Here’s something to chew on —
If someone had his shop, and all his tools (table saw, radial arm saw, routers, circular saws, ladders, hammers, on and on — even utility knives) in a 100 year old barn, and that barn burned down one night due to faulty wiring (it wasn’t armored, and rodents chewed through it), how would you go about spending the insurance money to replace stuff? What would you buy first? What do you use most on the jobsite?
In the past, I did everything from soup to nuts — except starting from scratch (digging the hole, pouring the basement, framing the whole house). Now I am doing a little renovation work (when I can), with an emphasis on restoration where possible. I end up doing demolition, framing, subfloors, sheetrock. And where I can, I’ll try to preserve historic windows, transoms, pocket doors, etc.
I still hope to build my own home with my own hands some day.
So what do you think? Open to suggestions.
Replies
I'm sorry to read about your loss. Perhaps the insurance money can replace the building and some of the contents, but it can't replace the fond memories that place and those things may have offered. I truly hope no people or animals (Except, maybe the mice!) were injured.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
It has been a nuisance going after a tool and then remembering that it's gone.
Unfortunately, I was renting the space, so my insurance won't cover a new barn, just contents, and the property owner isn't planning to rebuild the barn -- he's trying to sell his farm to developers. He's a real estate broker.
If I can upgrade some stuff, like going from a 10" to a 12" compound mitre saw, maybe getting a more husky table saw, I'm thinking that there are some things I won't need soon -- and stopping work to go out and shop every time I need a tool is inefficient. And upsetting. I know I can't replace everything for $7K.
it happened to me. I did not have insurance, it was arson ( the owner of the building wanted the $) he got caught and slipped through the system.
I lost over 30k in jigs, templates, tools, and work in progress ( a guitar destiend for Dan Fogleberg) ..
I had to "go back" to construction, from self employed wood worker for about 5 yrs. I then began replacing some of the loss. I was fortunate that (1) I was not totally set up yet, and my larger machines were not destroyed (2) I had a vague warning and removed many prized things.
I first replaced the "desert Island" tools..those things that YOU HAVE TO HAVE..
then upgraded or decided what was next most important..and what was lost that was not needed..did I miss or want to replace my first crapsman router? NO.
It still is tough using a jorgy clamp that the clutches are untempered and some that are bent , from being cherry red when the hit the floor..everything that was aluminum looked like shiny dog crap..any wrench, socket..etc. was too soft to ever use again..
I'll try to post a pic. when I can scan it. It was in '95 and I still have not fully recovered. And can't. They just dont make some of the antique tools I had.
Sore subject for me, the buildings owner ( a friend) decided he did not need his lithium for his bipolar condition..cocain and Michelob will suffice..he went nuts and torched it.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
They just dont make some of the antique tools I had.
Oh yeah. I had my grandfather's augers and hand brace, in the original wood box. Gone now.
He wasn't "just" a carpenter. Had his own backhow/front end loader, dug the holes, poured the basement, framed the house, put the roof on, the siding, then did everything inside. Even scratch-built the windows and cabinets. Now that's a homebuilder.
I'm with ya bro'..my bits all fried too..I was a pipeorgan builder, due to the nature of them moving a lot of air through holes, I had maybe a thousand drill bits..from a 1/16" to 4".
best of luck..it takes a long time to get over it..I too, still look for things that ain't there..and will never put my stuff in questionable places again.
View Image
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Sorry to see something like thaty happen.
Them friggin' mutant mice again...
Dual angle sliding miter workhorse (I want one of those) so you can forget the radial arm saw.
Renovation/Restoration work means quality hand tools.
Dual angle sliding miter workhorse (I want one of those) so you can forget the radial arm saw.
I've seen them, of course. Are they easier to work with?
One thing I could do with my radial arm saw was swing the head 90 degrees and rip beams. Didn't have anything else that did that. Don't think a compound miter would work there -- and a lot of beautiful old wood comes out of these places.
