On Sun, 08 Oct 2006 00:08:28 -0400, Greg wrote:

Prometheus said:

Heh. Reading through this thread has made me truly appreciate my
second-hand reeve's drive Delta (even has a Made in USA tag). Had a
loose bolt on it once, but that was the extent of the trouble, and the
sucker is over twenty years old. No special tools or computers
required- a welcome change from the *ahem* real world.

Spent months a couple of years ago looking for an older Unisaw.
Week after week I read gloats from guys who found 4-8 year old
Unisaws, complete with accessories, for $1200 - and less. Pennsylvania
in particular seems to have been lucrative for some.

Never came up with anything used here, however, and the local "used"
dealer wanted WAY too much for my tastes. So I bought new stuff.
Can't explain why, but people around here don't seem to have much
interest in anything done with their own two hands. Mostly corporate
fuel-screw types. Most of the "old-hands" either moved away or died
after I moved to Florida. And they apparently took their old US made
equipment with them.

Yep, no luck with the saws around here either- I spot one every so
often hidden under a pile of boxes in someone's garage, but the story
is always that it was Grandpa's and has sentimental value. I always
suspected they just didn't want to bother with moving the boxes,
myself.

The lathe was a one-of-a-kind find, as a friend of mine had bought it
in the early eighties, used it in his shop for 20-odd years, and then
decided to move up to a Oneway. I happened to have just finished
helping him build his turnery, and got the right of first refusal from
him. Pretty good price, and it had been taken care of- ready to go
the day I got it, even had brand-new link belts.

I'm going to be buried with my collection of Chinese pot metal, a
testament to the changing times. Ahem, indeed.

I think one of these days, I'm just going to get fed up and start
making my own tools. A little engine lathe, a decent welder and some
negotiation for a little personal time on the equipment at work might
add up to a winning combination. Still have to buy the motors and
switches, but that seems like a minor problem at best- I'm continually
surprised that no one (that I know of) has started a little tool
factory in their garage to cater to discerning woodworkers yet.
Seems like an untapped market that gets a little bigger every year as
overall tool quality declines- though that may be just wishful
thinking.