>I have also noticed myself ..., hours, days and weeks making
tools/jigs,
>supposedly to help me make other things.

Well put Jim,... I too find making the jigs far more appealing than
making the project.

Adulations for stirring such a long thread with your bio,... gues
there's more value than just letting us kick your tires. 

and about Ester's commentary,... ayup.

I know it sounds odd, but I'm glad SWIMBO won't bring me any
OLDTOOLS,.... as I wouldn't presume to buy her quilting materials, I
don't want her to take a shot in the dark on a tool that I likely won't
really want.  Spending 'quality time' in a learning session is
appreciated in it's own right, but one of the problems with this is that
I don't know what the hell I want anyway .  Of course, you must bear
in mind that I AM NOT A COLLECTOR!!! (really)  Besides, I suspect that
my swimbo is related to Dennis H's wife - - 'old stuff smells funny', so
I'd feel guilty knowing she had to go around a whole pile of old stuff
for my enjoyment.

I did explain to her that none of this applies to tools less than $5, or
with the word "Bedrock" on them.

Enough of this - - welcome to the porch Jim.

Bruce