Comments on: The 50 Skills Every Toolmonger Should Have

By: Michael Pendleton

Michael Pendleton — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:21:45 +0000

I got all of those, except for the car-related ones, which I completely blew. OK, I can change my tires, but I wouldn’t know where to start with pulling an engine! On the other hand, I can fix a flat bicycle tire with my eyes closed, and that skill gets enough work that I haven’t lost the knack. Which pretty much captures what kind of articles I like to read about here: Tools are great, but I’m a pure spectator when it comes to automotive stuff. (Except the shop truck project, I love bringing anything back from the dead!)

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:38:36 +0000

@DocN - dang, I wasn’t planning on playing that card! One of my hobbies is restoring old sewing machines so I have about 8 including 2 human powered ones (a handcrank and a treadle).

By: james b

james b — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:06:00 +0000

Yeah, I did all that - even spraypainting in the dark. Like Joe. says, howbout soldering, crimping, and knowing the difference? Nothing about sharpening tools without destroying them?

By: paganwonder

paganwonder — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:29:53 +0000

Self reliance is a dying art, and knowing when to get an expert is an under-rated skill. Long Live the Handy Man!

By: johnnyp

johnnyp — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:17:25 +0000

Probably the most important skill left out, critical thinking. Making the determination of one simple question, is it worth my time and money to
take on a project. I know a lot of guys get off on the chest thumping
“I did it myself” yeah , but you know what, it looks like crap or you just
spent 3 times what the object is realistically worth with mediocre results.
Some basic questions need to be answered 1) have I done this before
& will I use this skill again 2) what kind of specialized tooling do I need
& will I use it again 3) Time, yes your time is worth money 4) Should it
be done professionally 5) Liability, that three way or dimmer gets installed
incorrectly and really tags someone

By: Michael W.

Michael W. — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:27:11 +0000

Can anybody else make custom boots (hiking and cowboy), shoe a horse and blow glass?

Safely taking a down a tree should be on that list too, as should bricklaying (repairing a chimney, etc.) and the very basic jumpstarting a car.

By: DocN

DocN — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:59:02 +0000

Can I knit? No, but I own a sewing machine.

Hey, it’s just welding with thread!

Doc.

By: David Bryan

David Bryan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:05:26 +0000

That’s a pretty idiosyncratic list there. Nowhere on it does it say anthing about igloos. How can you overlook that?

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:51:01 +0000

@ DocN - You’ve got me in the welding dept for sure, I only MIG (that’s all I have access to). But tell me..can you knit?

By: DocN

DocN — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:33:22 +0000

I assumed that “dark” meant “insufficient” light, not “total lack of light”. Like putting on the last layer of primer on a fender repair at midnight, with only the small porch light 30 feet away.

Rob: Wood lathe, (even using a drill press as a wood lathe) metal lathe (up to 22″ swing) vertical mill, horizontal mill, shaper, surface grinder, radial drill, planer (wood and metal) plus MIG, TIG, stick, gas- gas weld, gas braze, oxyacetylene, oxyhydrogen, oxypropane- TIG braze, TIG weld copper and magnesium…

Not, you know, that I want to brag or anything…

Doc.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:04:14 +0000

@ DocN, I too have 100% including painting in the dark. Plus I meet Nick’s requirement of knowing how to operate a lathe (wood and precision) and a mill.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:58:13 +0000

Rob understands

By: PutnamEco

PutnamEco — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:43 +0000

Re:
DocN Says:
Am I the only one that can claim 100%?
——-
That “spray paint a project the dark” is what kept me from a perfect score, I’ve always been able to find/make light somehow. There has always been that street light or headlight or fire or pilfered household lamp to work by.

By: DocN

DocN — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:53:31 +0000

Am I the only one that can claim 100%? I didn’t pay fifty bucks for the lawnmower, but apart from that, I’ve done it all.

Doc.

By: SlowJoeCrow

SlowJoeCrow — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:39:35 +0000

I’m surprised the list doesn’t include welding, brazing and soldering. Also a serious woodworker should be able to hand cut dovetails, and a car guy should know how to adjust breaker points.

