of the founder's train carvings. Conductor, if you haven't been there, once you've eyeballed their website gallery (www.warthers.com), which in no way does the collection justice, You'll want to go see it all yourself - I guarantee it!

CrisK1970: Have my own tour guide to the Boston area. My wife, born and lived in Dedham, spent most of her first 33 in the Boston area. She says yep! the chowda is great but the lobsta is betta.

Regopit: Looks like you've got a pretty fine and nearly complete set of K&E drafting pens and compasses. All that appears to be missing is the lead tube. I have a set of them around somewhere but haven't used them in years. They represent another skill (Drafting) now sadly deceased and long since replaced, first by AutoCAD, and more recently by Google's Sketchup. The square looks like it's seen better days but it's gotta' be s great reminder of their source and those times. Just out of curiosity, what does 'regopit' mean?

Shaken! Not stirred. I guess I wouldn't mind grabbin' that ah... Guiness.

Now THAT"S a cool set of tools.