60+ year old thread.

Had a smart meter for a few years now. I can log on utilities website and see an historical record of consumption by hour, day or month. Handy and I also get an email notification if consumption changes beyond expected. Power company cannot turn our power off remotely and I would be surprised if any smart meters have this option.

 

Seems like the appropriate place to say that.

We’ve had a smart meter for years, AFIAK all it does is allow Tampa Electric read the meter remotely. But it’s not a stretch to think they could disconnect us remotely too.

 

I have a friend who is a master mechanic at our Honda dealer he has snap on at the dealership and harbor freight at home, a couple of those 5 drawer boxes. His work box is a monster. If he retires he's going to need a bigger garage unless he drives a smaller car.

 

Sometimes the guys that have those big boxes have multiples of the same tools because they can never find the tool they need so they keep buying another. My brother is this way. A big box of tools that are scattered all over, and if he needs something it takes him ten minutes to find it. And... he thinks it is normal.

He came to visit a month ago or so and his wife mentioned that my garage was so clean and well organized, and I said it helps me get things done because I know where my tools are and don't have to sort through anything to find any specific tool. I looked at my brother and told him I could find anything, all he had to do was ask. He sneered... pretty obviously not believing me.

A couple of minutes later, our wives engaged in conversation across the garage, he leaned over and said, "An 11/16ths combination wrench." That's not a wrench that gets used a lot, and I expect he thought if any wrench was going to be hard to find it would be that one. We were standing next to my box, I opened the lid, and handed him the wrench. Badda bing, badda boom...

He didn't sneer, but looked a little stunned.

 

I've got a couple harbor freight tool boxes, they actually are pretty good.

 

• I have harbor freight tools and a box. I have had no problems the only thing I wish I had it a little bit bigger. But to get a box with better sized drawers I would need a 4.5 " - 5' box, so I have a tote and the company I worked at before I retired bought a bunch of Milwaukee cordless drivers that was going to toss them so I got about 9 of them. I labeled them with markers and that serves me well because I set that up with a bag of boxed bits, hand tools ECT so if I go somewhere I can just grab a bag or two. Today I went to a home that needed a heavy duty commercial style closer but mini residential size. Instead of the cylinder type on storm doors.

 

For 40 years my tools were a mess. I had them all over the place. My work bench looked like an explosion. Tool storage chests were a mess. I could find things but I often wasted a lot of time doing so. When I retired I finally put everything in neat and orderly in my tool chests and storage areas. I even labeled all the drawers identifying what was is in there. When I’m through with a tool I put it right back where it belongs. Now when I need something I can locate it in seconds. I love it. Don’t know why I waited so long to get my shit together. I be happy.
One other thing i did start doing 40 years ago is I put a large white board up in my garage labeled Shit List. When someone borrows a tool from me I (with them watching ) go to the board and write their name, date, and tools borrowed. The first time this happens the person always asks why I’m putting them on my shit list. I tell them you are on my shit list until you return the tool. Long ago people would borrow tools and not return them and I sometimes would forget they were borrowed and who borrowed them. That hasn’t happened a single time since I started the shit list.

 

I used to regularly visit a big coal mine up at Fording River in B.C. The pit mechanical foreman had a large blackboard inside his office by the door - prominently labeled the "$h*it List". It had two divisions - "Permanent" and "Provisional". He usually had me sign in on the provisional list as I was typically there on a warranty investigation......... My forever friend T.C. (from our local dealership there) had his name PAINTED at the top line of the permanent list.

I have often felt the need for such a list in my own office a time or three.......

 

Good morning fellow Porchatonians!!!

 

About 30 years ago I had a neighbor that became a great friend. We fished together. Drank beer and watched hockey games. We bow hunted etc. He'd call me and say grab your knives I need help butchering a deer. Wood stove in the garage with a cast iron pan and a lot of the deer never made it in the wrapping paper, good times. We had keys to each others garages. And we had dry erase boards in our garages. If we borrowed a tool we would just write it down on the board, never had a problem. We both moved away many years ago, me because of a divorce, and him because of an empty nest. I miss that guy, we where like brothers.

 

I wish I had recorded who borrowed what over the years. Lent some pricy specialty tools out never to be seen again.

 

Good morning all.

Those Harbor Freight tool boxes are surprisingly well made. I have a 46" wide set up I actually bought off eBay about 10-12 years ago that is similar to the new Harbor Freight stuff. Prior to that I had a smaller Craftsman set up that I had outgrown. When I moved everything over to the new boxes, the handles all had slots in for labels and I took the time to utilize that feature. Now even if I have a neighbor or friend over and we're working on something they can even go to my tools and find what I ask for in minimal time.

I like the "shit list" idea but on the now rare occasions I lend tools I take a picture of the person holding the tool with my cell phone and make it their caller ID pic in my phone until they return the tool. Most folks have just stopped asking to borrow my tools. Not sure why......

 

Happy Birthday @Oldie2007

Enjoy this one and many more to come

 

Morning 60+

 

Good morning. All this tool talk . I have made a few tools to perform a task on a vehicle(s) long gone but the tool is still in the toolbox. Still chilly and windy here today. Warming up a little as the week goes on. Had a nice dinner with relatives last night. My son made a New Year Resolution to perform at an open mic night at least once a month. Last night it was at Stan and Joes in Annapolis, MD.

@Oldie2007 Happy Birthday.

 

@95SLE sir, still awaiting them post grillin pics......

 

@Oldie2007 Happy Birthday !!!!!!

 

Morning all:

Happy birthday Kurt.

 

X2

 

Good Morning

I've got a Neurology appt at the VA in Nashville at 1400hrs today

Have a great day !!!