Wife - surprisingly - doesn't understand

[MarkK]

She asked me to make a tray to hold a thin plastic necklace making organizer.

Between the BTS10, mitre saw and electric brad nailer I had a very nice tray done in a few hours.

I commented that having the right power tools made the job so much easier. But she suprised me when she said, "Why?" Yeah, I could have done with hand tools, but it would have taken me a couple of weeks.

Sigh!

[Pappy]

Why does she use a hair drier or curling iron? Does she really 'need' a machine to wash and dry the dishes? For that matter a tub, scrub board, and clothes line did the job for generations...

[Knottscott]

quote:Originally posted by Pappy

Why does she use a hair drier or curling iron? Does she really 'need' a machine to wash and dry the dishes? For that matter a tub, scrub board, and clothes line did the job for generations...

...love it!

Tell her that better tools are safer, last longer, AND produce better results. Cheap tools often don't do what they're intended to do.

[cwsmith]

Sounds to me like an excellent chance to bring her into the fold and share your hobby with her! "Why" doesn't have to be a challenge, it is often a sincere way of saying, "Show me"!

I have two major expense hobbies, Ham Radio and Woodworking. It didn't take me long to understand that the best way to navigate into a hobby and it's expenses is to have my wife share the interest. Surprisingly, she's found her own niche with both and therefore isn't in the way of me doing "my thing". But I have to tell you, life's grand when you walk through the local tool store and she comes up to you and says, "Hey, did you see that sale on this or that, don't you need one of those?!"

Merry Christmas to everyone,

CWS

[MarkK]

CWS,

I'm the big time ham in the family but she had her ticket before I even met her. I also brew beer and have commented on the number of gadgets I have for that get used for 5 minutes but save me an hour. So she should understand why having the proper tools. Lord knows I fix enough things around the house and the only reason is that I usually have the right tool on hand.

N3GNW

[cwsmith]

MarkK,

Nice going Mark! It's always good to have some mutual understanding, but those "Why's" are unavoidable, aren't they? Guess it's a good thing, otherwise we'd have more toys than sense.

I got my license first and then she followed and passed me all too quickly. Then she started doing the VE thing and talked me into that. Now we handle a major portion of the testing in the twin tier area. ( www.hamxam.org )

73,

CWS, KF2VA

[Napoleon]

I agree with KF2VA, when someone asks "why" it's always a great time to do some communicating... Dustmight has a great point in stating that the correct, sharp tools make the job quicker and safer. Sure QRP is a challange and a lot of hams do it, but for reliable communicaation a repeater works the best. Same as the difference between a coping saw and your BTS.. they both work, and like you say eventually you'd get the pieces cut but she's got her box quicker now.
73's
Mark, N9ATC

[Ed]

QRP woodworking makes me think of a bench littered with handplanes, chisels, backsaws, etc., that require basic (and beyond) hand skills and knowledge that we all need. Low-power, quieter.

2-meter woodworking brings images of laser-saws, planers, jointers, drill presses, etc.,...all items that speed up production and enhance time efficiency but that still require the afore mentioned skills and knowledge. High-power, louder.

Just my thoughts.

73
Ed, KF4KRV

[Tom Miller]

Mark,

I think you missed the first step in the tool-buying process. First, you hand her a mangled ball of splinters and say, "here's that necklace holder you wanted. Didn't quite have the tools I needed...".



(That should be in the FAQ, if it isn't already.)

Regards,
Tom

[Stick]

quote:Originally posted by Tom Miller

Mark,

I think you missed the first step in the tool-buying process. First, you hand her a mangled ball of splinters and say, "here's that necklace holder you wanted. Didn't quite have the tools I needed...".



(That should be in the FAQ, if it isn't already.)

Regards,
Tom

I like that one, and I actually use it quite often. I'm fortunate in that LOML is fascinated with woodworking, machining and welding and vehicle and machinery mechanics. She does her own woodworking on a very minor scale, and has tried welding. Not brave enough to try machining quite yet (and my cutting tools say "Thank you!"). Her mechanical training thus far has been as gopher, but she has done oil changes on everything from her minivan to the big tractors and the kenworth, and has helped me with a lot of other jobs. So when I want something, she understands the need for it. Tools are a no-brainer for us, no questions asked.

[thestinker]

Maybe its just me...but part of the reason I do wood working is beacuse my wife has NO, repeat NO intrest in it at all. We both like to camp, fish (some), jet-ski, ride bikes and a varity of other things togather. Woodworking and shoting are about my only alone time / escape I have. Once and a while she comes out to the shop and looks around, asks questions and hands out "atta-boys" but thats the extent of her intrest in the hobby...and I want to keep it that way.

Riley

[skipwill]

Seems to be a lot of hams on this WW forum<g>

Skip
WA4RGA

[onedash]

Im in the Marine Corps and have talked to HAM operators before. Guess we aren't supposed to and I guess you can loose your license for talking to us??? We were talking to someone once who was in florida and We said we were in Cuba but we were in NC and he said thats funny, I have you comming in on the back of my boom. We paniced and changed freqs. And one other time me and my buddy made up callsigns and I guess mine was someones and I talked a while. My buddys was not a real call sign and everyone said look out..we got a bootlegger on the net....
Anyhow I agree that the right tools sure make life easier and the projects a whole lot better. Luckily they turn out good enough now that my wife wants more stuff and is willing to spend the money on the wood and even let me get new tools.
The table I just finished (gotta scan the final pic yet) was like one she wanted. The one in the store was rosewood and had a $1000 price tag. I made one out of lyptus and got a delta deluxe mortiser all for ~$550.