Renovation/Restoration work means quality hand tools.
Yep. And lead paint, asbestos, etc. On the bright side, demolition is good exercise.
I lost all my tools and a 3/4 built house in a fire last year. Insurance covered the materials I had in it plus my labor at about $4.00 per hour. Starting over this year, correcting all my prototype errors and improving design. Tools! The family all knows what I need for birthday and Christmas. And there are great tool sales for Fathers' Day.
Let's all sing with Eric Idle (from Monty Python)--"Always look on the bright side of life!"
and a lot of beautiful old wood comes out of these places.
oh oh, sounds more like you might need a barn for storage:o)
Man, that stinks. Don't even know what to say.
You seem to be taking it a lot bertter than I think I might have.
Hope it all works out for you, and ou're able to replace the stuff you want in short order.
Don't be too choosy or stingy about whom or how often you love.
I would replace my hand tools and tablesaw with a good quality one. At least you would have the basics to get back to work.
Wow! Sorry about ur blaze.Lots of btu's in that sucker. Am I seeing things or maybe its an apparition but it looks like the shape of a human on the right hand side of the pic in the barn!!!
Thanks for all the sympathy, but I really would like some advice on replacing stuff. Most of what I lost wasn't nearly new, and there's so much stuff out there. I go into a tool store or Lowe's, and want to take EVERYTHING home. My heart getting ahead of my head, I guess.
Am I seeing things or maybe its an apparition but it looks like the shape of a human on the right hand side of the pic in the barn!!!
I don't think that any of them got inside the barn, but there were lots of firefighters standing around supervising the fire. And with their special gear, they were getting right up to the barn, whereas I couldn't get closer than about 100 feet. One guy even sat in a barn basement window, watching everything burn, until moments before it all collapsed -- sending burning embers everywhere, and sending him running.
It was HOT!
In their defense, there was little the firefighters could do. I lived half a mile off a small country road with no hydrants, and they had only one tank truck. Beautiful place, but next farm I live on will have a POND!
Thanks!
but next farm I live on will have a POND!
And mousetraps!!!"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
but next farm I live on will have a POND!
And mousetraps!!!
Yeah, although what that barn really needed was armored cable. Come to think of it, I lost my spool of armored cable; it was in the barn!
We did have a good colony of foxes, over by the barn, and some blacksnake nests around the place -- and I'm sure they dined on the rodents -- but to no avail.
Damn! gotta buy more armored cable! ;-)
If you work out in the field, and still have your work wheels, that is a good start. If I was in your shoes, I would immediately get set up with the basic portable tool kit, such as your toolbelt and all its contents, cordless drill and basic drill and driver bits, circ saw and jigsaw (try the new Bosch 1590) and a tool box for your portable game to move around in. After that, it really depends on what you do, exactly. When I started out I had very little stuff, and was always looking for those tools that are indispensible and versatile. Gotta have a basic kit of hand tools early on. If you ask the Breaktime crew a more narrowly focused question, you generally get a lot of great feedback. My condolences on your loss.
Bugle
OK, I have three tape measures. I went out and got two decent hammers and two electric drills immediately, one of them reversable (pilot hole, screw). And I got a shovel, a rake, and a couple of crowbars (demolition). Eventually, I'll need drywall tools, and I like(d) Goldblatt, but I haven't seen thir stuff on the shelf recently.
I'm taking a second look at a dual angle sliding miter saw, instead of a regular compound miter saw. And I like the DeWalts with the horizontal D handle.
From another thread, it seems like two circular saws (left and right) would be a good idea, especially since I'm left-handed. Not sure what brand yet. And a Milwaukee HD Sawzall seems like the closest thing to a concensus there.
I have my eye on DeWalt's 18 V combo pack of cordless power tools, with drill, circular saw, cutoff saw and jigsaw. And I'll need a Shop-Vac, sawhorses, broom, level(s), speed square and such.
