Progress is Being Made...Slowly

Nonsense isn't a game for the impatient I'm learning. The hard way.

Let’s see… what’s gone on since last checking in? Well, I had a hearing with my ex-wife her atty and the sixth circuit court judge and a “friend of the court” who did absolutely nothing which the judge was just fine with. “Oh, I appointed you and you did nothing? OK. You’re dismissed. Good work.” That’s how this whole case has gone and the silliness quotient helps the petitioner in this case, not the respondent, which is me.

I’ve added a lot of new pieces to the shop, which has been exciting. I’m slowly scraping myself out of this hole I was tossed into so unceremoniously. And I’m learning some things being told to me aren’t true, as always. I have many interests and one I’m diving into deeply is making things. The physics and accuracy of forming objects to connect or dismantle is fascinating to me, which is all building is. Connecting just a few objects in certain ways. It’s how artists view the world.

I’ve had everything I amassed over a lifetime taken away. That’s as profound as it sounds. But tool-wise, it’s devastating, and I’ve seen the reactions from different people to that fact slot themselves into experience levels. Because anyone experienced knows I’m talking about family-used and given tools, tools from engineers and professionals who demand precision, and a TON of hardware. And a lot of nice DeWalt tools and boxes. All gone.

So rebuilding has been an interesting task. A little at a time as I need it, which is good because it’s all I can afford. And I have a tiny indoor shop to make matters more difficult.

But it has made me embrace woodworking using hand tools which I hadn’t done, and I love it. Planes, chisels, joinery and the precision of it all are great.

I even bought a WEN 10 inch grinding wheel to keep all my blades sharp around here, and a bunch of Tormek accessories. And the WEN accessory package - there isn’t going to be a better fit than the original manufacturer, which is why I’m sending back the Tormek TT-50 I bought for $115 that doesn’t fit the WEN. Yes, you can use it, and I considered making a workaround, but the honing stone should keep it true, right? And even though I paid an exorbitant amount to Tormek, the same stone can be bought at Harbor Freight for $3?

I’m still getting my footing with it all right now, coming off diamond and Japanese whetstones. I’d love to sharpen anything with “ease.” It could be a lucrative side-hustle if I can get my chops down with it.