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JOEL Joel's Blog

The Desk of Lost Souls

10/03/2018

The Desk of Lost Souls 1
My desk is the hardware equivalent of purgatory. Everyone seems to think that if they have a tool and are not sure where it goes (on a shelf, in the workshop, on display, for a customer), the best course of action is to leave it on my desk. Here is a current partial accounting of the tools that are on my desk and should not be. I stress that this is only a partial list. I have more stuff on the left side of my desk that I haven't organized. From the top:

A Ray Iles Spoon Carving Knife - Store demo model, I think. (SD)
Underneath the knife you can just see the tang of an old Buck Brothers paring chisel. It's down to 1 1/2" long and it's too nicely forged to scrap. It lives normally in my pencil cup - see below for a better picture.
A random file handle is also hidden from view - no idea where it goes. (NIWIG)
Dowel auger bit - needs to go back into the collection. (NTGBITC)
Stanley shoulder plane blades - NIWIG
9/16" Forstner Bit - Workshop (Shop)
Hardware from Pate's Shavehorse Class - we need to get another round of classes on the schedule - NIWIG
Old Vix Bits - Mine! I've had these for decades. My toolbox (MT), where tools of mine go when I expect to be actively using them regularly.
Damaged Spot - Scrap?
Stanley 207 planing stop - NTGBITC
Planing Stop atop a 3/4" dowel - (SD)
Sample caning chisel. No idea where to put this - it's been on my desk for a decade.
Carving Tool - SD
Replacement Brush from a Festool Router - NIWIG
Norris marking knife - NTGBITC (although it's actually been in my pencil cup for about 15 years)
1/8" auger bit sample. It's a prototype- not really worth production (NIWIG)
1/4" Jennings Auger Bit. Spurs are off - defective. (NIWIG)
10" Mill Fill. A little long - we will be stocking a shorter one later this year.

Incidentally - and I think studies have confirmed this is true for everyone - that when I clean up my desk (and/or shop, work area, etc.) I am more productive. When my bench or desk is messy I find it much harder to get work done. When my desk or workbench is clean it's a motivation to get cracking.

tools that were underneath other tools in the first picture
tools that were underneath other tools in the first picture
Join the conversation
10/03/2018 Antony
Actually you will be happy to know that messy desks are the most productive. However, there is a limit.
10/03/2018 Turk
Google an image of Albert Einstein's desk sometime.
10/03/2018 DON RIPPERGER
Hello Joel,
Just wanted to volunteer a solution for all your desk leavings. Ship them off post hast to me;0) It would be like Christmas and I promise to give them a good home.
10/03/2018 Walter Liedke
That desk looks familiar. Like getting Joe’s Blogs
10/04/2018 Mike Guess
My addition: My bench looked very much like this! I determined i eould replace each tool as i used it—keeping my bench (& 2 other work surfaces) clean. At the end of the first day, I had to purchase new shoes. As long as you can put your hands on an item when you need it, there is little use in fighting the problem. And, when you need a rare tool.....you know where to look, first!
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The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the blog's author and guests and in no way reflect the views of Tools for Working Wood.
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