By: PutnamEco

PutnamEco — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:14:41 +0000

Re:Shopmonger Says:

and the list is not….. survival for the 20th century.
—————————————–
A true tool aficionado should have a broad knowledge of tools, from the stone age to the space age. How many of todays tools do we under appreciate because they are so common. Try doing with out them, and you will appreciate them that much more.

If you want to truly understand tools (and yourself), you will know what tools you can make from the natural world and your own human ingenuity.

By: Shopmonger

Shopmonger — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:06:37 +0000

@PutnamEco We avoided tech items because Gizmodo’s list covers it handily. Look for more on that today.

and the list is not….. survival for the 20th century..

Although chuck
Make your own picture frame with a router and miter saw …

Something you have advocated against because frames and fram parts are so cheap….

And #1 should be to do the following 49 items with spending little or no money… King of all cheap asses.

By: Chuck Cage

Chuck Cage — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:04:59 +0000

@Jim While I certainly appreciate your desire to keep your car running well — I have a modern car (and truck) that I keep in great shape — some of us get our “play” cars via towing as opposed to the Barrett-Jackson. My ‘89 944S2 came out of a guy’s front yard the hard way, though it hasn’t seen a tow strap since. And anyone can troubleshoot fuel injection. Not understanding a carb is, well, sorta like not being able to drive a stick. You could say “get out of the ’50s and get an automatic,” but it’s more fun to be able to handle what you’re thrown — especially if it’s in a sweet C3 ‘Vette that you can have for $5k instead of $12k (restored) or $50k+ (new).

@PutnamEco We avoided tech items because Gizmodo’s list covers it handily. Look for more on that today.

@Chris Silly rabbet! Joints are for woodworkers. (This would make a great T-shirt.)

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:16:05 +0000

@ Chuck, I think Ron meant, why wouldn’t you get a junk mower for free. I have a few lawn machines I picked up on the side of the road and got running.

By: Jim German

Jim German — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:45:29 +0000

I think you’re confusing toolmonger with some guy who likes to work on old busted cars. Tow another vehicle? How about keep your car in good shape so it won’t need to be towed. Adjust a carb? How bout getting out of the 70’s and getting some fuel injection. “Start a non-fuel injected car that’s been sitting for weeks? Once again, keep your car in good shape and don’t worry about it.

By: Chris Farley

Chris Farley — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:04:14 +0000

I spray-painted in the dark once. I mounted a mini-maglite to a spray can handle with electrical tape. It worked like a charm.

I agree with PutnamEco’s jury-rigging suggestion. Any true toolmonger should be able to jury-rig just about anything - like mounting a light to a spray-paint can (and cleaning up the flashlight so you can use it again) so it isn’t actually dark while painting.

Should we buy you some sort of spotlight? Do you paint in the dark often? Is it a Texas thing? Silly rabbet…I mean rabbit.

By: PutnamEco

PutnamEco — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:00:54 +0000

What? No primitive/basic skills.
Build a fire without using matches or a lighter.
Construct a weather resistant shelter using no store bought materials(and sleep in it for a week)
Kill, clean, and cook your dinner with weapons/traps/tools you’ve constructed yourself.

And no tech.
Build a computer from parts.
Troubleshoot a modern vehicle with an electrical system malfunction.
Rebuild an electric motor/tool.

And not to mention jury rigging
Secure a loose muffler with bailing wire/coat hanger.
Fix a broken car window with duct tape and clear vinyl.
Loosen a rusted bolt with wd-40 and or a torch.
Remove a broken bolt.
Start a vehicle that has been under water.

By: Chuck Cage

Chuck Cage — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:38:07 +0000

@ron: Because it’s $500 cheaper than the alternative. I didn’t learn how much “real” lawn mowers cost until I grew up — my father did small engine repair for spare cash when I was a kid, and we never paid more than $50 for a mower — and then I learned relatively quickly how to work on them myself.

Hint: A jar of half-moon keys goes a long ways.

By: Chuck Cage

Chuck Cage — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:36:35 +0000

@rg: Of course, you’re right. That’s what happens when I forget to edit carefully. You get an extra 5 points.

By: Chuck Cage

Chuck Cage — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:35:01 +0000

I envy all of you who manage to finish your projects in time to get them completely paint-ready while daylight still hangs about. Personally, we always seem to press through and end up painting in the dark.