Severely Malled
December 18th, 2008Shopping is Unavoidable
I read the most disturbing thing in my comments today. Someone said I was “setting up a shop.” Is that what I’m doing?
What a way to look at it. It’s distressing. Here is how I saw it: I was “buying a reasonable variety of tools in order to be able to handle fairly routine jobs.” Now it’s a shop? Only freaks have shops! Ack. I’m in trouble.
I wanted to do stuff with tools. I used to go in the garage, get ready to work, and realize I was doomed, because I didn’t have the right equipment. I figured I could buy a few things and reach a point where most tasks would be within reach. But it doesn’t work that way.
You know how it starts. You get a bunch of wrenches and a small welder and a miter saw and some drills and drivers, and you think you’re set. Then you try to build something, and you find out you can’t do it without a grinder/dry cut saw/router/table saw/vise/whatever. Or you can do it, but it’s so hard without the required tool, the tools you already have are about as helpful as your former tools, the butter knife screwdriver and the scissors with one broken tip. Which you kept in your former shop, the funny drawer in the kitchen, which also contains old rubber bands, twist ties, and the short pieces of phone cable which come with cordless phones, which are too lame to use and too good to throw out.
I was tired of dealing with people who did not return phone calls, ran off during jobs, did incredibly bad work, overcharged, and/or had a bad attitude. I also wanted to have a way of implementing my whims and creative ideas, in 3-D. I thought tools were the answer. I was right, but I didn’t realize how much junk you have to have in order to get these people out of your life. You probably need to spend five thousand dollars to get a reasonable degree of tool independence. You probably have to spend ten to approach having a realistic hope of limiting outside hires to one or less per year. Maybe I overestimate. But you can’t do it with one trip to Sears.
I probably made some stupid buys. A drill press might have been smarter than a giant sliding miter saw, for example. It’s tough to know what you need, when you’re as clueless about tools as I am. And a great buy will always warp your judgment. I got that saw for a third off. The price made my palms sweat. And I’m trying not to drive to Pompano Beach and buy a Steel City drill press while they have their hundred-dollar-rebate going. I may fail.
Temptation is everywhere. Every time I go to get bird seed and toys, I grouse about the bird toy selection and the hideous prices. A good bird toy costs a minimum of eleven dollars, and some sell for 25. Some last for months. Some last an hour. In five minutes, with a drill press and miter saw, you can create something as good or superior, from scrap. But I continue to resist the drill press bug.
Tools are going to win. I can see that. They already have. I have a beautiful stainless tool chest, three sets of sockets, a welder, a compressor, two miter saws, an impact driver, a very nice router, a table saw, and a bunch of other junk. I am not going to stop. I just felt like whining about it. You can understand that. Surely.
My sister and I didn’t get to shop yesterday, so it’s happening today. I am steeling myself in preparation for braving the mall. Wish me luck.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:38 AM
The good news is that a Drill Press is a relatively simple mechanical device. That means they last forever (ususally), are available in the used market for a reasonable price (Craigs List?), and even a new cheapo Chinese version should be good enough for most jobs around the house. Of course I could be wrong about all of this, Computers are my bag…
December 18th, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Steve, you’re really not that bad off until you set up a compound, but that’s coming, so enjoy relative normalcy while you can.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:03 PM
I really enjoy reading about your quandry, especially the router. I have my own goofy assorment of power tools including a drill press which I use rather often. I have a small Black & Decker router that I have not used in years and now after following your dialog I think I need to dust it off and pick a few new projects.
I also have a great tile saw that needs to be put to use on our second bathroom. You are indeed an inspiration and thank you.
PS Drill Press = Very Good Tool.
December 18th, 2008 at 1:07 PM
“Every time I go to get bird seed and toys, I grouse about the bird toy selection and the hideous prices. A good bird toy costs a minimum of eleven dollars, and some sell for 25. Some last for months. Some last an hour.”
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Dog Toys are similar. The corollary seems to be the more expensive the toy, the shorter amount of time it will last. We have a “Shelter-Rescue” Yellow-Lab/Alaskan-Huskie Mix who spent some time as a stray, hence her hunting/dismembering instinct for small fluffy things is a little over-developed.
