Investigative advice needed

[Todd Zucker]

So, my girlfriend said she needed to pry open a sink drain plug this morning and used one of my "long, thin tools that was sharp, like a razor." :eek: But she wouldn't tell me which tool, and she said I would never know.
I am hoping it wasn't one of the new Veritas chisels, but that is the only long, thin and sharp tool I can think of. I have not been home to check on the situation.
Is there a standard protocol to follow here?

[Roger Nair]

Don't sweat the small stuff. Be proud she will try to solve a problem.

[Todd Zucker]

You are correct. I think maybe the solution is to move the screwdrivers to a more prominent location.

[Joe Bailey]

Don't sweat the small stuff. Be proud she will try to solve a problem.

This is wisdom.

No good will come from any attempt to explain, reason, prevent future such occurrences, etc.
The solution lies in making your prized tools unavailable, while making other options handy for just such uses/misuses.

[Malcolm McLeod]

...Is there a standard protocol to follow here?

Ask yourself, "What have I got to win? What have I got to lose?" Then decide what to ask the lovely lady.

[Dave Zellers]

It is incumbent upon every woodworker to provide their SO with a toolbox of basic tools so they will leave yours alone in situations like this.

[Phillip Mitchell]

So what did she use to pry the drain open?

[Todd Zucker]

She provided a perfect description of a chisel, but when I got home she pointed to an Irwin folding utility knife. I think she was messing with me.

[Nicholas Lawrence]

I think she was messing with me.

They have been known to do that.

[Noah Magnuson]

A wise approach.

Ask yourself, "What have I got to win? What have I got to lose?" Then decide what to ask the lovely lady.

[Aubrey Kloppers]

So, my girlfriend said she needed to pry open a sink drain plug this morning and used one of my "long, thin tools that was sharp, like a razor." :eek: But she wouldn't tell me which tool, and she said I would never know.
I am hoping it wasn't one of the new Veritas chisels, but that is the only long, thin and sharp tool I can think of. I have not been home to check on the situation.
Is there a standard protocol to follow here?

Start using her GHD Flat Iron to quick-grill some bacon, alternative use her hair-dryer to do some paint-stripping.

If she starts to freak-out, just say, in a calm and confident voice: "Honey, you would never know!"...

[John K Jordan]

So, my girlfriend said she needed to pry open a sink drain plug this morning...

Years ago I did something which has avoided many issues: I made up a plastic tool box for my Lovely Bride. It has things like a hammer, screw drivers, adjustable wrench, small vise grips, utility knife, needle-nosed pliers, wire cutter, awl, tweezers, small scissors, measuring tape, scraper, sand paper, etc., A top tray has small things like picture-hanging things, a bit of soft wire, spare nails and screws, etc. This tool box is always handy in the laundry room. (I use it too!)

A simple tool box like this is also good when sending a son or daughter into the world.

JKJ

[Brian Holcombe]

So, my girlfriend said she needed to pry open a sink drain plug this morning and used one of my "long, thin tools that was sharp, like a razor." :eek: But she wouldn't tell me which tool, and she said I would never know.
I am hoping it wasn't one of the new Veritas chisels, but that is the only long, thin and sharp tool I can think of. I have not been home to check on the situation.
Is there a standard protocol to follow here?

My first thought was "Find a new Girlfriend"....


She provided a perfect description of a chisel, but when I got home she pointed to an Irwin folding utility knife. I think she was messing with me.

But then I saw this, I think she's a keeper.

[george wilson]

fortunately my wife is a trained in Williamsburg craftsman,plus the30+ years she has been with me.So,not much foolishness.

She does have her own tool box full of household tools,but she has taken to letting it languish in the basement. A very expensive tool box,too. She seems to think that my own shop is her great big tool box! Very glad that she doesn't use them improperly.

The only thing she does wrong is pile tools she has used near my anvil. But,that is a LOT better than putting them in a drawer somewhere so I'll NEVER find them!! At least I can gather them up and put them back myself. It is a little bit of a mystery why she can find screwdrivers,hammers,etc.,in my LABELED drawers. But,having taken them out,she seems to always forget where she got them from!:) So,to the anvil they go.

[Todd Zucker]

I did, in fact, buy her a pink Husky-brand tool bag a few years ago that I stocked with everything I thought she might use. The problem was that I gave it to her as a birthday present, and she kinda teased me that I had gone shopping for myself and tried to pass it off as a real present. I have no idea where that tool bag went.
She is a keeper, though. She did manage to fix the sink, and in the past she has installed underwater lights, repaired an antenna on the roof, driven pilings for a pier and some other surprising feats.

[Andrew Gibson]

Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. While I agree not to sweat the small stuff, I would communicate to my wife that if she used one of my LN chisels to do the job of a free HF screw driver there would be consequences.

