Peter Brown's ShopTime

There are few things as defeating as starting over. When you believe that you have completed a project, paper, blog or task to realized that something is not satisfactory. You sit there putting the finishing touches on it when it hits you like a ton of bricks. You begin to rationalize. It’s not that bad, I can fix it. No matter how hard you try, you know the truth of it cannot be escaped. Life is about to teach you a valuable lesson that you will shell out for in heaps of wasted time. Buckle up. So you just finished the most amazing wrapping job on Earth. Perfectly folded corners and the most delightful bow you’ve ever tied. I mean, honestly, when does curling ribbon ever curl that well? Only when curling ribbon knows what you don’t. It knows that you’ve been a total stooge and left the “HALF-OFF CLEARANCE” sticker smack dab in the center of Aunt Betsy’s gift. I recently found myself at the end of a woodworking project. It wasn’t anything ...

There are few things as defeating as starting over. When you believe that you have completed a project, paper, blog or task to realized that something is not satisfactory. You sit there putting the finishing touches on it when it hits you like a ton of bricks. You begin to rationalize. It's not that bad, I can fix it. No matter how hard you try, you know the truth of it cannot be escaped. Life is about to teach you a valuable lesson that you will shell out for in heaps of wasted time. Buckle up. So you just finished the most amazing wrapping job on Earth. Perfectly folded corners and the most delightful bow you've ever tied. I mean, honestly, when does curling ribbon ever curl that well? Only when curling ribbon knows what you don't. It knows that you've been a total stooge and left the "HALF-OFF CLEARANCE" sticker smack dab in the center of Aunt Betsy's gift. I recently found myself at the end of a woodworking project. It wasn't anything horribly invo...

It’s true. I’m a thief, a scoundrel, a scallywag. My victims are totally helpless, and I swoop in a take what I need. They cannot stop me. I’m not in the least bit repentant about it. In fact I’m proud of it. I say, “If your silly enough to pass on with nice stuff in your garage, it’s your own fault when your wife and son sell it to me for next to nothing!” My soul is absolutely filthy. I need help. I don’t remember the exact date, but sometime in September I found myself souring thorough Craigslist when I found a posting for a ’12” free standing band saw for $25′. It’s not important what a 12″ free standing band saw is, or what it does, just know this. That price was UNHEARD OF! So I did what I always do on Craigslist. I waited three days and then sent a email like, “Are you still trying to get rid of your old band saw?” This is a low tactic, but not too low for a jerk such as myself. $25 for a 12...

It's true. I'm a thief, a scoundrel, a scallywag. My victims are totally helpless, and I swoop in a take what I need. They cannot stop me. I'm not in the least bit repentant about it. In fact I'm proud of it. I say, "If your silly enough to pass on with nice stuff in your garage, it's your own fault when your wife and son sell it to me for next to nothing!" My soul is absolutely filthy. I need help. I don't remember the exact date, but sometime in September I found myself souring thorough Craigslist when I found a posting for a '12" free standing band saw for $25'. It's not important what a 12" free standing band saw is, or what it does, just know this. That price was UNHEARD OF! So I did what I always do on Craigslist. I waited three days and then sent a email like, "Are you still trying to get rid of your old band saw?" This is a low tactic, but not too low for a jerk such as myself. $25 for a 12" free standing ba...

“Where have all the fingers gone, long time passing? Where have all the fingers gone, long time ago? Where have all the fingers gone, gone to table saws everyone When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?” I have a new hobby. Finger cutting. Okay, given the squeamish nature of some folks, and the opening lines of this post let me pause. I would like to say that I have never in my life cut myself with a power saw. I have all my fingers and no gruesome tales to spin here. Honestly. That being said, my new hobby has my certain hazards that never existed with my other pastimes. Computing is a rather safe use of your free time. I have never, for instance, worried about safe mouse handling, or what horrible things I could do to myself if I left my attention drift. August for me, was the month that I acquired a table saw. Life will never be the same. I now can demolish an unsuspecting piece of wood in a spectacular display of flying sawdust, whirling blades of carbide ti...

"Where have all the fingers gone, long time passing? Where have all the fingers gone, long time ago? Where have all the fingers gone, gone to table saws everyone When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?" I have a new hobby. Finger cutting. Okay, given the squeamish nature of some folks, and the opening lines of this post let me pause. I would like to say that I have never in my life cut myself with a power saw. I have all my fingers and no gruesome tales to spin here. Honestly. That being said, my new hobby has my certain hazards that never existed with my other pastimes. Computing is a rather safe use of your free time. I have never, for instance, worried about safe mouse handling, or what horrible things I could do to myself if I left my attention drift. August for me, was the month that I acquired a table saw. Life will never be the same. I now can demolish an unsuspecting piece of wood in a spectacular display of flying sawdust, whirling blades of carbide tip...

“Runs With Power Tools” It’s my Indian name. I just upgraded it from, “Collects power tools and never uses them, even though he has a workbench.” It was a bit awkward anyway. Introductions at parties were always a bit lengthy followed by a fairly pregnant pause. Recently I have decided to try and build some stuff with my tools. It’s funny because I really do have a nice selection of tools that I had never put to any real use. So there I am in my garage at my workbench which was was all together well organized, neat and tidy. In other words, it was a complete travesty. In only eight short hours though I fixed it. I fixed it as only a real man can. I turned into an absolute pig sty but in the mist of this pile of sawdust, wood chips, glue, nails and tools was a box. A box that I created. The box was not square. The edges seemed to wave a little like it was cut by some recovering drug addict trying to keep his mind off the last fix. In addition I had a n...