What did you do today?

[Floorist]

I used to buy cheap carpet tools on ebay to double up on tools. Haven't done that in 12 years.

I bought a bunch of mine in pawn shops. Installers would need money in the winter and sell their second set. Bought a Roberts Jr stretcher for $100. Best bargain was a Roberts seaming iron for $2 at a flea market. Used it for 30+ years. Gave $35 for a carpet cart many years ago and still have it.

 

[zannej]

Yeah, there are some dumb people in Louisiana.
I eventually called the parish sheriff's office and asked them who I should call as I was stranded and couldn't move the trees myself. The clerk said she'd call the police jury and ask them to send a road crew after taking down the information on the location. Road crew showed up about an hour later and cut the trees into chunks and threw them in the ditch.

Today I was useless. Other than cooking for Mom, I felt a bit lightheaded when I tried to bend or pick stuff up. Kept stumbling and dropping things so today was not a cleanup day.

 

[Incognito]

Stopped in to a garage sale yesterday. Scored an 80lb roller with case for $10. So deals out there.
View attachment 17274

That's a steal. Those are really nice for the smaller, upstairs deals.

 

[Incognito]

I bought a bunch of mine in pawn shops. Installers would need money in the winter and sell their second set. Bought a Roberts Jr stretcher for $100. Best bargain was a Roberts seaming iron for $2 at a flea market. Used it for 30+ years. Gave $35 for a carpet cart many years ago and still have it.

Roberts Junior Stretchers are still available here routinely for around $100--------not in new or even great shape but servicable. I got my Crain staple gun for $15 at a swap meet probably 25-30 years ago. Still works OK-----not great----just OK. I sold my iron that I had bought for $10 30 years ago for $10. I dont think I'll ever construct a seam again so............it's just taking up space in the garage. Many others have to go on that same basis. I'll get back what I put in at least plus inflation. If I want to really put the effort in a market them and be diligent I could get a couple grand all in. It's a lot of work though with the photos, listing, responding promptly and then shipping off. I'm lazy to begin with about letting those things go. Letting them go for cheap is the hardest part. I'm afraid to die with any tools left in the garage as my wife threated me already she will GIVE them away.

 

[C.J.]

I'm afraid to die with any tools left in the garage as my wife threated me already she will GIVE them away.

Pretty sure you’re not the only one. My wife will give away all my tools AND a van to go with em.

 

[JPfloor]

Five years into retirement I accepted reality and gave most of my carpet tools away to people who would actually use them… I still have an attic full of stuff I’ll never use… Still driving my van. I keep it clean and put a seat in it. Comes in handy from time to time.

 

[Floorist]

Five years into retirement I accepted reality and gave most of my carpet tools away to people who would actually use them… I still have an attic full of stuff I’ll never use… Still driving my van. I keep it clean and put a seat in it. Comes in handy from time to time.

I only use my van to pull my trailer to carry off tree limbs. It still has most of my tools in it. I really miss installing.

 

[Floorist]

Roberts Junior Stretchers are still available here routinely for around $100--------not in new or even great shape but servicable. I got my Crain staple gun for $15 at a swap meet probably 25-30 years ago. Still works OK-----not great----just OK. I sold my iron that I had bought for $10 30 years ago for $10. I dont think I'll ever construct a seam again so............it's just taking up space in the garage. Many others have to go on that same basis. I'll get back what I put in at least plus inflation. If I want to really put the effort in a market them and be diligent I could get a couple grand all in. It's a lot of work though with the photos, listing, responding promptly and then shipping off. I'm lazy to begin with about letting those things go. Letting them go for cheap is the hardest part. I'm afraid to die with any tools left in the garage as my wife threated me already she will GIVE them away.

Back in the early 80s I worked for the biggest carpet chain in KC. They would load out about 40 vans daily. A block away was a pawn shop. The guys who did not save for the slow times, Dec. 1st to March 1st, would sell their second set of tools to make expenses. I stopped at the pawn shop weekly to look for tools because I had two guys working for me and I provided the tools.

 

[highup]

Pretty sure you’re not the only one. My wife will give away all my tools AND a van to go with em.

Be sure she's got five quarts of oil and a filter to go with it.
.....so whoever gets it, will care for it properly to ensure a long and prosperous life.

 

[havasu]

. I really miss installing.

That is a young man's job, my friend.

 

[DarisMulkin]

At 79 I am going out to do a restretch on Friday. Wish me luck, that will be my last carpet job---------maybe.

That is a young man's job, my friend.

 

[JPfloor]

At 79 I am going out to do a restretch on Friday. Wish me luck, that will be my last carpet job---------maybe.

Is it for a friend or for the money?

Im only 66 but most of my friends have been kind enough to stop asking…

 

[DarisMulkin]

...speaking of roofs, how do your shingles hold up with those ice boulders bouncing on it?

Is it for a friend or for the money?

Im only 66 but most of my friends have been kind enough to stop asking…

both

 

[Floorist]

both

Yep, good friends won't let you work free.

 

[Floorist]

When wood prices are too high for woodworking, you teach yourself to carve.

 

[C.J.]

Brought my scope to work today to check out the view a little better. It’s too bad the Canadian wildfires are clogging up the skies, everything has a grey smokey background because of it.

 

[C.J.]

Started a new house today. All stain grade but the view from my desk is lovely as usual.

 

[highup]

When wood prices are too high for woodworking, you teach yourself to carve.

When wood prices are too high for woodworking, you teach yourself to carve.


View attachment 17276

Is he there only to stop you from pressing the f7 and f8 keys?
Carving is one thing I've never attempted. I'm whittled now and then. But with that said the only whittling I've done is a skinny banch to put a hot dog on.
The more you do the better you get. That's looking pretty good but it's intimidating to me. I'd probably start out using balsa wood or something that gets quick results. I'm not sure I could ever get the patients to do serious carving.

 

[highup]

Is it for a friend or for the money?

Im only 66 but most of my friends have been kind enough to stop asking…

 

[highup]

I wish I had customers that nice.
I'm doing one of my two last "larger" jobs.
I installed some Armstrong Designer Solarian II for this customer over 30 years ago.
They had just put an addition onto the house to make a dining room and a larger kitchen. He put down some warehouses structure wood underlayment and I came along and installed the vinyl flooring. Until 2 days ago, it looked like it was still brand new.
It begins at the front door continues 10 ft through the entryway then 12 ft through the kitchen prep area, into the kitchen and dining room. Probably 30 ft from one end to the other.
There's a few humps and bumps in the floor, and being this is an interflex floor I couldn't float it out with patch so I'm removing it. That old Armstrong 670 stuck the vinyl flooring to the structure would underlayment and it became one..... You don't just scrape the glue off. First I tried a sharp blade in my Fein Multi-Master. Being the glued areas are the seams and the toe kicks and being only about 4 in wide, I figured the sharp blade on the tool would fillet the vinyl away from the wood with ease....
....nope, all it did was make the blade get super hot.
I tried cutting it into strips, then smaller strips then using a scraper, then pulling and tugging.
Here was my solution. Another Macgyverism.
You cut the glued areas of the vinyl into inch for inch and a half wide strips. Using a wood chisel, you peel enough of the vinyl edge loose, that you can connect it to your modified 15/16" socket.
Press the trigger on the drill and.....
......away we go.