New Toolbox
Feb. 19th, 2006 01:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
llcoolvadMy Dad was always a firm believer in self-sufficiency. From the time I was a tiny girl he taught me how to be handy: how to wire a lamp, how to paint furniture and walls, how to correctly use a hammer, what various tools were used for, and how to connect up my own stereo.
He gave me my very first toolbox for Christmas when I was 20 and getting my first apartment. The toolbox was steel, had a bright red tray inside, weighed (empty) around 5 pounds, and was fairly small. He also gave me a large starter kit of tools: screwdrivers of various sizes and types, a level, a hammer, lots of fasteners, pliers, wrenches, a tape measure, and a hand drill with a few different bits.
He lectured me sternly about loaning out my tools ("people forget where they got them, and you'll never see them again, trust me") and then offered to always help me with any project.
Over the next two decades, I ignored his advice about loaning stuff out, learned he was completely right, replaced a bunch of stuff, added to my collection of tools, bought cool gizmos, and generally used the heck out of the damned thing.
Last week I bought a brand new, plastic, shiny toolbox. It's black, with a black tray inside, and has little yellow details. It's a lot bigger than my old one, weighs almost nothing when empty, and holds almost all of my tools with ease. It's nice. Generic, but nice. I'm sure Dad would have approved.
But it's not the same.
He gave me my very first toolbox for Christmas when I was 20 and getting my first apartment. The toolbox was steel, had a bright red tray inside, weighed (empty) around 5 pounds, and was fairly small. He also gave me a large starter kit of tools: screwdrivers of various sizes and types, a level, a hammer, lots of fasteners, pliers, wrenches, a tape measure, and a hand drill with a few different bits.
He lectured me sternly about loaning out my tools ("people forget where they got them, and you'll never see them again, trust me") and then offered to always help me with any project.
Over the next two decades, I ignored his advice about loaning stuff out, learned he was completely right, replaced a bunch of stuff, added to my collection of tools, bought cool gizmos, and generally used the heck out of the damned thing.
Last week I bought a brand new, plastic, shiny toolbox. It's black, with a black tray inside, and has little yellow details. It's a lot bigger than my old one, weighs almost nothing when empty, and holds almost all of my tools with ease. It's nice. Generic, but nice. I'm sure Dad would have approved.
But it's not the same.
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no subject
Date: 2006-02-19 08:22 pm (UTC)I have a small metal toolbox (all red) which I still like even though my boyfriend has a million tools. This is because there are certain tools I can always find in a jiffy: a hammer, screwdrivers, an adjustable wrench, plyers, levels, measuring tape, and things that suprise others: a nail set and plumber's tape.
I rarely do anything cool with my tools; and when I try, I find that I have a success rate of 50% or less. So when I do accomplish something, I feel really good about it. Cool things I have done are build narrow shelves on one side of my pantry to hold canned goods, install curtain rods and blinds, put together furniture that requires assembly, and paint.
I am also a helpful brainstorming partner for some kinds of jobs that require puzzling things out. And I have a solid knowledge of geometry that comes in handy at times.
I once dated a carpenter who said I would also make a good carpenter because I am good at planning things out. But I need to be stronger than I am for certain things, like carrying large boards around and unscrewing things that have been tightly screwed together, and I need to be more patient for things like sanding for three days. He also taught me that men doing carpentry are very sexy. Especially with no shirt on.
Congratulations on graduating to a bigger toolbox!
no subject
Date: 2006-02-19 10:12 pm (UTC)One of my goals is to make a small efficient toolbox for my Mom before I move out, very much like the one you describe. She shouldn't have to paw through nail sinks, awls, planers, and drill bits to get to a Phillips head screwdriver, you know?
And then I will steal all the other tools for me!