Thread: Never Underestimate a Number 5

I guess I was hoping that someone might also share a tool story!
I love my tools. I have some that I bought when I was ten years old. They have stories and they have been good to me. Am I the only one? They behave differently when boatbuilding: they are out of their comfort zone. I knew I was unusually attached to my tools, but I thought there might be a few other tool loonies (as opposed to loony tools) out there somewhere.....

Calling all tool loonies

Sounds like your heart nearly stopped with that block fell.

I've broken a plane that way.

Wooden floors definetly seem like a good idea. We have them at work (patched with ply where trollys have fallen through). And my boss says when he gets a place setup of his own he'll get wooden floors too. Easier to walk on and all that.

But, I get a new shed recently, and I had to go for cement. And if I had to work on it, I don't think I could move as quickly, because at the rate I like to work, I'm always dropping things.

So, in a attempt to protect my tools, I've got carpet layed over half of the shed (just remanents I picked up free) and the stuffs just brilliant. Now feel carpet on cement, is better than timber, because I can drop things all over.......I can flip what ever I'm working on too, straight onto the floor without thought. Carpets soft. easy to walk on....and I don't slip. The floors at work that get real polished, and they get slippery.

I like #5's too. The size mostly. The one I use predominately is the #10. Lot of rebates to clean up at work.

I've got a #4 too you'd have a laugh at. ........Once I needed to smooth a concave shape, and I had this old beatup plane. So got the belt sander out. Clamped it up in the vise inverted, and lapped the nose and rear of the planes sole. I used it today actually on this wardrobe I'm doing up for the misses. Getcha a pic if you like. Worth a laugh.

My workshop has a concrete floor which I found to be very tough on the legs. I managed to get some 1 metre square by 20mm thick sheets of rubber which interlock together and have laid these throughout. They were a dreadful colour of pink which presumably was why they were cheap. The bonus is that anything dropped, tools or product, bounces nicely.
..
Rhys

Originally Posted by rob540

I knew I was unusually attached to my tools, but I thought there might be a few other tool loonies (as opposed to loony tools) out there somewhere.....

Calling all tool loonies

So Rob you obviously missed the thousands of silent nods of understanding from all of your fellow tool tragics. Yep my current favourite is my veritas block, BTW have you seen the new range phew nice.

I also use carpet on the concrete, well I think its still there under all the other stuff.

Cheers
Mike

Now we're cooking...Thanks Apricotripper,Mike and Rhys, I no longer feel quite so strange. We've got concave #4's, we've got pink rubber mats and a Veritas fetish, but best of all, I'm not the only one with a messy floor. Bliss.

OK I'll share my most recent love affair...wasn't going to mention (share) it, but I bought a Ryobi "one" system re-chargable circular saw, 18v battery and small router, and if you work marine ply or want to cut fair lines in thin material or want to rout one handed at impossible angles this stuff is just magic. The one battery goes onto whichever tools you buy. These are cheap Chinese tools (I'm normally not interested in these), but if you accept and work within the limits of the charge, they are just the bees neez. The saw kerf is very thin, so you can curve, do drop cuts all with one hand otherwise engaged. I cut all my 9mm bulkheads and hull planking with these tools. Hardly had to plane the panels at all, the cut is so good. Haven't touched a jig saw at all. There, I've confessed.

Originally Posted by rob540

There, I've confessed.

Go in peace my son

Hmm......cordless. I'm about to start a glued lap day sailer a cordless saw and router sounds just the go.

How does the timmer perform I didn't know there was such a thing cool. How much

Originally Posted by rob540

. We've got concave #4's, .

oh, ya weirdo

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

Hmm......cordless. I'm about to start a glued lap day sailer a cordless saw and router sounds just the go.

How does the timmer perform I didn't know there was such a thing cool. How much

There isn't a timer, it's just that the battery has a limit how long you can cut. I'd do a few panels or something, then put the battery back on the charger while I fitted them, that way I've always got power...best battery life comes from running them right down before re-charging, but I'd rather work flat out in the few times available and not worry about that.
The bonus for me is that my place is completely solar powered so electric tools cost me virtually nothing to run or re-charge. In fact I can say that my boat is being built by solar power and will sail by wind power.

I've used these tools more than I ever imagined I would- but you don't go expecting them to cut through 2x4's or heavy stuff.
Just re-read your post Mike- trimmer? sorry. The router is quite powerful again, on thin stuff. Cut lovely holes in 9mm, nice round over on edges, flush trimming etc AND NO CORD tangled around your ankles taking your mind off the job in hand.

Originally Posted by rob540

There isn't a timer, it's just that the battery has a limit how long you can cut.

you say timmer, I think timer, you mean trimmer..we get there in the end.

OK Darce you owe us a tool story...Fire away cobber

Originally Posted by rob540

you say timmer, I think timer, you mean trimmer..we get there in the end.

OK Darce you owe us a tool story...Fire away cobber

I wondered what you were talking about "timer" huh didn't see my typo. I was referencing small cordless router thingy and I agree Darce post a story ya smart$ss.

Mike

Fair 'nuff. I guess you want a tale of woe, so I'll tell you about my first heavy power tool purchase.

A 7 1/2 horsepower 3 phase radial arm saw. Used of course. So used that the cradle was cracked and there was about 5mm of twist at the axle, but a trip to an alli welder fixed her up just fine. Got her all tuned up and running smooth as you wish on the arm, made sure it tracked true - no worries.

Built a new table for it to fit in with the workshop (I make all my machinery tables the same height as work benches). Luverly job it was, with folding infeed and outfeed tables with levelling screws and an inset measure along the apron and all.

Not to waste time feeding any small stuff into it, I grabbed a 3" x 5" hunk of jarrah which was begging to be shorter. I placed that sucker and measured off three inches - so I could confirm accuracy when cut.

It was a bit of a bugger, because I had to look around the saw to sight the measure, but I managed. (Can you see what's coming?)

I pushed that 20", 7 1/2 hp wood muncher into the jarrah and all hell broke loose.

My lovely apron with the inset measuring tape bounced off the saw's column and if it wasn't for the saw, would've smacked me fair in the teeth. Instead it merely bounced off my shoulder. I found the jarrah piece in the rafters of the workshop.

It's nice to have all the shiny tools. Even nicer to know how to use them. I make a point now of always asking for the correct use of every new tool I buy.

Speaking of which.... how does one align a 1750kW lazer?

in the catagory of "Thats not a saw, this is a saw" and the safe work procedure should read, Body armour to be worn at all times.

Good one
Mike