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Hi,

I have helped with drywall before, man that stuff is heavy and

unwieldy. I know it helps tons to have 2 people doing it, at least.

I love being constructive and creative like that. It must be a

relief to be able to work alone, too.

Camille

> A couple of months ago, I helped the son of one of my clients

renovate

> his basement, making a very nice living space for the grandson.

This

> same person has gotten me a gig renovating the attic of one of his

> cousins. (Close-knit Italian family.) I have never actually done

any dry-

> wall work before, although I've been on many construction sites

where

> others were doing it. (I was a painter for a long time.) I got a

good start

> on it today.

>

> It was fairly simple, measure and cut the dry wall, and nail it up.

But I

> had never done it before, and had to figure it out as I went along.

It was

> like I had to teach my hands how to do it, " talking " to them as I

went.

> Like, we all know how to type, but there was a time when we had to

be

> very aware of what our fingers were doing. It took a while to get a

sys-

> tem going, but I was able to finish the job in 5 hours. There still

remains

> the taping and " mudding " , (applying joint compound), and texturing

the

> ceiling before I get to the painting. The deal I made with the guy

calls

> for $10 per hr (untaxed), for the preparation, and $15 per hr for

the paint-

> ing of it. AND, I'm going to be painting the exterior of the house

next

> Spring! I've always really enjoyed that, working out in the

sunshine,

> doing MY thing, and no one minds if I'm a bit of a perfectionist.

I've

> done it long enough that I can be fast and also perfect. So I'm

looking

> forward to that, and this little job will help make up for the

hours I've lost

> on the job because of patients dying. It's all good, but I'm

feeling a bit

> sore and stiff after all that bullwork today. Not used to it, and

out of

> shape.

>

> Clay

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Camille wrote:

> I love being constructive and creative like that. It must be a

> relief to be able to work alone, too.

I have all sorts of tools for projects like that. Many different files,

from wood rasps to tiny " jeweler's " files... sandpaper, emery cloth, a

variable-speed Wizard (like a Dremel), Flitz polishing paste, many

different kinds of epoxy, et cetera. Very few things have come into my

possession without me modifying them, or thinking of modifying them.

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Wow, Clay! I hung drywall with a friend once (his helper was afraid of bees

and the guy they were doing the job for was a beekeeper). The guy I was

helping was a " pro " , but you sound just as fast. I always liked the cutting

of the openings for electrical outlets and light fixtures. I thought of the

measuring it out as a puzzle that needed to be solved. I got paid a nickel

per square foot, which was cool with me since I was only in high school at

the time and not supporting a husband and three kids.

I don't imagine anyone would have a problem with you being a perfectionist

when you are painting their house, they probably appreciate it!

It sounds like you've found your niche!

Louis

In my house, " normal " is only a setting on the dryer.

From: adamsCLAYADAMS@...

A couple of months ago, I helped the son of one of my clients renovate

his basement, making a very nice living space for the grandson. This

same person has gotten me a gig renovating the attic of one of his

cousins. (Close-knit Italian family.) I have never actually done any dry-

wall work before, although I've been on many construction sites where

others were doing it. (I was a painter for a long time.) I got a good start

on it today.

It was fairly simple, measure and cut the dry wall, and nail it up. But I

had never done it before, and had to figure it out as I went along. It was

like I had to teach my hands how to do it, " talking " to them as I went.

Like, we all know how to type, but there was a time when we had to be

very aware of what our fingers were doing. It took a while to get a sys-

tem going, but I was able to finish the job in 5 hours. There still remains

the taping and " mudding " , (applying joint compound), and texturing the

ceiling before I get to the painting. The deal I made with the guy calls

for $10 per hr (untaxed), for the preparation, and $15 per hr for the paint-

ing of it. AND, I'm going to be painting the exterior of the house next

Spring! I've always really enjoyed that, working out in the sunshine,

doing MY thing, and no one minds if I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I've

done it long enough that I can be fast and also perfect. So I'm looking

forward to that, and this little job will help make up for the hours I've

lost

on the job because of patients dying. It's all good, but I'm feeling a bit

sore and stiff after all that bullwork today. Not used to it, and out of

shape.

Clay

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Hi,

I love my dremel.

One of my perseverations was doing " picque assiette " mosaics. It's a

blast, you take pretty old plates and cups and whatever and crack

them with a tile cutter and glue them onto stuff and then grout the

mess. I have a bunch of neat pieces that I made to sell, but didn't.

I gave some to friends, actually did sell a few pieces.

One thing about being " low income " , it makes you creative. Do it

yourself or do without, has been my motto for years.

I also love going to hardware stores and looking at tools and glues

and stuff.

