Old tools #1: One mans junk is another WOmans treasure

Now if ya all would need a helping hand I got a truck! ; ) lol Things seem to happen out of the blue sometimes when we keep our eyes open. Great incounter/find!

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

I agree the trick is learning to see opportunity when it comes your way. Would you believe before I got ‘into’ wood working I was offered a Jet lathe for $50, I turned it down no knowing what I would do with it. I still kick myself over this one.

-- The wood slayer - Yes dear I did plan to make more kindling out of that wood I have been drying for the last year - honest!

Great find and I hope that the assistance will give greater rewards.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

I was wondering about your formula for using potatoes to soak rust away. How do you do it?

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

It is fairly easy. You will need a seal-able container (after a week it smells pretty ripe).

Fill the container with water and cut into quarters 4-6 medium potatoes and add them to the water. Now put the rusty part into the container – ensuring it is completely submerged – seal it and leave it for a week.

After a week take the part out and wipe it with a cloth if the rust comes off leaving a light yellow residue the job is done. If not return to the solution for another week. Remember the longer you leave it the more ripe the solution will be on the nose – I was nearly retching my first time.

Once finished a rinse first then a wipe down with a damp cloth, you may need some wire wool or wet&dry sand paper for the stubborn spots.

I usually dry the cleaned part after and use furniture wax to put a protective coat (or course depending on the purpose of the item).

I didn’t believe this would work either when I heard it but I tried it on a pair of rusty bar clamps and it worked great.

I think there is a shopsmith video about it too.

-- The wood slayer - Yes dear I did plan to make more kindling out of that wood I have been drying for the last year - honest!

I really enjoyed your story and your manner of speaking as well . Thank you for the Potato Soup recipe !
Happy holidays to you and yours : )

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

You got a haul!

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

Right on!

On the “women backing a trailer”, one of my memories from my early days was watching my Mom holding a younger sibling while the guys at the lumber yard tried to position our trailer, ‘til my Mom said “here, you hold the baby, let me do it”.

-- Dan Lyke, Petaluma California, http://www.flutterby.net/User:DanLyke

What a great story , and I’ve never heard of the potato trick for rust, very interesting. Good luck with these treasures.

-- Dan Wiggins

You got style girl. The potato thing was a new one on me. You even gave a translation for boot. Woodworking AND backing the trailer – very handy.

Oh, BTW, good haul.

-- Wonderful new things are coming! - God

Wow you really lucked out there.Thanks for the tip on the potato for rust.I must try it next time I find something rusty.I too can haul a trailer and a boat and have no problem at all backing them up or putting them where I want them.Nice to see other women can do this too. :-)

-- Dustygirl..Hastings,Ontario.. How much wood can 1 gal chuck if 1 gal can't cut wood?

Thank you Andraxia! The instructions will be printer and posted on the wall the little shop.

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

Thanks for the potato recipe for cleaning rust. I hope I don’t think about it when my wife makes potato water bread or potato soup. You sound like a handy, self sufficient person. Good for you on your find.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

My kinda’ girl! Never under estimate the power of a woman!

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

Woo Hoo I’m famous! This blog entry made it into the eMag Jan 2009.

-- The wood slayer - Yes dear I did plan to make more kindling out of that wood I have been drying for the last year - honest!