molding

A year ago last October we had a flood in the basement. I had to pull off the baseboard molding to let the drywall dry out. I finally got it back up.

I had broken a piece trying to get it out, so I had to figure out how much new molding I'd need. Then just before Thanksgiving, I bought the new molding. It's been going on that long.

I had to stain it. I guess I've lost my eye, since the correct one was the last of six colors I tried.

I had to patch the holes in the wall. That took probably a week, with several different coats/attempts.

I had to paint what I patched, which is why I was sorting through my paint in the first place, last weekend.

I had to clean up the floor. There was all kinds of mess on the floor, up against the walls. I had to scrape it up and vacuum. For that, I had to fix my shop vac. After the flood, parts of it disappeared - the filter, and the nut that holds it in place. Not long ago I finally found my extra filter, but never did find the nut. I had picked up a new nut at the hardware store, but when I got home with it, I realized I was also missing the plate that the nut holds up against the filter. I had to make one of those. I cut it out of some plywood, and routed a groove around the edge.

This afternoon, I nailed the molding back up. I had to cut a few pieces, including the new piece. One was a pain because I had to cut it to a countour, so it would go up against the piece next to it. I discovered I didn't have a tool to do so - no coping saw - but I muddled my way through it (and took a break while the glue dried).

So now the molding is in place. But the floor needs... something. The tack strips are still there, from the carpet. I'm not sure if we'll put carpet back down, or what kind of carpet. I don't really see another option.

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my Grandpa's tools

I've been thinking about them a lot lately, since I've spent so much time in my workshop with my tools.

My grandpa died in 1989. The grandsons got all his tools. Mark got all his lapidary equipment and remaining supplies. Not a lot of tools, but a fairly complete set. Brian got the mechanics tools, though I'm not sure what that included. Wrench sets? I got the woodworking tools. My dad said that Grandma sold his table saw, but that I shouldn't complain because I still got a lot of tools.

I got the workbench he made. Four feet long, made of 2x4's glued up. Vice included. Power outlet built in.

Bench-top Black & Decker bandsaw. It's kinda cheap, I don't use it much. Bench-top drill press that I use a lot. There was a lathe which was pretty useless.

There was a belt/disc sander, which I never used before Thursday. There were two belts with it, so I put one in and figured out how to adjust the tracking so it didn't destroy itself. I have no discs, though, and the disc and table is very rusty.

I got a jointer. That's pretty cool, except my dad claimed it. He had a use for it at the time, and I didn't. That and a surfacer are pretty much the only tools I don't have. And I could use his if I really needed. There was also a router that my dad claimed. Later on I bought a really nice router, which is probably my favorite tool.

For hand tools, I got a sabre saw which I use occasionally. There was a set of drill bits. It was kinda beat up, and I since purchased a better set, but just the other day I used one of his, because my new ones didn't go big enough. There was a big adjustable wrench, which is one of my favorite hand tools. It's obviously had years and years of wear, but it's still tight.

He had made wooden stands for some of the tools. The lathe was on a stand. There was another one that I don't remember what tool it was for, and I can't think where it is now. Another stand has a heavy duty sheetmetal top. My dad thinks it was from a hay baler. The belt sander has been sitting on it since we moved into this house sixteen years ago, but if I recall correctly, it was originally a router table. There's a round hole in it, along with some screw holes. I think it was made to fit the router that my dad has. But I also remember it having a spot for the sabre saw. I looked behind the belt sander, and that saw is still mounted in it, with the blade sticking up through the table.

I don't remember what else I got from him. Some tin snips. A rubber mallet (not something I would have bought for myself, but it has come in very handy). Plumb line? Try square? C-clamp? Some of those hardware organizers with the little plastic drawers full of screws.

Grandpa had been a farmer, and later on a custodian for the schools. He knew how to build and fix things. Having lived through the depression, he never threw anything away. He accumulated a lot of stuff over the decades, including tools. People talk about things no longer having value to the newer generations, but people will always need tools.



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