Enough Is Enough

Not so, when it comes to tools.

My wife came out to the barn where I was making some molding for the greenhouse I’m rebuilding. She asked how things were going. Without thinking, I said, “This is the worst twenty minutes in my woodworking life.” I don’t know that to be true, but at the moment it seemed right.

Last spring, a small plastic part in my table saw broke, making the entire saw useless. The saw is forty years old. A replacement part from the manufacturer is not available. I found someone on eBay who was making this part, probably using a 3-D printer. I already have a thing about eBay not being trustworthy, and sure enough, the part lasted about forty minutes, and it was not even being used directly.

I got out my mini table saw, but the blade was not long enough to complete the cut I needed on the piece of molding.

I figured I could cut the last quarter-inch of the board on the band saw. However, the blade on the band saw came off the turning wheels, which has happened maybe three times in forty years. That eliminated the option of a band saw.

Next up, the sawsall. Nope, too much vibration on a forty-five-degree angle.

Handsaw, nope.

I finally finished the cut with a hammer and a chisel. I disproved the quote from Abraham Maslow, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”

Tools I Haven’t Touched in a Long Time

I have a dovetail jig. I haven’t touched it in maybe thirty years.

I have a sailboat, gifted to me. I plan to learn to sail and paint on each of Georgia’s barrier islands.

I have a muffin-top baking pan. I used it a couple of years ago, just to say I still use it.

I have drawing tools that are supposed to help enlarge something by tracing it. I’ve never used them.

I will not part with any of these, however, except maybe the boat if I don’t learn to sail.

This is dovetail jig for making corner joints. Right above it sits a drill press jig for drilling square holes. The only times either of these have been touched in twenty-five years is when I have moved. I plan on using them someday.

I did a lot of charcoal drawing in school. These are kept safe in a nice box for when I’m ready again.

Printmaking supplies, frame-hanging supplies (these get used often, as in a couple of times a year), and bookmaking supplies. I did make some journals with original art covers, which are available, a couple of years ago. I did not mention my guitars, 3 of them. I did get one guitar out a year ago and strummed a bit, lol.

Some of My New Tools

A really nice mixer. I always wanted one. Now I have a Kitchen Aid, with the pasta-making attachment.

An espresso maker with a milk steamer. I bought this used; it is in the repair shop getting a tune-up.

A nice food processor. The old one vibrated right off the counter.

I am looking at a new table saw too.

What’s a Tool?

For me, almost anything I want can be classified into a tool, lol.

If somebody offered me a welding setup, I’d take it, even though I only welded a couple of times in high school. And I definitely do not need one.

What Is Your Relationship With Tools? What Are Some of Your Favorite Tools?

Thank you for being here. I hope you have a great week. Let me know your favorite tools, those you don’t want to live without. How long since you used them?

P.S. I’m still depressed about that plastic part going bad and disabling my table saw. I tried to find the guy on eBay, but he’s gone.