Normally, I don't get too emotional about equipment, but last night the hardest working tool in the shop finally reached it's limit after 17 years. Call me mushy, but it's hard to look around in here and not think of all the signs and projects that involved the saw.
Nearly every sign and post I ever had to cut. Decks and house repairs. A doll house for my niece. I built this shop with it and every wall has a memory.
Over time, it became an extension of my arm. I got used to the weight, little nicks and scratches I used for a guide while cutting, just the sound of it. There's been many battles fought and won together and I don't have the heart to chuck it in the trash, so I'm just gonna hang it up on a nail on the wall as I always have and leave it there, rust, scratches, beat up power chord and all.
I just picked up the new kid at the hardware store...time to crack the box open and introduce him to the his new home.
Rapid
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Ray........ Shall we bow in peace!
Could you send the remains "Blade Only" to myself for proper burial.
Remember your next best friend will stand beside you just as long.
Dear.. MasterCraft of the Universe?
Please allow this friend to go, to the great 'Machine Heaven'...
Thank You!
Ray.. my prayers.... go out to you.
[ December 08, 2006, 12:05 PM: Message edited by: Stephen Deveau ]
Posted by Bob Kaschak (Member # 3146) on :
Rapid,
What about some new bearings and brushes?
It might carry you another 17 years.
Like a good fitting pair of jeans or your favorite sneakers,....just can't give'em up.
Peace, Bob
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
I know how you feel Ray . . . Ya break-in a new tool and like 10 or 12 years later it just quits! Argghh.
just like my good ol' faithful jig-saw which died recently . . . R.I.P.
Gotta GREAT used one tho' - a super heavy-duty and heavy thing twice the size of the old one for $23 bux at the pawn shop!! (Shop-owner used to go to high school with my daughter and knocked $10 off
It was the only jig-saw of the several they had that actually had the 'housing' that holds the blade . . . lol
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
quote:Originally posted by Bob Kaschak: Rapid,
What about some new bearings and brushes?
It might carry you another 17 years.
Like a good fitting pair of jeans or your favorite sneakers,....just can't give'em up.
Peace, Bob
You might also check the switch. From my experience with most power tools, this or the brushes is usually the first to go.
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
...and you thought the "Free Hugs" video was touching! This has me all misty-eyed. You don't just get over the loss of a long time tool very easily. My condolences to you Ray; call me if you need to talk.
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
AH, you'll get over it, trust me on this one... as youngster was first time I had to go thru something like that and for awhile it bothered me terribly, but time healed things and I'm ok today and the pain is gone...story goes like this: as a child I didn't have alot of friends, so I adopted a watemelon, we had great fun until one day, bullies opened it up and it spilled out on to sidewalk and seeded to death in front of me, terrible thing for a KID to go thru, so I can feel your pain........ Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Hmm.. you carried a watermelon around with you and you wonder why you didn't have many friends?
I didn't have many friends either but even I would have picked on the kid carrying a watermelon everywhere. Posted by Bill Dirkes (Member # 1000) on :
Ahh Ray, I feel so bad for ya. My 8 1/4" Milwaukie(sp?) is 27 yrs old. She's been dropped off of roofs, left out in the rain, been thru so many cord surgeries I've lost count. She built my home in '85, my shop in '01. She's heavy, it's tough gettin blades for her; but she glides effortlessly thru anything I ask of her. She's never hurt me tho she is older than blade brakes. Someday I know I'll have to get another saw, but I'll never be able to replace her. The mere thought has tears puddling in my eyes Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Speaking of saws, I just replaced one of my oldies.
Hitachi has a new model chop box that is rather nice!!! 12' compound miter slider with a zero rear clearance and laser and digital read out. Most accurate saw I've used that wasn't in a picture framing shop.
Don't know of anything that will replace my Skill 77 on construction sites, but in the shop, this new Hitachi and a panel saw almost cover all the needs.
Posted by Eric Barker (Member # 2972) on :
Rick, The new Hitachi is sweet.
I just passed my Skil 77, purchased in 1975, on to my son. I've used it to frame dozens of houses and countless other jobs. The only repairs have been brushes, a switch and replacement of the power cord, as it kept getting shorter over the years.
I bought myself a new Skil Mag 77. It's quite a bit lighter than the old 77, which is a good thing for my worn out elbow. I doubt it will last like the old one: too much plastic.
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
Hey Rick you must have one hellava big shop to put a 12' cut off saw in???? Just kidding
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Get over it Ray...your gonna be so much happier witht the new one...don't be cheap..buy a good one!
Posted by Brad Farha (Member # 931) on :
Hey, I've got a Craftsman circular saw that's 23 years old now. It has sounded like it's ready to explode for the last 5 years, but it's still working.
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
No problem, Monte.
"Old faithful" was a Skill and after lasting that long, I was looking for another just like it. Call me crazy, but when something performs well, I tend to stick with it.
Cool part is, as I was heading into the hardware store, a customer pulled in behind me with a $40 payment...Got the same saw, safety trigger and all, for $39.99.
It was a good day. Rapid
Posted by captain ken (Member # 742) on :
I know how you feel Ray.... I still have my Fathers old Milwakee circular saw....I am pretty sure its at least 17 yo ... i would certainly miss old Milwakee if it died... my condloenses on your loss.
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)