I've been meaning to post this short quote from S. Landis' "The
Workbench Book", p.189:

"As we attempt to offset our lack of experience by purchasing
more and more sophisticated and expensive tools, we run the risk
of losing the ability to improvise--the (boatmakers) stock in trade."

Maybe you can guess which thread reminded me of this? - lol. No, not
Lew's--even though he's the only boatmaker I know.

You can print the quote out and tape it to the front of your Rockler
catalog if you like! : )

Bill


BTW, I am getting better at improvisation since I've been hanging out
here. I've caught myself figuring out simple but good ways to do things
that never would not have occurred to me before. I've still got a long
way to go, but hey, you have to take your joy where you can get it!

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
On 7/1/2011 6:08 AM, Bill wrote:

BTW, I am getting better at improvisation since I've been hanging out
here. I've caught myself figuring out simple but good ways to do things
that never would not have occurred to me before. I've still got a long
way to go, but hey, you have to take your joy where you can get it!

Recently a client spent days trying to find a suitable pull for her new
attic pull down door we installed ... she wanted something that she could
grasp, wouldn't pull through her fingers, and wouldn't hurt her delicate
hands. Finally, in desperation, she asked me to make something for her. No
problem, I said ... do you care what it looks like? Not at this point,
said she. Fine I said, I'll be back in 20 minutes.

She now has the perfect attic door pull down, precisely fitting the
parameters she expressed as important, painted the same color as the
ceiling:

Do it all the time, often something perfect for a project is not made for
that specific purpose and can be adapted and modified.

On 7/1/2011 1:27 PM, EXT wrote:

Do it all the time, often something perfect for a project is not made
for that specific purpose and can be adapted and modified.

Obviously a man who appreciates the definition of "improvisation" ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlC@ (the obvious)

On 7/01/11 2:58 PM, Swingman wrote:
On 7/1/2011 1:27 PM, EXT wrote:

Do it all the time, often something perfect for a project is not made
for that specific purpose and can be adapted and modified.

Obviously a man who appreciates the definition of "improvisation" ...

I did a really off one a couple years ago, my wife wanted a plant stand
in the basement for wintering plants, and early sprint starts....
Commercial ones she wanted cost a small fortune and looked like crap.
Got a set of wire shelving from Ikea, fluorescent fixtures at HD...then
the fun part, how to attach them....
Finally I figured it out, those clips that usually hang a curtain
rail/rod and screw to the wall/ceiling, clipped onto the rails perfectly
and gave me a way to attack the lighting fixtures.

Happy wife, and have surprised a few friends when they saw how I did it.

--
Froz...


The system will be down for 10 days for preventive maintenance.

On 7/1/2011 2:49 PM, FrozenNorth wrote:
On 7/01/11 2:58 PM, Swingman wrote:
On 7/1/2011 1:27 PM, EXT wrote:

Do it all the time, often something perfect for a project is not made
for that specific purpose and can be adapted and modified.

Obviously a man who appreciates the definition of "improvisation" ...

I did a really off one a couple years ago, my wife wanted a plant stand
in the basement for wintering plants, and early sprint starts....
Commercial ones she wanted cost a small fortune and looked like crap.
Got a set of wire shelving from Ikea, fluorescent fixtures at HD...then
the fun part, how to attach them....
Finally I figured it out, those clips that usually hang a curtain
rail/rod and screw to the wall/ceiling, clipped onto the rails perfectly
and gave me a way to attack the lighting fixtures.

Happy wife, and have surprised a few friends when they saw how I did it.

See, to me that is the mark of true genius!

So many folks just give up because they lack imagination. It's the same
with cooking. Linda will swear up and down there is nothing to eat in
the house. I'll go to pantry, rummage around in the fridge a bit, and 20
minutes later, voila - a meal fit for company. Hell, we had a leadership
course in OCS that entailed crossing a river gorge using nothing but the
tools at hand. The fact that the first hot meal in a week was awaiting
on the otherside was all this coonass needed to get my unit over in
record time ... improvisation, and incentive, conquers all.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlC@ (the obvious)

On 7/1/2011 5:17 PM, Bill wrote:

But I have to know, did you prepare it with steel wool or something
before you painted it? I assume spray paint?

Me? Paint? LOL! I paint the EZ way ... I hand it over to a REAL painter,
you can bet your sweet bippy.

With the exception of one out-of-town job, I've used the same paint
contractor going on ten years now, they are used to painting unusual
materials, and seemingly can get paint to stick on snot.

In any event, client herself opined that a Briggs and Stratton lawn
mower pull might not hold paint all that well, but might as well try it.

Improvisation often comes with a cup of compromise, and I added to that
the surety that after the third electrician and/or first plumber going
into the attic, it will be automagically black again anyway.

Besides, she has her own personal painter who can touch it up as needed.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlC@ (the obvious)

Swingman wrote:

Improvisation often comes with a cup of compromise, and I added to that
the surety that after the third electrician and/or first plumber going
into the attic, it will be automagically black again anyway.

Besides, she has her own personal painter who can touch it up as needed.

Your story reminds me of a friend who humorously remarked how many
people there seemed to appear willing to give their OPINION on the way
something ought to be done while he was busy DOING it... Evidently, If
you are trying to fix something and there are more than 3 assorted
UofMich engineers in one room, usually you will mostly get a
discussion... I was not one of the engineers so I can only opine.

Bill

On 7/1/2011 6:26 PM, Lew Hodgett wrote:

Since this is a wood working forum, next time cross drill a hunk of
3/4" wooden dowel.

Could even gussey it up by chamfering the ends.

Yabbut, that would not necessarily be in the spirit of improvisation if
actually fabricated it. Besides, one of the things objected to in the
previous quest was a visible knot.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlC@ (the obvious)

Swingman wrote:
On 7/1/2011 6:26 PM, Lew Hodgett wrote:

Since this is a wood working forum, next time cross drill a hunk of
3/4" wooden dowel.

Could even gussey it up by chamfering the ends.

Yabbut, that would not necessarily be in the spirit of improvisation if
actually fabricated it. Besides, one of the things objected to in the
previous quest was a visible knot.


You could have maybe drilled a hole in a golf ball and skipped the
painter if you could get a hole in one. : )