New Toolbox

[llcoolvad]

My 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.

Comments

[rolandgsl.livejournal.com]

No, it's not the same, but I'm sure he'd get a kick out of it just the same. I still have my first toolbox, too, but its original contents have long since worn out and broken due to many years of youngster abuse.

I hate buying new tools, when there are so many old ones out there that are better made and still have lots of life left in them that can be picked up for a song at fleamarkets, tagsales, and the like. There's a great used tool place with a store in Worcester and one in Waltham, lemme know if you want the 411.

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

I could have learned these things from my dad, but I didn't learn many. I learned to use a screwdriver and hammer when my brother had to for Cub Scouts, but I'm not very good with a hammer.

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!

[p-j-cleary.livejournal.com]

I'm counting on you, your toolbox, your Dad's advice, and your incredible ability to figure out how to assemble "some assembly required" furniture for my move to the new house. I don't think I'd get by without you helping me out on these sorts of projects.

The fact that my dad was a capenter during the summers didn't rub off on me in any way. I can tell when something's built wrong, I just have a lot of trouble figuring out how to make it right!

[grace-of-gemini.livejournal.com]

I could paint it red for you....

PJ, if you need any help, let me know.