Then again that is not a conversation we have ever needed to have,she is a pretty smart Lady and is educated enough on the subject of tools so know the right tool for the job... she says she learns through osmosis by ignoring me talk through projects.
The running joke is she can rebuild a carburetor despite never having touched one.

[Pat Barry]

Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. While I agree not to sweat the small stuff, I would communicate to my wife that if she used one of my LN chisels to do the job of a free HF screw driver there would be consequences.

Then again that is not a conversation we have ever needed to have,she is a pretty smart Lady and is educated enough on the subject of tools so know the right tool for the job... she says she learns through osmosis by ignoring me talk through projects.
The running joke is she can rebuild a carburetor despite never having touched one.
Curious what exactly the consequences might be?

[Michael Fross]

Don't sweat it. You can always get another one.

(I'll leave it up to you to decide if it's the chisel or the girlfriend. :))

Just kidding,

Michael

[Andrew Gibson]

Curious what exactly the consequences might be?

more then likely multiple practical jokes. Something like every dish in the kitchen on the top shelf, shoes in the freezer, you get the idea. harmless stuff mostly.

[Jim Koepke]

I am not annoyed by Candy (my wife) using my tools.

What annoys me is she neglects to put them away and leaves them someplace that she doesn't even remember. She now has her own tool box, but will at times ask to use any tool that ins't in her toolbox.

She knows not to use a chisel improperly or to pry with a knife.

jtk

[Bill White]

Mr. Jordan is in the same camp with me.
She has her stuff, and asks for additional help.
Bill

[Dave Anderson NH]

Sue is good with tools and is welcome to use mine any time she wants. Years ago she has replaced a washing machine pump to save money, and can do almost anything else within the reach of someone 5'2". She can read mechanical drawings, operate a Bridgeport, and knows how to use inspection tools. 40+ years around machine shops has made her very aware of tools. If I'm working in the shop an she hears a machine running she waits until it stops before entering. I think I'll keep her.

[Chris Fournier]

Sorry to not join in with all of the "you go girl..." posts but it should be pointed out that prying with a cutting tool will most likely lead to a dramatic fracture of the tool and a possible injury. So no congratulations but rather a lesson and best practices moving forward. I don't use my wife's clothes iron to lay down veneer and wouldn't expect her to congratulate me if she found me doing so.

[Dave Zellers]

Todd, Todd, Todd...... :eek:

you gave a PINK tool bag to a woman who "fixed the sink, and in the past she has installed underwater lights, repaired an antenna on the roof, driven pilings for a pier and some other surprising feats."

Dude, you're lucky you still have all your appendages.

[george wilson]

Early on,my wife did break the tips off of a few carbide tipped scribes,while working on her jewelry which she sold (and still does). I could not expect her to notice the slight color difference between carbide and steel though. I was able to repoint the scribes with a diamond grinding wheel,though.

[Doug Bowman]

Todd, Todd, Todd...... :eek:

you gave a PINK tool bag to a woman who "fixed the sink, and in the past she has installed underwater lights, repaired an antenna on the roof, driven pilings for a pier and some other surprising feats."

Dude, you're lucky you still have all your appendages.

I think he is lucky he has them all when he gave her a tool bag for her birthday!

[John K Jordan]

I think he is lucky he has them all when he gave her a tool bag for her birthday!

If I did that I would have expected to get a nice makeup case for my birthday.

JKJ

[ken hatch]

All I can say is you members of the Little Rascal's "He Man's Club" are hooting and pounding your chests with the usual outcome. When the boss says or does something such as use your tools and leave them on the bench you can hoot and pound all you wish in the safe confines of our He Man's Club but when the rubber hits the road the only answer if you have half a brain is "Yes dear, I hope the chisel did what you wanted it to do. Just leave on the bench and I will put it up."

Buying a new chisel is cheaper in money and benifits than any other outcome. BTDT

ken

[Jim Koepke]

For some reason this is bringing back memories of my son when he was about three years old. He was looking out the back screen door and watching our dog. The dog would run to the door and be playful. Zephram, my son, would hand him something and the dog would run around and play with it for a while or until Zephram offered another item. The problem was he was getting items out of my toolbox. Fortunately Candy heard him excitedly laughing it up and went to see what was going on. I am pretty sure I found all the tools, mostly screwdrivers.

jtk

[Todd Zucker]

I'm thinking next birthday it will be a Gucci handbag with a set of bench chisels inside. Maybe something interesting will happen.

[Eric Keller]

a while back, my daughter used one of my Sorby Paring chisels for some painting-related task, maybe removing wallpaper. I was not pleased. I have always had trouble sharpening those things