A vist with Jim Reed
Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away
>All the Stars and Planets lined up for me this weekend and a buddy and I where able to go over spend a few hours with Jim Reed today. We arrived at his place around 9 a.m. and found him out in his two-car-garage-that-will-never-hold-a-car-again shop. Introductions where short and sweet, and I broke out some tools that I had brought for show and tell, which consumed a few hours. Afterwards he showed us all around his shop and of his goodies. Now, for those that don't know, Jim is a very talented blade/chisel maker and tool restorer in general. I found this most fascinating, and what is most fascinating is that he really dosen't use a whole lot of fancy equipment. He does have a small milling machine, with which he is able to take an ordinary small piece of metal and create blades of all sorts. Litte did I realize just how complex some of these blades can be, but Jim is well aware of their complexities, and is able to reproduce them very nicely. After a few more hours of yukking it up, we went in and had lunch, than afterwards Jim and I got down to some tool trading, and for the others whom expressed interest, Jim is now the new owner of my LN #9, and I am the new owner of some really cool new toys. :~) Jim, Thanks some much for your generous trading, I am estatic!
We had to leave Jim at around 4 p.m. and head back to Jacksonville. :~(
All in all we had an absolutely wonderful time, Jim is a great guy, and we spent much time laughing it up. I'd encourage everybody to get out and hook up with fellow Islanders as IMO there is nothing better than an actual vist to another Galoots shop, and it is a great way to take your skills to the next level as there is always something to be learned thru such visits, plus it's really wonderful to put faces to names.
Thanks again Jim for the Wonderful time, both my buddy and I really enjoyed ourselfs immensely, and we hope to be able to do it again real soon.
Here's a pic of Jim and I. I am the once wearing the hat.
Todd O.