OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

64293 Joe Keenan <keenan@m...> 1999‑06‑22 Bio - Joe Keenan
Hello all,

Well I guess the time has come.  I've lurked for about 18 months
now, watching and listening.  I cannot believe how much I've
absorbed in that time, it really has been a pleasure.

The pertinent facts:  I live a little south of Boston Mass in a
1883 Queen Anne Victorian.  I'm the proud dad to a three month
old daughter and a 27 month son.  My wife is a third grade teacher.
I work as a systems analyst at a large financial company that deals
primarily in "post-trade" processing, but has it's hand in almost
every piece of the investment pie.  If any of those data points are
familiar to you, then you know that the combination of family, work
and an old home, leave little time for the finer things in life
(aka the stuff I do in the cellar).  On the upside, the thing that
take the biggest portion of my "free" time, my family, is also my
greatest gloat.

I found my way to this hobby as many of you did.  I once worked as
a union carpenter, with my dad.  This was a great experience and I
learned alot.  These years were filled, out of necessity, with some
big bad tools - few old and few powered by me.  But the spark was
ignited and I've enjoyed working with my hands ever since.

Fast forward about a decade.  More school, more career shifts and
here I am shuffling bits for a living.  I still enjoy working with
my father on the DIY projects (ask me about the 25 X 25 "L" shaped
deck, with custom integrated planters and funky hi-tech decking).
I won't be retiring any of the p*w@r... tools, as they are the appropriate
tool for some jobs.  Hand tools have really added to the resources
I can bring to bear on a project.  I now know what sharp is, and what
a sharp hand tool can do.  Hand tools have really added alot of
enjoyment to the smaller projects;  oak credenza, oak pendulum cradle,
walnut silver chest, birds eye maple keepsake box . . .
My dovetails are fair at best, but look somehow better than the ones
I used to make (wearing eye and ear protection).

Sorry for the ramble - get that stream of consciousness going and who
knows what will happen.  Thanks to all who have given the great advice,
I've been quietly listening over here in the corner.  Thanks to all
I've dealt with in the past, you've help add a lot of iron to my
shelves.

-Joe Keenan

  Keenan           JLKeenan
    @                 @
MassEd.Net      StateStreet.Com



Recent Bios FAQ