Confession time,, tools that have earned a place in my toolbox all seem to aquire names..
for example I have a square with a rosewood handle that I’ve named rosebud (from the famous line in Citizen Kane)
the chain morticer is Jaws. and the groove cutter is Death..
The kick from startup on my 16 inch handheld circular saw earned it’s name of muley.
some tools have earned names that are too profain to repeat
What about your? got any names?
Replies
Frenchy,
I have noticed mine all have the same last name..when they screw up...SOB. Otherwise I maintain a rather proper shop refering to my tools by their professional title...G-D screw driver...
I think the cold is starting to get to you.
Jeff in so cal
fair warning,
next time we have a nasty cold snap, I'm leaven' Minnesota. Southern Calif will just have to make room for one more snow bird..
Ps if I bring the snow with me you've been warned!
Hi Frenchy
Come on. Theirs room for you. I'ts ok to bring some snow to play with.
Jeff in so cal
70* 50%
um,... snow and cold?
I have this huge flush trim bit .. actually it's a spiral blade for a planer. 2 1/2" cutting length on the blades.
We call him MONGO !
I have names for some tools, nothing fit to print............
John
Frenchy,
No, my tools don't have names until now.
I've just finished boring 1 9/32" holes through the equivalent of 12" of red oak in 2" steps. Sweat has just stoppped pouring off me and I stopped work until the breathing approaches normal. (30C/90F and humid)
The name for an expansive bit and a brace now is unprintable.
Have a good day,
eddie
Edited 1/12/2004 7:44:42 PM ET by eddie (aust)
Then I take it you wouldn't like to help me with my timber frame?
I mean I have only 6 timbers to bore holes into. that is there wil be four holes 1 1/2 inches diameter by 12 inches deep in each timber. Then I need to lift them into place (no small feat considering each timber is 58 inches long and a solid 18"x6 inches wide)
actually I think that will be easier then the buttress braces I put up in place the past few weeks.. Those timbers started out as 6x9" and 8 feet long that are conneceted to the underside of the sisoor trusses and verticle posts..
The really tough part was slicing the curve out of them with my bandsaw..
Did I mention that it's all white oak?? really tough nasty take no prisoners kind of white oak.
stuff that dulls carbide bits like chewing gum with a teenager..
Edited 1/13/2004 6:08:16 PM ET by frenchy
Be glad to help Frenchy, but it could be a bit too far away to make it worthwhile.
Looking on the other side, it's a great way to get rid of some of the Xmas excesses.
Now I've had the break, I'd better get back out and finish the other part of the job. (drilling holes for wood screws on a workbench)
Cheers,
eddie
I suppose you name your cars too? I thought that was a chick thing.
Just lately and only cars/vehicles that I own for over 5 years.
My pick-up is big red, not for it's size but rather for the size of load that it winds up hauling on a regular basis.. 600 bd.ft. of green white oak? NO PROBLEM! 12 foor long timbers in a short(6 1/2 foot) box? no problem..
The MG is Wee Weary Will (it's a1953 MGTD midget)
the Jaguar...
aw,... you get the idea..
Some of my earliest memories are riding with mommy in her MG. Not sure if was a TD or TF since I was only 3 in '59. LAter she had a Lotus cortina and finally her English car habit ended with a Spit. In high school, my best fried had a C, B and C in succession. He wasn't much of a tuner or electrician so I got pretty good at SU's. Have you heard Lucas's 3rd law of electricity? No matter how hard you try you can't get all that smoke back in that little black box.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Why can't the british make a computer?
because they don't know how to get it to leak oil..
What are the three positions on a lucas light switch?
Dim, flicker, and off
why do the British drink warm beer?
Lucas refrigerators
what don't you want to hear on the operating table?
It's a Lucas pacemaker
Lucas, Prince of darkness...
"why do the British drink warm beer?
Lucas refrigerators"
Yes, but in their defense at least they can make beer that's drinkable at room temperature.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Well, there's "Dumpster Sally", that's my ancient 8.25 Skil Wormdrive. I bet you can guess where I got it. She got a bath, new cord, gearlube, and a box made of stuff as recycled as she. Tough as nails.
Then there's Big Bertha, a really ancient B&D (And yes, I chose that phrase, LOL) 3/4" drill motor. She probably needs a new cord, but other than that, unstoppable. One of these days, when I have nothing better to do, I might attempt to resurrect Baby Bertha, a 3/8" B&D drill from the same era.
