RIP ZIP

Sunday, I set to work on cleaning up the centerboard from Jambalaya in preparation for making major repairs to it. (Damaged tip, waterlogged balsa core, etc.) So I pull out my trusty Roto-Zips and had at it. I had a grinding disc on one and a cut-off disc on the other, and before long, I was standing in a fluffy snowdrift of epoxy and glass and bottom paint (and bondo and some mysterious materials) that the Roto-Zip removed with relative easy. (And I love the holes in the grinding disc that keep things cool while letting you see just how deep you're cutting; great stuff!) When I had about a foot left to go on the second side - working with the older of my two Roto-Zips - there was a cascade of lovely blue sparks along with somewhat less lovely smoke streaming from the tool. After years of reliable and rugged service, my poor little Roto-Zip gave up the ghost. I held a little retirement ceremony before consigning it to the trash can. As a sign of respect, I didn't even try to cannibalize any parts. So now I'm down to just one Roto-Zip. I hope it stays healthy as I have a centerboard trunk that needs some grinding before I start repairs on that. It's not sick to love a tool so much, right? Can I get an Amen? (Oh, where is Catman when I need him?) Alfred

On Tuesday 07 April 2009 08:58:40 Alfred Poor wrote: > It's not sick to love a tool so much, right? Can I get an Amen? (Oh, where > is Catman when I need him?) Your remind me of my cousin. He even saves the manuals for each tool and refuses to use one without reading it cover to cover. As budget allow the next one in my kit will be a gel-plane. Reduces bottom jobs to hrs not days and all the nasty stuff goes strait into the shop vac. At 2.5K its a bit of an investment but well worth it; Trust me, its just fine to love your tools. Its even OK to admire how well they work and how well designed when you find a good or exceptional one. My preference is for Bosch but each company has something outstanding in one or more products. Nothing like standing back and admiring a job well done. "and a loud amen was heard from the back of the room....and the crowd smiled knowingly" -- /ch

Sorry you lost one of your Roto-Zips. I am afraid I would see thgis an opportunity to purchase a Fein MultiMaster: https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/search_subCategory.do?categoryName=Fein%20MultiMaster&categoryId=654&refine=1&page=GRID Read From: Alfred Poor <ap… [at] bellatlantic.net> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:58:40 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] RIP ZIP Sunday, I set to work on cleaning up the centerboard from Jambalaya in preparation for making major repairs to it. (Damaged tip, waterlogged balsa core, etc.) So I pull out my trusty Roto-Zips and had at it. I had a grinding disc on one and a cut-off disc on the other, and before long, I was standing in a fluffy snowdrift of epoxy and glass and bottom paint (and bondo and some mysterious materials) that the Roto-Zip removed with relative easy. (And I love the holes in the grinding disc that keep things cool while letting you see just how deep you’re cutting; great stuff!) When I had about a foot left to go on the second side — working with the older of my two Roto-Zips — there was a cascade of lovely blue sparks along with somewhat less lovely smoke streaming from the tool. After years of reliable and rugged service, my poor little Roto-Zip gave up the ghost. I held a little retirement ceremony before consigning it to the trash can. As a sign of respect, I didn’t even try to cannibalize any parts. So now I’m down to just one Roto-Zip. I hope it stays healthy as I have a centerboard trunk that needs some grinding before I start repairs on that. It’s not sick to love a tool so much, right? Can I get an Amen? (Oh, where is Catman when I need him?) Alfred

A moment of silence for the deceased roto-zip. May it rest in peace... From: Alfred Poor <ap… [at] bellatlantic.net> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:58:40 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] RIP ZIP Sunday, I set to work on cleaning up the centerboard from Jambalaya in preparation for making major repairs to it. (Damaged tip, waterlogged balsa core, etc.) So I pull out my trusty Roto-Zips and had at it. I had a grinding disc on one and a cut-off disc on the other, and before long, I was standing in a fluffy snowdrift of epoxy and glass and bottom paint (and bondo and some mysterious materials) that the Roto-Zip removed with relative easy. (And I love the holes in the grinding disc that keep things cool while letting you see just how deep you’re cutting; great stuff!) When I had about a foot left to go on the second side — working with the older of my two Roto-Zips — there was a cascade of lovely blue sparks along with somewhat less lovely smoke streaming from the tool. After years of reliable and rugged service, my poor little Roto-Zip gave up the ghost. I held a little retirement ceremony before consigning it to the trash can. As a sign of respect, I didn’t even try to cannibalize any parts. So now I’m down to just one Roto-Zip. I hope it stays healthy as I have a centerboard trunk that needs some grinding before I start repairs on that. It’s not sick to love a tool so much, right? Can I get an Amen? (Oh, where is Catman when I need him?) Alfred

chris h wrote: > > > > Trust me, its just fine to love your tools. Its even OK to admire how > well > they work and how well designed when you find a good or exceptional one. > One of those remembered tragedies in my life was when my "car toolbox" was stolen. I had a little old steel fishing tackle box that had been my Dad's, one from the '30s or '40s that he had outgrown. I had a set of open end wrenches, some screwdrivers, some pliers, a brake adjusting tool, a set of 1/4" drive sockets, a Crescent wrench, Vice-Grips, and other misc. items that I carried when traveling in case of on-the-road problems. One special prize was a 1/2" drive ratchet handle, an imported device that I paid all of $2.00 for and that worked faultlessly. All the tools fit just right in this little toolbox. It was easy to toss that little box in the back seat so it was always available. I had used all those tools for all sorts of projects and knew each one like an old buddy. It's always bothered me to think about some drug-crazed jerk selling my nice little tool box for a couple bucks to some other low-life. Chris Campbell > > >

--- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Chris Campbell <clcampbell@...> wrote: > > chris h wrote: > > > > > > > > Trust me, its just fine to love your tools. Its even OK to admire how > > well > > they work and how well designed when you find a good or exceptional one. > > > > > > > > One of those remembered tragedies in my life was when my "car toolbox" > was stolen. I had a little old steel fishing tackle box that had been > my Dad's, one from the '30s or '40s that he had outgrown. I had a set > of open end wrenches, some screwdrivers, some pliers, a brake adjusting > tool, a set of 1/4" drive sockets, a Crescent wrench, Vice-Grips, and > other misc. items that I carried when traveling in case of on-the-road > problems. One special prize was a 1/2" drive ratchet handle, an > imported device that I paid all of $2.00 for and that worked > faultlessly. All the tools fit just right in this little toolbox. It > was easy to toss that little box in the back seat so it was always > available. I had used all those tools for all sorts of projects and > knew each one like an old buddy. It's always bothered me to think about > some drug-crazed jerk selling my nice little tool box for a couple bucks > to some other low-life. I had a hand rip saw that had belonged to my great grandfather. It was as sharp as it had been in 1867 when the sawyer's mark was etched on the blade. I made the mistake of loaning it to a contractor friend who was doing some work on my house. What was really stupid was telling him how old it was. That night his helper stole it. I missed it a day or two later and asked him about it. The helper had quit the next day. I never saw it again. It's a young dog that barks over his own bone. I have an old crosscut saw with a sawyer mark but it isn't as old as the other one. Only about 1880. I still get mad at myself when I think of it. Mike Kennedy Conquest Cal 40 # 96 > > Chris Campbell > > > > > > >