A table saw is a necessity, but I don't hnow which ones are best -- Delta seems to be a good name in the workshop, but not in the field, and their ShopMaster line of power tools looks a bit light duty. Perhaps their X5?
Bosch routers get a lot of respect. One HD, one plunge, one laminate trimmer?
What have I missed (besides ladders)?
you probably want to get an impact driver and a set of drill bits with the quick change hex ends on them - use mine more than my cordless drill these days - I like the 12 volt Panasonic, but you might want to go DeWalt to interchange batteries with your other corldless
I would go with Stabila for levels - can get some deals on multi level sets
Bosch portable table saw has gotten great reviews here - Ridgid makes a real nice rolling stand for any portable table saw
I really like the Porter Cable circular saws
Probably go Bosch for the jigsaw - new model this year - 1590 I beleive is the model # - Metabo also has gotten very good reviews here
Goldblatt drywall stuff is still available in the Midwest - might check with your drywall supply house
If you like light sidewinders, and need the opposing pair you mentioned, You could get right and left Porter-Cable saws, and only have to learn one design.
Like some others here, I am very fond of the Makita 2703 portable saw in the Rouseau stand. It can do much of the work you need a shop saw for, and it can be taken to a job site easily...only 40 pounds for the saw itself, sets up in seconds.
And don't forget a pair of Quick Grip clamps to hold stuff (tighten 'em one-handed), and a pair of pipe clamps to hold stuff tightlly.
Bugle
My sincere condolences on your loss.
Lost all my portable tools, including the truck they were in, to a thief. No tool insurance. Ooooch!
I borrowed what I needed from friends so I could keep working. I was trimming, so miter saw, compressor, guns 'n hoses came first. I have a Woodworker's Supply right up the road, so finding stuff was no problem. It even got to be fun after I stopped haunting the pawn shops looking for my old stuff. That was depressing :-(
Most of my stuff was old, it really felt good to get a Bosch router to replace the Freud, 12" DeWalt miter box to replace the 10" Ryobi, DeWalt biscuit joiner instead of Freud...
Maybe you can think of your new tools as little Phoenixs rising from the ashes.
Good luck Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Edited 5/21/2004 2:42 pm ET by bucksnort billy
So: Bosch router(s), DeWalt compound miter, DeWalt biscuit joiner....
Thanks for your votes!
"...I really would like some advice on replacing stuff."
If I was starting over, I believe I'd start at farm auctions. Sounds like you're in a rural area, so they may have them there too?
Sometimes tools go for next to nothing, sometimes they go for ridiculously high prices. Seems to me that simple hand tools, like rakes and shovels, rarely bring much. I've bought whole piles of rakes and shovels for a couple of bucks at auctions. Never bought a power tool, though - They seem to bring almost the same price as new stuff. You might have some luck on ebay, too.
If there's something specific you want, try posting a list in the "Reader Classified" section of this site. Never know who might have some stuff they want to part with.
Do you ever go to yard sales? I've run into some great deals there. Sometimes I think women drag their Husband's tools out and sell them when he's not around. (-: I once got a 24" pipe wrench for free. It was sitting there all day and I guess the person didn't feel like carrying it back inside.
Don't have any idea what to tell you to buy first. Depends on what you mainly do. Someone mentioned a table saw, and that sounds like a good place to start with power tools.
That's my quota of intelligent thoughts for today. Hopefully someone else will add some thoughts.Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. [Robert A. Heinlein]
Boss, That's my quota of intelligent thoughts for today
your post sez 6AM, you going to work today or are you gonna sit on the couch and watch Oprah?
Don't be drooling on yerself.......
Joe H
"your post sez 6AM, you going to work today or are you gonna sit on the couch and watch Oprah?"
Actually, I generally get to work between 5:30 and 6am. So I probabl;y had a half day's work done efore I posted that. (-:Rose-colored glasses are never made in bifocals. Nobody wants to read the small print in dreams. [Ann Landers]