Blue Chips
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 487
- Location
- Maine, USA
After perusing this forum from the shadows for some time, I decided it might be a good idea to venture forth into the light and join up. I’m always interested in getting feedback about my little projects...and who knows?...I might even be able to contribute something of value now and again. I’m strictly avocational when it comes to welding...a true amateur...but I’ve been pretending to possess some rudimentary welding skills for many years. I’ve managed to fool a few people into thinking I’m competent, but I’m sure there are members of this forum who will be more than happy to point out the errors of my ways...in a friendly, diplomatic manner, of course.
When it comes to metalworking, I suppose I fit into the “dabbler” genre. I dabble at MIG, TIG, plasma cutting, a bit of mill and lathe work, some automotive repair/modification/restoration, a touch of forging (gas and solid fuel), designing an occasional device or two, and playing with miscellaneous gadgetry that happens to fall within my pecuniary confines.
One of the things that makes Maine winters more tolerable for an old-ish retired geezer like myself with a carefully cultivated dislike for snow and ice (except in cocktails) is to have a little heated workshop where I can go make things. Sometimes useful things, sometimes pretty things, sometimes goofy things, and sometimes things that would be best employed as boat anchors or door stops.
I have converted half of our double garage into a small workshop. My wife thinks it is a large workshop, but she is wrong. There is no such thing as a large workshop. A workshop is never big enough.
There is no room for all of my current metalworking tools, let alone the ones I plan to order on the sly.
A few of my tools have recently escaped from “my” half of the garage and ensconced themselves in the less-conspicuous corners and niches of my wife’s half of the garage. I live in constant dread that someday she will find that her car door won’t open quite all the way, with the resultant eviction of the offending equipment.
My blacksmith equipment has been relegated to the garden shed and only emerges on nice days when I can work in the driveway. At least I’ve set up most of the larger items to be portable, so it’s not a huge job to roll them out.
As to my woodworking tools...those are gathering sawdust at a different project location...but that’s another story.
I also tend to ramble on a lot...
Anyway, I look forward to good ideas and good company.
Blue Chips
When it comes to metalworking, I suppose I fit into the “dabbler” genre. I dabble at MIG, TIG, plasma cutting, a bit of mill and lathe work, some automotive repair/modification/restoration, a touch of forging (gas and solid fuel), designing an occasional device or two, and playing with miscellaneous gadgetry that happens to fall within my pecuniary confines.
One of the things that makes Maine winters more tolerable for an old-ish retired geezer like myself with a carefully cultivated dislike for snow and ice (except in cocktails) is to have a little heated workshop where I can go make things. Sometimes useful things, sometimes pretty things, sometimes goofy things, and sometimes things that would be best employed as boat anchors or door stops.
I have converted half of our double garage into a small workshop. My wife thinks it is a large workshop, but she is wrong. There is no such thing as a large workshop. A workshop is never big enough.
There is no room for all of my current metalworking tools, let alone the ones I plan to order on the sly.
A few of my tools have recently escaped from “my” half of the garage and ensconced themselves in the less-conspicuous corners and niches of my wife’s half of the garage. I live in constant dread that someday she will find that her car door won’t open quite all the way, with the resultant eviction of the offending equipment.
My blacksmith equipment has been relegated to the garden shed and only emerges on nice days when I can work in the driveway. At least I’ve set up most of the larger items to be portable, so it’s not a huge job to roll them out.
As to my woodworking tools...those are gathering sawdust at a different project location...but that’s another story.
I also tend to ramble on a lot...
Anyway, I look forward to good ideas and good company.
Blue Chips