You NEED Backups (was Re BIO

From:        Tom Price
Subject:     You NEED Backups
Sent:        8/5/97 3:56 AM
To:          Old Tools

Jim Buchanan wrote:

>Before I know it, I'm saying, "I could set one rank, and...".
>
>Yep I bought it.
>
>There's still hope, I've actually used both #5's since then, but I
>caught myself looking at marking gauges too. Why would I need another?
>To set one to each possible setting? Well, then I could get a *lot* of
>them...

Along with those marking gages, you need to have a few #5's with
different radii on the blades along with the rank/fine settings.
Seriously. Paddy has found that the number is somewhere north of a
dozen. I kid you not. As to #3's and #4's you need several of each, all
sharpened and ready to go. Think about it. You don't want to be in the
finishing stages of a project with SWMBO impatiently tapping her foot
for the final result and have to stop and _sharpen_ something, do you?
Let's look at a couple of scenarios...

Scenario A:  There you are halfway through the smoothing operation and
you have a blowout, edgwise. SWMBO is looking over your shoulder elated
that you are finally making some progress. Suddenly you stop and rub
your palm over the wood and mutter something under your breath. She
says, "What?" What _is_ the problem?". You pop the lever cap and remove
the blade assembly. Mild irritation turns to incredulity and she says,
"Wait...you're taking the thing _apart_ now?" She moans in dismay
because she knows from experience that this means hours of you rubbing
metal parts on little pieces of SC paper and shaving hair off the back
of your forearms. A Cold Front moves in relationshipwise.

Scenario B: You move to your own equivalent of the Shelf O' Planes with
the now dull plane in your hand and peer thoughtfully at the lineup. She
waits expectantly, wondering what you are up to. You pull out the
SweetHeart era Stanley with the ScarySharp/stropped blade and smile at
her confidently. She smiles back tentatively and watches you as you
again begin to produce loooong full width shavings. She says, "Wow, good
thing you have more than one." Yes! You instantly grow a few more chest
hairs.

Stock up while you can. Same goes for block planes. Oh, and chisels too.
Especially chisels.

We'll talk saws next time.
****************************
Tom Price
Just say you're Doing This For Her, etc.


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