Friends,
I want to share a delightful experience that I had last Saturday (Sept 30, 2006). A while back, Ray Pine let me know of a meeting what would be happening near Harrisonburg, VA. Ray told me that the folks are nice and the food is great, and there would be lots of tools that dont have electrical cords coming out of them. It was a meeting of the Shenandoah Valley Tool Collectors. Not having any enormous problems to solve last Saturday, I set out at 6AM to find my way to the Ruritan Hall in Mt. Crawford, VA. Luckily they provided a map.
When I arrived in the cold morning drizzle, I needed a coffee. When I tried to pay for the coffee, I was told that the coffee, doughnuts and snacks were included in the $8 that I had paid for lunch. Wow!. A shock to my system. I have spent too much time in Washington, DC.
I went over to the shed where there were about a dozen antique tool sellers who had each paid $5 for a table. As I approached each table, I got a warm greeting. It seemed like everyone was more interested in making friends than in selling tools. I dont think that anyone got rich selling tools there that day, but they did have a lot of fun.
Then the meeting started in earnest. I learned that the Shennandoah Valley Tool Collectors is not a formal group, and there are no dues, and the speaker asked our forgiveness for having to charge $8 for lunch and to defray the expenses of renting the hall. I felt like I was in another world. (Actually I was, and I loved it.)
For the most part, these folks are tool collectors, and not woodworkers. There must have been about 15 wifes there, and they were almost all quilters. (There is a quilt museum in Harrisonburg). The meeting proceeded with everyone telling a little about themselves. Of course, some of the irrepressible folks couldn’t stop at “a little bit”. I enjoyed that session thoroughly. I believe that almost all of them have known each other for a long time.
Then they had a contest for the best tool display. We all got a slip of paper and voted for our favorite. There were no real prizes – just the pride of knowing that folks liked your display.
Then the highlight – Bill Good demonstrated the use of the Stanley #45 and #55 planes. He got a workout, and I learned an immense amount. When it was over, you had seen how a skilled person really can use one of these complex planes. I asked Bill how he sharpens regular planes. He showed me his oilstone, which had been his father’s. He just puts some kerosene on it and hones. His planes cut very nicely.
Then Mrs. DePoy’s lunch was served – barbeque, beans, slaw and potato salad. She is one great cook!
So why am telling you all of this? I’d like you to have a chance to enjoy the company of this great group of folks. The Shenandoah Valley Tool Collectors didn’t ask me to post this message, and they don’t know I am doing it. Their next meeting will be on March 24, 2007 in Broadway, VA. If you are interested, here are some email addresses you can contact.
Jim DePoy, [email protected]
Vaughn Simmons, [email protected]
Bob Roger, [email protected]
If you don’t believe my word that this was a fun day, ask joinerswork.
Enjoy,
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Replies
Mel,
Thanks for the reminder that most of us live in two worlds: the world that lets us put food on the table and, if we're lucky, a world that can center us. We need far more of the latter.
Doug
He showed me his oilstone, which had been his father's. He just puts some kerosene on it and hones. His planes cut very nicely.
Mel, that just can't be. Everybody knows you can't get a decent edge unless you have a $600 Tormek with a billion grit waterstone and the complete range of Shaptons as a backup.
Edited 10/3/2006 1:27 pm ET by CStanford
LMAO.... I have used a $60.00 Delta high speed 6" grinder and my grandfathers oil stones for 20 years to keep my edges sharp. Based on what I read in Knots, I was just starting to believe that if I didn't spend over a grand on slow speed grinders, water stones, super duper mongo scary sharp systems and high tech jigs, my tools really are not as sharp as I thought, even though they will curl end grain on soft white pine all day.
I'm quite sure that what you've experienced in your shop is a total illusion. You simply cannot get a shaving off end grain with such a primitive set up.
Can't be done.
No doubt, I must have taken the blue pill....
CS,
No, no it's true...all you really need is an old oilstone for sharpening when your cutting barbecue. I'll bet that slaw took a shapton....
Mel,
I'm glad you had a good time. Tool collectors are a good bunch of folks for woodworkers to know, they are usually interested in different things about a tool than a woodworker is, so that usable, but common, chisels or planes are offered for sale at a reasonable price to fund their search for exotic makers, rare models etc. Then too, a woodworker can often enlighten a collector on why a particular tool or jig is made or is worn the way it does.
A lot of the Shen Valley group are also members of EAIA or MWTCA (in case you missed the sales pitch!), and have also been bidding against one another at auctions for years, so yeah, they know one another-sometimes too well. Once you are the self proclaimed "axe king of the valley", it is not unheard of for someone to run up a bid or two at a sale, just to make sure the king doesn't get to great a bargain!
See you at Waterford?
Ray
Ray,
It would have been hard to miss the sales pitches for EAIA and MWTCA. As I was leaving, I was handed one of the magazines and a flyer, and got one final offer of a $10 discount. Mary Beth and I will see you at Waterford. We are discussing which day to go. MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
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