I got an email
this night, from an old customer, someone I have worked with a while
I did a lot of work for them over the winter of 09/10, spending the better part of a month there. I spent enough time there that I took to leaving my kit there during the week.
This customer- the engineer on the job, who was just beginning to take over responsibility for the automation- sent me this note.
Dear ____:
One night when you left your tools here, I opened your toolbox and went through it. I saw what you do and woindered if you had some kind of magical toolbox that allowed you to do such wonderful things. So I looked at your tools and saw nothing unusual.
Still, you seemed to be able to do things that our millwrights with giant toolboxes couldn’t do.
So another night when you left I took inventory and bought every tool, trying to purchase even the same brand when it was available. And now, several years later, I find that there is almost nothing I cannot accomplish with the tools in that kit.
Thanks
I have chosen those tools pretty carefully over the years, and they work OK for me, but I gotta say, it was cool having someone else notice.
16 comments Og | Uncategorized
What a great tribute, and kudoes that he took the time to thank you.
See, me, I would have assumed from the outset that, while the contents of your toolbox might be neat and wonderful indeed, but that it’s what’s in your head that makes you special. I seem to recall you did alright with my tools. Don’t recall you had to go out to the Exploder for much of anything. It’s the eyes, mind, and hands that count — or so I believe.
M
I tend to agree with Mark, however, I have tools that I’ve used so long, they seem to know what I want without much thought.
I watch Keith Fenner and Mrpete222 (aka tubalcain) on youtube. They both have done “whats in your toolbox” segments.
I’d be interested to see what you have in your go kit.
Have a good Sunday….
It does help to have the right shit, and you had all the right shit to do the stuff we were doing.
As a young engineer who is still filling out his own toolbox, I too would be interested in just what you’ve got in your bag o’ tricks
I’ve got my, my Dad’s and His Dad’s tools…
What’s in your tool box please so I know which ones I should bring to ‘Good Will’
Thank You very much
Rich in NC
I’m actually going to be putting together a post about that in a couple weeks
I had a roomate briefly during a period she was selling a home and moving into the new one. She only brought a few things, but when she left, she left an extra TV, which was nice and this box that formerly held printer paper. She said “in this box is what you need to fix ANYTHING”. She was brilliant but NOT the “handy” type so I was curious what was in it. A screwdriver, plyers, duct tape, some wire and a phone book listing for a plumber and electrician. I laughed pretty hard.
In feudal Japan, you would have cut off his hand for stealing your trade secrets like that. There is a reason why Masters get paid more than journeymen.
he has only what is in my toolbox, not what is in my head.
Knowing what to put in your toolbox is one of the things in your head, earned by hard labor and bitter experience.
And knowing what to do with those tools is not on an instruction list anywhere.
Have you seen youtube?
Have you ever seen me on youtube?
Youtube won’t be ready for Og until someone invents smell-o-vision. After that, the world won’t be ready, but youtube will.
You got that right.
Still, I didn’t try to kill you in Bass pro shops.
Much as you might have enjoyed it at the time. How is the leg now, healed up ok?