50 Tools Every Man Needs

The May 09 issue of Popular Mechanics has as one of it's cover stories, the 50 tools that every man needs and how to use them like a pro. I decided to run through the list and see if I was indeed MAN (according to Popular Mechanics) and this is how I fared.

1. Sledgehammer - No. Strangely enough I have never needed one and when I did, Mike lent me his...

2. Centre Punch - Yes. A requisite for drilling in metal and essential when attempting to drill where needed

3. Putty Knife - Yes. So many - in various materials

4. Safety Glasses - Yes. And I should really be using them more often

5. Adjustable Wrench - Yes. Ranging from a 4 incher all the way to a 12 incher

6. Pipe Wrench - No. But in my defence, my 12" BAHCO adjustable wrench has a reversible jaw that functions as a Pipe Wrench

7. Socket Wrench Set - Yes. In Imperial and Metric

8. Metal Files - Yes. Regular sized, Needle Sized and Needle sized in Diamond

9. Combination Square - Yes. Gifted to me by Lynda's uncle. This set is a pristine 1960 Starett set with a Combination Square, Protractor & Centre Finder

10. Combination Wrench - Yes. In Imperial & Metric

11. Bow Saw - No. And don't think that I will need one anytime soon

12. Jigsaw - Yes. Have an old Craftsman that is due for an update

13. Coping Saw - Yes. Two

14. Side Cutting Pliers - Yes

15. Hacksaw - Yes. Full Size and Baby

16. Crosscut Saw - Yes

17. Snips - Yes

18. Roundnose Shovel - Yes. Bought this at a garage sale for a Dollar

19. Needle Nose Plier - Yes

20. Drill - Yes. Corded and Cordless

21. Drill Bits - Yes. In Metric from 1mm to 13mm in 0.5mm increments. Got to get me an Imperial Set soon

22. Locking Pliers - Yes

23. Level - Yes. Three. A 6" Torpedo Level, a 2' and a 4'

24. Circular Saw - Yes. Three. A corded one from the Garage Sale, One Cordless Ryobi 18V and one cordless DeWalt 14V whose battery has given up the ghost

25. Spray Lube - Yes. WD-40 & Lithium Grease

26. Tape Rule - Yes. Many. I keep losing them, buying a new one and then finding the old one

27. Hammer - Yes. Many

28. Dust Mask - Yes. Should start using them

29. Nail Set - Yes

30. Machinist Vise - Yes

31. Wood Chisel - Yes. A Set of 4

32. Chalk Line - Yes

33. Allen Wrench - Yes. Metric & Imperial

34. Earmuffs - No

35. Flashlight - Yes. Many

36. Bow Rake - No

37. Volt/Ohmmeter - Yes. But I have a Multimeter, so I'm one up on that

38. Cold Chisel - No

39. Ball-Peen Hammer - No. And I find that very strange

40. Multibit Screwdriver - Yes. Too Many, and I have a use for all of themdiv>

41. Gooseneck Bar - Yes

42. Utility Knife - Yes

43. Pry Bar - Yes

44. Squarenose Shovel - Yes. Again bought at a garage sale

45. Extension Ladder - Yes. An articulated one

46. Tongue and Groove Pliers - Yes

47. Pick - No

48. Stepladder - Yes

49. Rope - ?????

50. Extension Cord - Yes

So. How did I fare??? Out of the 50 listed tools, I do not have 7. That's pretty decent.

Therefore I am 86% man!!!!!!!!!

Gate Painted

Last Saturday with the temperature hovering around the 18 mark and with a nice cloud cover to block out the sun, we decided to tackle the painting of the side gate and the fence.

Dad had wanted to do this last September prior to his departure, but the nature of Pressure Treated Wood requires the wood to weather an entire season prior to staining.

We chose a color called "Pinto White" from Behr.

The Fence and Gate required two coats of the Stain to ensure consistency in the color as painted on the new wood and the existing brown sections from the old gate.

Methinks it came out quite well as evidenced by the people stopping to look at the gate as well as people from Lynda's office having noticed it.

Many thanks to Avinash who came over to assist and flipped some burgers for our lunch.

Painting. Yes - I did need the shades!!!

The gate painted!!!!

Washroom & Laundry Room Build - Part 6

As of this afternoon, I've completed 90% of the framing.

I have to yet frame the one washroom wall, but decided to do all the framing of the outside walls and get the place in some sort of order prior to Layla's First Holy Communion.

I spent a whole lot of time deliberating what sort of door I should have, to lead to the Laundry Room and finally decided that I would go with a Bi-Fold closet door. This enabled me to avoid a lot of problems that I would have encountered with a conventional door.

I re framed the wall that will finally hold the LCD TV and also extended it to the HVAC bulkhead in Lynda's studio area. The old bulkhead just twisted off in my hands without the need. The new bulkhead (like the rest of my framing) well..... you'll see in the pictures that follow.

Looking in from the TV area - The Washer & Dryer will be replaced by the Hot Water Tank and the Laundry Sink

From the outside looking at the alcove for the TV and Media Components

In Lynda's Studio. Eventually the entire wall will be replaced by bookcases

The chase that I made for the Structured Wiring components.

Later on I will have Audio, Video, Data & Telecom

Just to prove a point that I can indeed do Pull Ups.

Also that my Framing is Frikkin Bulletproof!!!!!!!