A woodworker’s lament
It’s amazing how many things that never needed batteries before, need them now. The most obvious is the screwdriver. There may be very few people left on the planet that…
It's amazing how many things that never needed batteries before, need them now.
The most obvious is the screwdriver. There may be very few people left on the planet that can still drive a screw without a battery-powered driver. I remember when the most high tech screwdriver was the Yankee. Remember those? They had a spiral shaft that spun as you pushed in the handle. A couple of shoves and the screw was driven home.
We used to use dial indicators. But these days, you can hardly take a measurement without some sort of battery-powered device.
We used to point at things with a stick. But now, it has to be with a battery-powered laser. I guess it's because sticks are becoming extinct. And dangerous too.
The other day, I saw a kid with battery-powered shoes: lights flashed as he moved. Great for those nighttime walks, I guess.
A woodworker’s sharp knife (one of the few things, it would seem, that can still be operated without batteries) is now relegated to cutting open the indestructible plastic packs that the batteries come in.
D.D.
David DeCristoforo possesses an extensive resume as designer/maker of fine furniture, high-end cabinetry and architectural woodwork. His experience in professional woodworking spans a period of 35 years. For the past 20 years David DeCristoforo Design has been located in Woodland, California. During this time David's shop has ranged in scope from a "full on" cabinet production shop with as many as 15 employees to a small fine furniture and custom millwork shop, working with his son, David RBJ, a highly skilled maker in his own right.