OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

153080 Patrick Olguin <paddyolguin@y...> 2005‑12‑05 Bio (Update)
Well Ummmm let's see...

Ten years ago Tom Bruce and I (along with some charter members like Ralph
Brendler, who have carried the torch much higher and further than most of us
have over the years) founded this list.  Since then I have founded a company
(shellac.net), sold a company (same), got deevorced, changed jobs twice, moved
to Ahiya for six weeks (in 2001), came back to Californy, got remarried,
reassembled a working set of Galoot tools (toys), have a bun-in-the-oven and
have been madly working on rennovating the bedroom of a 80+-year old
Spanish-style bungalow in an attempt to get it ready for the next Whittier-area
GIT to burst forth upon the scene (sheduled release date - Jan 2006).  Major
tool gloats from this year would be hardly earth-shattering, but SWIATAABOC did
manage to pick up a nice Disston D-15, which I bragged about, tried to sell and
have now decided that it's not so precious that I couldn't put it to use in
cutting 2x4's to size for this project (less than 7 weeks remain for to
complete it).  I also bagged a type-2 Workmate, which has been essential to the
ongoing remodel.

Galoot remodels are pretty satisfying.  Nothing beats a brace for driving large
screws into old, hard studs.  And of course, basic framing is is an opportunity
to swing a 28oz. framing hammer while whistling my favorite railroad song.  I
have found that hearing protection to conserve one's hearing against the
assault of mallet/hammer impacts, is an underutilized Galoot safety measure,
and I highly recommend it.  One challenge I've enjoyed meeting is the need to
perform basic galoot tasks ambidextrously, owing the nature of performing basic
DIY tasks in a closed space.  Working a plane or saw with my non-dominant hand
has been essential to avoiding standing on my head to drive a nail or trim a
window opening.

The most surprising Galoot-like tool used in this process has been a nice
leather 12-pocket tool belt.  This the tradesman equivalent of a workbench.  I
don't know how I ever did so much DIY stuff (Galoot or otherwise) without one. 
Yeesh.  It's the little things that count. ;)  It's perhaps not as thrilling as
fitting a rabbet on a lapstrake boat.  Ironically, fitting-up the hardware
acoutrements for one's house el*ctr*c*al wiring involves a lot of quiet,
satisfying handwork. 

Paddy
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Recent Bios FAQ