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We’ve bought her some stuffed animal dog toys (some with leather hides), and she always manages to disembowel them in under five minutes. She especially enjoys the ones with a squeaker inside (the wounded animal sound is pretty convincing).
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She also does the same to the Rope-pull Toys (they last a little longer. but then they are a little cheaper, so the corollary holds).
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The longest lasting item? A $0.99 rubber-bone toy with a squeaker inside. I’m convinced that if I could find a one cent toy somewhwre, it would survive Armageddon.
December 18th, 2008 at 2:18 PM
When you buy a drill press make sure it has a mortising attachment.
December 18th, 2008 at 2:22 PM
You’re not going to Dadeland, are you? Whatever you do, don’t go to Dadeland during the holidays. ::shudder::
December 18th, 2008 at 2:51 PM
You entered the shop territory the minute you started mounting things on benches.
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They’re bird toys. You can make them with a hand drill and a back saw. The birds don’t own dividers and a scale.
December 18th, 2008 at 2:53 PM
You might as well face up to the inevitable. You ARE setting up a shop. Accept it, internalize it, roll with it. You will soon need a metal lathe, and a wood lathe. A pipe threader, bench grinder, and drill press are waiting in the wings. Soon you will “need” a milling machine and EDM machine. Oh, don’t forget the arbor press.
You’ll want a hydraulic lift that will handle the dumptruck and Bobcat. Go ahead and buy the 3/4 drive socket set now. Get a start on your new life.
Tools are an addiction. Its not as expensive as cocaine (at least at first) and doesn’t rot your septum, either.
December 18th, 2008 at 3:54 PM
“Shop” is like “kitchen”; it shows that you are a grown-up who has Settled Down. This is a feature, not a bug.
“A few tools” is like “a few appliances” — something to be outgrown.
December 18th, 2008 at 4:54 PM
JeffW…I really must ask…is Armageddon the name of your dog?
December 18th, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Naw, you’re setting up a bench. Every craftsman needs a good bench. It’s more complicated than a table with four legs. It’s more a state of mind. A workbench is where you take care of fairly routine jobs. How you define routine is up to you. I define routine by making ammo and doing light gunsmithing at my bench. Lots of tools about, lots of books, lots of explody things.
When I build my shop, there will be several benches in there, dedicated to different tasks. There will also be a stove, sink, and restroom. A fridge and maybe a TV. Room to entertain. A shop can be lots of things. Think Man-camp with tools.
When you get your compound, then you can set up a shop.
December 18th, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Still only one router? C’mon…
December 18th, 2008 at 8:45 PM
I looked at some Steel City equipment at a recent woodworking show, and it appeared to be pretty decent quality. Contrary to RCR, I’d recommend NOT going with one of those cheapo Chinese drill presses, you’ll find it wanting.
Also, I don’t really know what you’re whining about. You will reach a point where you look at a potential project, realize that you need more tools, and smile at the thought. You have a decent start towards a “shop”, don’t even think about letting up. You should eventually get to the point where your need for additional tools is minimal, and you will find huge pleasure in going to your shop to do a job and realize that everything is there, within reach, and you wanted for nothing.
What you WILL need is more room. Ideally, you should have your metal and wood shops seperated. When you build a building at your new place, figure out how much room you need, then double it. You’ll have enough room for at least 5-7 years, that way.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:05 PM
I used an industrial sized drill press and metal lathe back in the 80’s. It was a complete joy. I wish I had projects to justify buying my own but I have no where to put it. Our neighbors have a machine shop. It’s a storage shed type object the size of a house. He’s always in there at all hours working on stuff. Of course, he also has a wife & FOUR daughters.
December 18th, 2008 at 11:23 PM
jmb Says:
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“JeffW…I really must ask…is Armageddon the name of your dog?”
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LOL, No. But that might be her name among the bunnies in the back yard, she’s already killed a few!
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We named her “Lucy” because of her light-yellow coat. It’s a funny picture actually; calling “Lucy Come!” to a dog with a dead dripping bunny in her jaws. I feel like I should be calling her something more “imposing” in that situation…”Elvira” perhaps? Naw…gotta work on it some more.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:32 AM
You sound like me trying to justify buying industrial sewing machines. They just work a lot better.
December 19th, 2008 at 8:51 PM
I just found out the lathe I used is Navy surplus from 1933. It still works, too.