Nearly my whole apartment was furnished with stuff I found in or

near dumpsters (I must say the stuff is from rich spoiled university

students who move and leave pretty good junk behind), still is I

guess, except I have more of my original art on the walls these

days. I have ordered a couch. It will be my first piece of real

furniture ordered special and new. I chose it with loose pillows for

the back so it would be easier to modify in time.

Camille

>

> > I love being constructive and creative like that. It must be a

> > relief to be able to work alone, too.

>

> I have all sorts of tools for projects like that. Many different

files,

> from wood rasps to tiny " jeweler's " files... sandpaper, emery

cloth, a

> variable-speed Wizard (like a Dremel), Flitz polishing paste, many

> different kinds of epoxy, et cetera. Very few things have come

into my

> possession without me modifying them, or thinking of modifying them.

>

>

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Hey, I do the same thing! My mother is a " garage saler " , but I am a dumpster

diver.

I love to drive around late at night on garbage night and find stuff. All of

my furniture has come from the curb (reupholstered or painted by me, of

course). My stove and refrigerator came from the curb (in the town where I

live landlord's don't supply a stove and frig, so people throw them out when

they move out of their rental units). The only things in my house that I

bought was the fabric for the furniture and pots for the houseplants (I

broke starts off at Dr. offices and restaurants), and mattresses/bedding.

People always ask me how I can afford such nice furniture when I live so far

below the poverty level. I used to tell them, but they always looked at me

in horror, so now I just smile. I have a 51 " TV I got off the curb one night

(having a perseveration for electronics pays off, too).

I have a plunge router, a miter saw, various sanders, two cordless drills

(with holsters so I can look bad ass), a circular saw, a dremel, and tons of

hand tools. That's not even counting my automotive tools. I plan on getting

a roto-zip and a laser level for myself during the after Christmas/inventory

purge sales over the next few weeks. I should get some polishing paste; that

sounds like it could come in handy.

Louis

In my house, " normal " is only a setting on the dryer.

From: Klein

Camille wrote:

> I love being constructive and creative like that. It must be a

> relief to be able to work alone, too.

I have all sorts of tools for projects like that. Many different files,

from wood rasps to tiny " jeweler's " files... sandpaper, emery cloth, a

variable-speed Wizard (like a Dremel), Flitz polishing paste, many

different kinds of epoxy, et cetera. Very few things have come into my

possession without me modifying them, or thinking of modifying them.

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Hi,

I'd love to have the tools you have, very cool. I don't have a

garage so some of them are out of the question. I bought a roto zip

bit (tungsten carbide) and used it in my Dremel for some of my

ceramic/tile mosaic pieces. Worked fine.

I have only reupholstered simple chair seats. I have painted lots of

furniture and refinished a few pieces. My son and his friend go

looking for computer parts when the students move on, they have found

quite a bit that they could work with, so I hear.

Camille

>

> > I love being constructive and creative like that. It must be a

> > relief to be able to work alone, too.

>

> I have all sorts of tools for projects like that. Many different

files,

> from wood rasps to tiny " jeweler's " files... sandpaper, emery

cloth, a

> variable-speed Wizard (like a Dremel), Flitz polishing paste, many

> different kinds of epoxy, et cetera. Very few things have come

into my

> possession without me modifying them, or thinking of modifying them.

>

>

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  • 2 weeks later...

At 12:21 AM 12/22/03, you wrote:

>I love to drive around late at night on garbage night and find stuff. All of

>my furniture has come from the curb (reupholstered or painted by me, of

>course). My stove and refrigerator came from the curb (in the town where I

>live landlord's don't supply a stove and frig, so people throw them out when

>they move out of their rental units). The only things in my house that I

>bought was the fabric for the furniture and pots for the houseplants (I

>broke starts off at Dr. offices and restaurants), and mattresses/bedding.

>People always ask me how I can afford such nice furniture when I live so far

>below the poverty level. I used to tell them, but they always looked at me

>in horror, so now I just smile. I have a 51 " TV I got off the curb one night

>(having a perseveration for electronics pays off, too).

I have found.........

My current 19 inch Color tv

Several PC's

Several Monitors

An Atari 7800 and cartridges

An Atari 2600

An Intellivision

Just last night, about 50 video tapes

A lot of books

And A lot of other great stuff while

While dumpster diving.

Hudson

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They have just changed the garbage pick-up night from one night a week for

the whole town, to a region of town each day of the week. No more driving

around on Monday night to see it all, no, they expect me to drive around

every night! Okay, they don't expect me to do any such thing.

I repressing the urge to drive every night, really I am. Aagh!

Louis

In my house, " normal " is only a setting on the dryer.

From: Hudson

I have found.........

My current 19 inch Color tv

Several PC's

Several Monitors

An Atari 7800 and cartridges

An Atari 2600

An Intellivision

Just last night, about 50 video tapes

A lot of books

And A lot of other great stuff while

While dumpster diving.

Hudson

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