"wmbjk" wrote in message
...

I have a shop full of stuff that varies from top-of-the-line to
bottom-of-the-barrel. The choice of each piece based on all the usual
things - frequency of use, price, importance of time, etc. My needs
might be above average for a home shop, but there's still plenty of
"Chicago Electric", and "Ohio Forge" gems on hand. Like most, I'd have
to do without a lot of things if I decided to get into tool bigot
mode.

My favorite story on that subject comes from some years back. I was on
my POS antique road grader. One of my scarecrow neighbors had pulled
alongside to tell me that if *he* was buying a road grader, he'd get
an articulated one with AC, etc. But all the time he was yakking, I
was looking down into his fine pickup, which featured a steering wheel
with all the plastic gone... nothing left but the metal hoop.

Wayne


I'm figuring that washing parts isn't rocket science. The thing should hold
the appropriate liquid without leaking and the motor should do its thing
when I push the switch. Both my HF parts washers I've owned have functioned
fine for the hour or two a week I use them. They are junk, but they've been
functioning junk for as long as I've owned them.

I live in San Francisco. Periodically, I've wanted a fork lift (not that I
have anyplace to put one), but the concept of owning a road grader is so
foreign to me as to be laughable. If this doesn't offer comment on the
difference between living in a city and not, I don't know what does. Given
my recent propensity for buying ancient machinery, maybe I could get one and
park it on our lawn. I'm certain that the neighbors would find that
amusing. I'd have to paint it a color that the home owners association
would like...

Peter