Good day for the Hackman!!
Bob Hackett
>Just when I was lamenting the fact that I wouldn`t be doing any rust hunting any time soon(income=0 due to shoulder surgery)and some of the folks here were out and about the thought hit me to just go to the dump to get some kindling to get my mind off the finances.
I steered over to the metal pile and saw an old benchtop jointer laying there.Hummm,says I,that may be useful for scary sharp or something similar.I look and seems as though it`s all there except the gaurd and the cutterhead spins free too.I throw it in the truck and move around the pile where I see another dump hound has a late model craftsman TS he`s loading up.As I move in to investigate it becomes apparent that someone has emptied out an ENTIRE SHOP and left it here on the pile!Old Red(the other dump hound)has a TS,a large Craftsman drillpress w/morticing attachment and a 14" bandsaw in his truck,all late model stuff with some rust but still useable.
My take,2 Craftsman TS W/fences+miter gauges(one has a rolling stand and a working 1 HP motor),a Craftsman benchtop BS,A grinder arbor(wheels on each side,pulley in middle)And the Benchtop jointer(I found the gaurd so it`s complete).All old cast iron tools with only surface rust.I felt good enough to slap old Red on the back afew times and congratulate him on his find too(he helped me load my stuff up).
Now on to the handtools(you were wondering about the neander part weren`t ya?)2 braces(1 being short throw)that are rusty but everything works,2 big handfulls of augers,coutersinks,screwdrivers,etc to go with the braces.3 socket chisels(Red got the rest along with the planes),3 handsaws(Red took the good looking ones)half a 5 gallon bucket of bronze,brass,and copper hardware(planking nails,screws,lag bolts,etc)and A Chicago Pneumatic chatter gun(it works)w/tools.
I was so flabergasted that I almost forgot about the kindling.As I steer over to the wood pile I see that a local boatyard has just drove off.I had just enough room for the mahogany offcuts that they left.After I put the bigger stuff on the wood rack in the shop I still had enough to fill the woodbox to overflowing.SWMBO will be toasty at least thru the weekend and then some.
Oh yeah,I almost forgot to mention the 8ft cast iron lamp post that Paul the Transfer Station Technician(dump guy)helped me load after he finished petting Otis,my bench dog.The post is wicked heavy,it took Red,Paul,and me with my busted wing to load it.It says City of Bath-1875 on the base.LOML will find a suitable garden walkway lite for it I`m sure.
All this for ZIP-ZERO-NADA-FREEBEE as they say on Monster Garage.
Life is beyond good for the Hackster.I just can`t find it in me to feel bad about the planes I missed.I will go and see Red after I buff up those tablesaws though,I`m bettin` he`ll trade.He`s an electron killin` kind of guy.
Mainely,Bob