Now, what I really wonder about, is what it means when tools start talking to me. This occurs mostly with handsaws ;-).
Edited 1/13/2004 1:18:18 PM ET by EdHarrow
A friend named my Makita LS1212 SCMS "The Blue Tool". I do on occaision whisper sweet nothings to a tool when trying to coax that last little bit of performance out it. Seems to help.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
John
that is normal and we all do it.. beggin' and pleadin' with tools just seems to be a normal part of life.
Anyone who doesn't is either so arrogant as to be untrustworthy or just hasn't done enough yet to stretch his/her abilities..
My japanese saws are all called "Ginsu" (after the knives). My largest pair of Channel Lock slip jaw pliers is called "Big Beef." (As in, I need to put some big beef on this trap nut.) My jack plane is named Sinatra for the way it sings to me when it's tuned perfectly. My framing hammer is Thumper.
My Nissan Frontier is Lil' Red. (Only because my bride is Big Red.)
I call my favorite pool cue Excalibur.
Kell
See!
I told you i wasn't the only crazy one!!! thanxs!! ;-)
It's OK to have a conversation with tools,, even fairly normal to argue with them,, when they win that arguement is when you really need help!!!!
Frenchy,
I normally call all my tools mister, such as Mr. marking gauge, Mr. dovetail saw, since we have such a formal relationship . I did name one tool, my L-N 4 ½ with the high angle frog, its name is Jane, my plane Jane.
Rob Millard
Oops
you better not say it outloud, if your wife hears you talking to Jane you might need to build yourself a doghouse..
fundmental rule of tools, no ladies names..
It's bad enough when they see you spending time on something you actuallly enjoy, but naming tools after girls will either get your wife to question your sanity, your fidelity,or your future interest!
"Who's Jane?" she demands! "Is it someone at work?" "Is it that busty secratary with the low cut blouse?" "It isn't Jane Smithe who had the crush on you in school is it?"
You don't love me anymore boo-hooooo! (sound of tears falling) fade to divorce attorney's
boom boom
I don't name my tools yet. Boy, sounds like some of you get pretty upset with your tools. I get upset with myself, even if the tool is dull, it was my fault for not sharpening it. HAPPY woodworking all.
Ken K
Yall have me laughing out loud!! I never realized it but yes I too name my tools in the heat of passion. Usually "You piece of sh%&!!" And I have been known to throw a tool when no one is looking.
So I supose that I really name my tools but they certiantly have personality to me. My hand saws are faithfull but cantankerous, some of my jigs are ghetto street hoods, others are MIT geniuses My table saw is that cousin that no one talks about because he "isn't quite right". My Eastwing framing hammer is my trusty bud who always agrees with me and never complains.
It is nice to come home after a long day to get a laugh.
Thanks,
Mike
frenchy,
you have a 16" circular saw??? hand -held???
you hooked up to 220 with a long extension cord??
Bubba, you the man....
casey..
16 5/16ths but it's only 110 volts.. still, it kicks like a mule on start up!
Well, my sledgehammer is "The Big Knockometer", or "The Big Smacker", either works.
Ordinary tools that die before their time get called "You Effin.........."
Crappy tools I try to avoid. On the odd rare occaision I get landed with one. Then it is subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse utilising all my favourite swear words. Paslode nail guns seem to get picked on the most. ( I dont own one, hate them ) One particularly obnoxious gun got sworn at with outstanding venom, then got airborne off the roof.
Favourite tools that die, well, thats just plain sad and puts a real crimp in my day. Then I say things like, "Ohhhhhh, godamn.............."
If you have some cold to share round send some here. had more than a few days over the xmas break that went past 40. Ughhhhhh. WAY too much.
Wood Hoon
glad to hear from you, how ya been?
as for the weather, 40 isn't all that warm except when you use that wierd french system, what'zit? metric? thought you used inches, feet, and pounds, you know proper measuring methods! Sooner or later we'll be all alone using it.. ;-)
I do know that tools hear the words you use so when you use language such as that, you really should launch them off the roof.. Ya'd hate for 'em to come back and bite you for what you said about them.. ;-)
Things are fine down this way. The heat has settled somewhat, I can actually go outside at midday and not feel like my heads going to explode.
Awful dry further south......water restrictions now.
Tools DO hear what you say about them, but a POS is just that so why bother being polite? Besides, I dont agree with begging tools to perform. That just sets a very ugly precident and then look at the mess your in!
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
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