Well, I'm not really sure how to write one of these things, so I guess =
I'll just jump right in....

My name is John Wardle, I'm a married, father of a soon-to-be GIT (3y/o) =
boy and my only experiance with wood has been either building houses with =
my father for a short time as a kid or walking through them for 12 years =
in the army looking for people to shoot at.

I was only interested in woodworking initially as a way to get the =
furniture I wanted for the house instead of buying whatever some factory =
decided to pump out that year. But after checking into a more "normite" =
way of working like my dad does, I picked up a new stanley block plane =
from a local Borg and made some shavings. Now I'm hooked.

The wife is starting to understand why I like this so much, when she sees =
me and the boy in what will someday be a shop; making shavings out of =
scraps from 'recycled' oak pallets. She just sits and watches with the =
dogs.

I've only just started to aquire my tools which currently consist of the =
aforementioned plane, and a 4 piece set of Marples blue handle chisels.

I'm looking forward to learning just what the heck you are all talking =
about on here, and hopefully someday, I'll have something to contribute =
myself.

It's nice to meet you all, and as soon as I can get up the nerve, I'll =
refer to my webpage with photos of my first ever, entirley handcut =
dovetails. And I mean entirley handcut, not even a saw was used......Not a =
pretty sight trust me.

Oh, I almost forgot.....I'm employed at a local Community College here in =
Eugene, Oregon as a Public Safety Officer. Sorta like a Rent-a-Cop plus =
one.....

Well, all, like I said, nice to meet you, and if anyone has some old tools =
just lying about with nothing better to do.....I have lots of nice, warm, =
dry and EMPTY shelves they can call home.

Ofc. John D. Wardle
Lane Community College=20
Department of Public Safety
4000 East 30th Ave.
Eugene, Oregon 97431

"I'm not the cause of your problems but the result of your actions. Your =
life is not my fault"

TO IGNORE THE FACTS, DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACTS.

Hi John & All,

Welcome to the group!. I can see how a set of Marples blue handles could
be good assets for a public safety officer. What sort of holster do you
carry them around in? Just joking, but I am reminded of a story from my
youth. I grew up in South Jersey farm country near a very large plant
that froze and canned foods. They started having a serious problem with
pilferage that their regular security people couldn't seem to resolve. A
guy (about 6'4" and 275 lbs.) recently discharged from the MPs went to
them with a suggestion that he could help if they'd let him do things
his way on a basis of his only being paid if he succeeded; they agreed.
He started working nights carrying a .45 pistol, a LARGE Bowie knife,
and a pick axe handle. The axe handle apparently got the most use of the
three, since the local hospital had no substantial increases in other
types of injuries. He never passed anybody on to the local cops for
arrest, but within a couple months, the pilferage was down to a very
minor level.

Best Wishes,
Solomons Bob