Well, I am going to give this another whirl. Not a computer expert by
any means.
Texan by birth and a Minnesotan as a result of SWMBOs job change.
Optimist by choice.
I have been a farmer, a rancher, a carpenter, an estimator, a gold
miner and a multitude of things that I cannot remember. After all
these years with a hodge-podge of careers I finally find that I am an
insurance adjuster. I just got home from two and a half years in LA,
MS and FL. However I have decided that when I go to the big workshop
in the Sky that I want to be remembered as a carpenter.
Grew up with a father challenged with dull saws.It did matter that
they were corded or hand saws they were always dull. The hand saws
would take for ever to cut through a board and the corded saws  would
burn the board in two. I suppose that is where part of my optimism
comes from.
As soon as my feet could reach the clutch and brake pedals on a
Farmall M I was driving and as soon as I weighted enough to turn the
crank start on the tractor I was on my own.
It really makes no sense, but I have a hard time passing up a Disston
of any kind. I like pairs, crosscut and rip. I seem to go for the skew
backs as that is the type I remember best.
I look for Type 11 Stanley's, again without a good reason, all over
the country. Although I pick up Stanley's as a preference I cannot
discriminate against a good honest Fulton or Sargent.
I have any number of braces without discretion. I have something of a
love affair with Miller Falls hand drills and any framing square.
I was fortunate enough to find an estate sale some years ago of an old
contractor. He had a full set of Audells, a variety of the DeltaGrams
and a set of American Technical Society manuals. Having read them I
can now understand how a framing square works and estimate  plaster on
lathe ceiling with Cornish neither of which has brought me fame and
fortune. This last weekend I added a fine Stanley mahogany level with
brass fittings.
So it goes, I will continue to lurk, add my comments as fitting and
find a catchy quote to add to my signature.
John
------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Welcome, John
  2-1/2 years on the Gulf Coast and you return to 
Minnesnowta in the dead of winter....brrrrrr!!!
Sit down over here next to the wood stove and have
a cup of mulled cider.  Sounds like you're well on
your way to assembling a starter set of hand saws,
Planes, braces, etc...now about those type 11s...
you really don't want them....there's other types
that are lots better....but I tell ya what, just
so you don't think you wasted your time...send 'em
to me and I'll not tell anyone you had them ;-)
Charlie Rodgers
Clinton, Maryland

... Snip per the FAQ of John's bio
> I just got home from two and a half years in LA, MS and FL.
> I have a hard time passing up a Disston of any kind.
> I look for Type 11 Stanley's, 
> I have any number of braces without discretion. 
> I have something of a love affair with Miller Falls hand
> drills and any framing square.
> John
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome aboard John!

We in Minnesota like to think that most people are here by choice, since 
there are so many other warmer places to live.

And you HAVE to be an optimist to enjoy the below 0 (below -20 C for the 
rest of the world) weather.

I can't imagine what it takes to spend three years looking at hurricane 
damage and trying to place a $$$ on the parts of peoples' lives that were 
lost.

Good news, the Disston pickings seem to be pretty good if you look in the 
junk shops.  I keep having more than I like to admit follow me home, to be 
hidden from LOML.

Drop by if you are in the neighborhood, and I can show you what I know about 
applying sharp to the edges of saws (won't take long).

It's been too cold on the porch all week--everyone's around the stove in the 
shop.  Pull up a stool, throw another plane body on the fire, and make 
yourself comfortable.  Coffee's about done, only cooked for 3 days.

Walt Cheever
Trying to find things to occupy his mind other than air being exported by 
Canada.

*****************
John introduces himself....

Well, I am going to give this another whirl. Not a computer expert by
any means.
Texan by birth and a Minnesotan as a result of SWMBOs job change.
Optimist by choice.
I have been a farmer, a rancher, a carpenter, an estimator, a gold
miner and a multitude of things that I cannot remember. After all
these years with a hodge-podge of careers I finally find that I am an
insurance adjuster. I just got home from two and a half years in LA,
MS and FL. However I have decided that when I go to the big workshop
in the Sky that I want to be remembered as a carpenter.
Grew up with a father challenged with dull saws.It did matter that
they were corded or hand saws they were always dull. The hand saws
would take for ever to cut through a board and the corded saws  would
burn the board in two. I suppose that is where part of my optimism
comes from.
As soon as my feet could reach the clutch and brake pedals on a
Farmall M I was driving and as soon as I weighted enough to turn the
crank start on the tractor I was on my own.
It really makes no sense, but I have a hard time passing up a Disston
of any kind. I like pairs, crosscut and rip. I seem to go for the skew
backs as that is the type I remember best.
I look for Type 11 Stanley's, again without a good reason, all over
the country. Although I pick up Stanley's as a preference I cannot
discriminate against a good honest Fulton or Sargent.
I have any number of braces without discretion. I have something of a
love affair with Miller Falls hand drills and any framing square.
I was fortunate enough to find an estate sale some years ago of an old
contractor. He had a full set of Audells, a variety of the DeltaGrams
and a set of American Technical Society manuals. Having read them I
can now understand how a framing square works and estimate  plaster on
lathe ceiling with Cornish neither of which has brought me fame and
fortune. This last weekend I added a fine Stanley mahogany level with
brass fittings.
So it goes, I will continue to lurk, add my comments as fitting and
find a catchy quote to add to my signature.
John

------------------------------------------------------------------------

John,

Welcome to the Porch.

Every time someone such as yourself pops up on the list, I read the bio and 
think to myself, "Hey, I know this guy." And I don't really know why you 
can't pass up a saw, but neither can I, and I DO understand. Wish I had 
neighbahs like you.

Al Perreault
Wachusett Galoot
Westminster, Massachusetts

> So it goes, I will continue to lurk, add my comments as fitting and
> find a catchy quote to add to my signature.
> John

------------------------------------------------------------------------