Reforming a tool junkie

[Rick Potter]

I have been a tool junkie for quite a while now, and I have talked for quite a while about reforming....a decade or so. This last couple weeks, I finally decided my shop is definitely not growing larger, so if I want room to work, I have to bite the bullet and push some of this stuff out the door.

I would like to report that I took my first baby steps this month, and have sold off a horizontal boring machine, a small router table, and a downdraft sanding table. This is maybe 20% of what I need to get rid of, but it is a step in the right direction. I can actually see the floor in a small area now.

Goodbye old friends, I never used thee.

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I still have a bunch of neat stuff I never use. Next month with a little help from my fellow addicts, I hope to repeat this feat.


To be continued?

Rick Potter

[Larry Edgerton]

Two words for you buddy.

Bigger building!

What are you thinking? If news gets out that tools can be sold all of our tool collections will be in jeopardy. Spouses everywhere will be clambering for cash, and worse yet actually questioning tool purchases actual necessity!


Ya, I know how you feel, And I am thinking of throwing a few tools on the block to free up space. Need an Omga RN700.....:D

Larry

[Mike Heidrick]

I am actually thinking of refining the addiction when I move into the larger shop. Congrats on your first steps.

[Bill Orbine]

Wait! Wait! Wait!....Move to New Jersey first.... Then put your stuff up foe sale!

[Rick Potter]

Larry,

How about an Omga RN900? It's on the list. 37" crosscut.


Mike,

This IS the new larger shop. In my case, it will never grow.

[Frank Martin]

On a serious note, I think you are going to love to work in your shop once you clear space. Seven years ago I was in a one car garage, it was decently packed not because of too many tools but too little space. When we moved to a house with a two car garage I felt I had too much space. As expected filled it up with too many tools and then ended up selling several to create a nice working space. Once in a while I regret selling my Jet oscillating drum sander, but I still think my usage does not justify the space it took.

[Rich Riddle]

Rick,

You're an inspiration to many of us; unfortunately, many of us are also procrastinators when deciding to thin the herds.

[David Delo]

Rick,How did that delta downdraft table work? I have a crude (but effective homemade one) but always had my eye out for one of those. Worth it?

[Rick Potter]

David,

I was happy with it, until I swapped out all my sanders for newer models with dust fittings. Now I use my outfeed table to sand on, with a shop vac attached to the sanders. This works almost as well, except for dust that goes off the side of the work, which the table would catch.

I was happy with the table, I just switched because of space. Note that mine was the smaller of two that Delta made, it was 1/2 HP. The larger had a bigger table by about 6" and a larger motor. If you find one, make sure the filter is in good shape, it is glued to the metal drawer, and I suspect is now made of unobtanium. You might check. I kept mine clean by vacuuming it out and blowing. Mine sold for $250, which is what I was asking.

RP

[David Delo]

David,I was happy with it, until I swapped out all my sanders for newer models with dust fittings. Now I use my outfeed table to sand on, with a shop vac attached to the sanders. This works almost as well, except for dust that goes off the side of the work, which the table would catch.I was happy with the table, I just switched because of space. Note that mine was the smaller of two that Delta made, it was 1/2 HP. The larger had a bigger table by about 6" and a larger motor. If you find one, make sure the filter is in good shape, it is glued to the metal drawer, and I suspect is now made of unobtanium. You might check. I kept mine clean by vacuuming it out and blowing. Mine sold for $250, which is what I was asking.RPThanks Rick,Every now and then they show up on CL around here usually in the $400.00 range but there's a tool guy over in Ohio that fixes them up for resale. I was aware of the 2 sizes and the filter info. Thanks again.Dave

[John Goodin]

Last spring I spent a lot of time maximizing space for storing tools in a two car garage. I was amazed at how much room I could make. Then we moved down the street to a house with a three car garage. I am in heaven. While my space is bigger but still limited I am trying to be aware of all my purchases from a space stand point otherwise I will end up spending more time moving tools around than actual woodworking.

[Frank Martin]

Last spring I spent a lot of time maximizing space for storing tools in a two car garage. I was amazed at how much room I could make. Then we moved down the street to a house with a three car garage. I am in heaven. While my space is bigger but still limited I am trying to be aware of all my purchases from a space stand point otherwise I will end up spending more time moving tools around than actual woodworking.

This is so similar to my story. I started in a one car garage in Chicago, that was pretty packed not because of too many tools but too little space. When I moved to a two car garage house in CA, I felt I was in haven. The it got filled up with tools. Then I sold some of the space hogs and now again have a decent shop space to work in. Once in a while I miss the Jet oscillating drum sander I sold, but still the usage does not justify the space it takes, so I am happy that i sold it.

[Jim Matthews]

Have you considered taking a course with William Ng?

His school could be instrumental in helping you create
a "blended" shop with more hand tools, and a few
key power tools remaining.

http://wnwoodworkingschool.com/

[Todd Burch]

Good for you Rick. I need to do the same thing. I'm less than two months from having a shop again, and since my stuff has been in storage, I've picked up about 8 more big machines. I will have to cull some. (Actually, just last night, I put an old unisaw up for sale on CL, and already got a bite!)

