I'm a retired tool and die maker / machinist. I've worked in prototype toolrooms and have built some cool things. I thought I was clever, I thought I was good , until yesterday.
Besides fishing, I enjoy woodworking as a hobby. Most of the furniture in our house I've designed and built, and again, and thought I was pretty good, until yesterday.
I was looking at Craig's list yesterday and came across an ad for selling a woodworking tool, a jig for making mortice and tenon joints. It was cheap money and just the next town over, so I called and arranged to go see it.
I met the older gentlemen, and he took me into a rather large building, what I thought was his house. Turns out I think he slept there, but it was mostly filled with wonderful things.
We walked into a room and I was struck by a couple of old iron woodworking machines, in particular a band saw with 36" diameter wheels. He said he had restored it ,and boy did he do a good job. He then took me into another room full of yet more amazing things. I was looking at a late 1800's early 1900's metal working tool room lathe, polished brass indexing gears, shiny metal, ornate cast legs and frame, covered in black lacquer paint. It looked museum quality but OMG there was another lathe sitting right next to it, it's twin.
He explained that he had been asked to restore it ( he would not say for whom), so he stripped it down , repaired or rebuilt parts as needed, and this was the finished result.
As for the second lathe, it's twin? He told me he loved the craftsmenship so much he wanted one of his own. He made patterns of every part of the original lathe. Had them cast, then he machined, fitted, polished, every piece to original specs, then assembled it.
He showed me his woodworking shop, machine shop, things he had designed, built, invented. Room after room of such amazing things. As far as I can tell he just seems to have the time, funds, inclination, skill, and a quirky mind to make just about anything he desires.
My mind is still spinning with the things I saw. As for the jig I came for? I bought it from him. He had bought, tried it, and built one of his own, his does things I never would have thought of.
Jim