[HANK METZ]

Keep doing this and you will not be declared a winner when your time comes, in fact it will be required that you have a closed casket service.

[Bruce Wrenn]

It's definitely hard to pass up a bargin. Last week there was a Unisaw, less than ten miles from my shop on CL for $250. It was a Rockwell era, complete with dust door. Have the cash, but had to FORCE MYSELF not to call. Still have "not buying remorse".

[Todd Burch]

It's definitely hard to pass up a bargin. Last week there was a Unisaw, less than ten miles from my shop on CL for $250. It was a Rockwell era, complete with dust door. Have the cash, but had to FORCE MYSELF not to call. Still have "not buying remorse".

Funny! That's what mine is, and that's what I'm selling mine for. Got a guy coming tomorrow after with the cashola. (No dust door though)

[Rick Potter]

Round two has started. Just put up a couple more space takers on the classifieds.

Stay tuned for the Omga and the Castle.

Someone stop me:('.

Rick Potter

[Rick Markham]

Rick, I am sorry but I have been asked by your friends here on the creek to step in, and stop this foolishness. The only way to correct this dilemma is to send all of your remain tools too me, for safe keeping, of course. I promise they will not clutter my workspace! :D

[Rick Potter]

You got it Rick,

I will PM you the address to send the check for shipment costs, Then you can use them, then sell them, then send me more money. I am not running short yet. Still got four RAS, two TS, four router tables, four bandsaws (six if you count the shopsmith stuff), four scroll saws, and two shapers. Not counting the stuff that is currently for sale.

So, how much room do you have?? Time to thin the herd.

RP

[Jim Matthews]

There's already enough cast iron in Florida.

They're called "anchors".
I'm still resisting the siren song of shipwright's
36" Crescent saws in four nearby garages....

I believe old Arn exerts a magnetic pull on all
similar castings, within a 100 mile radius.

[Rick Potter]

Update:

Kiss another one goodbye.


A two hole Delta horizontal boring (doweling) machine.


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Rick P

[jack forsberg]

in terms of vintage much of what your unloading is new. I am curious is your keeping older or newer for your self?

[Rick Potter]

Hi Jack

I never had any things like yours that are 'vintage'. I am a hobby guy, who gets carried away when I see a deal on a nice tool. Most of my stuff is from say 10 to 20 years old, with some, like a Rockwell/JC Penny RAS going back to 1965. My 'good' RAS is a 1983? DeWalt 7790. I sold my Felder slider, and got a new SawStop, but still use my 20 year old Unisaw a lot for dado's. You get the idea.

I love taking stuff apart and fixing it up, but just don't have the time. There are a couple hot rods in the garage that I never seem to get to. Been working on this house for eight years now, and I am slowing down a bit. Just finished up most of the drawers for the kitchen (68 of them), and I got to the point where I had no room to work.....and I have a nice size shop. Finally faced reality, and decided to thin the herd down to a point where I can actually use the stuff I need. Sold a couple old cars too.

Here is one I kept. Needed the shifter fixed, so I got AAA to tow it to a buddy's shop. '56 Ford, the wife will never let me sell.

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Rick P

[jack forsberg]

Hi Jack

I never had any things like yours that are 'vintage'. I am a hobby guy, who gets carried away when I see a deal on a nice tool. Most of my stuff is from say 10 to 20 years old, with some, like a Rockwell/JC Penny RAS going back to 1965. My 'good' RAS is a 1983? DeWalt 7790. I sold my Felder slider, and got a new SawStop, but still use my 20 year old Unisaw a lot for dado's. You get the idea.

I love taking stuff apart and fixing it up, but just don't have the time. There are a couple hot rods in the garage that I never seem to get to. Been working on this house for eight years now, and I am slowing down a bit. Just finished up most of the drawers for the kitchen (68 of them), and I got to the point where I had no room to work.....and I have a nice size shop. Finally faced reality, and decided to thin the herd down to a point where I can actually use the stuff I need. Sold a couple old cars too.

Here is one I kept. Needed the shifter fixed, so I got AAA to tow it to a buddy's shop. '56 Ford, the wife will never let me sell.

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Rick P

Nice wheels Rick.

[Mike Heidrick]

Stay tuned for the Castle.



Drool!!!!!!!

[Tony Shaftel]

Is that a Crown Victoria?

[Rick Potter]

Nope, It is a Victoria, which is Fordspeak of the day for a hardtop (no post). The Crown Vic had a basket handle of chrome going over the top. Some had a plastic see through top in the front of the handle.

This car was a frame off restoration in 1990. Has later 5.0 EFI and AOD trans., disk brakes and PS. Other than that it is original. Those are factory colors, with matching interior.

Rick

[Rick Potter]

Well, a bit of a setback in my recovery yesterday. My SIL needed room in his shop , so I removed my JDS air cleaner and my Ryobi resaw bandsaw that I inherited from my dad 9 years ago. I have never really used it, except to try it out. Maybe I will play with it for a while. It resaws with a 2" wide stellite tipped blade.


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I will need to resaw some oak veneer pretty soon. I will try it out then. I plan to build the air cleaner into my new outfeed table.

Rick P