June 2012

Community Name

DennyD

When and how did you get into using tools/doing projects?

I was first interested in woodworking and home improvement in my mid-teens. I've always admired self-sufficiency, but I'm a long way from being there yet.

What do you do when you're not tinkering in the garage and working on other projects?

I have 3 acres with a pond and waterfowl. I enjoy the rural life in the Ozarks very much.

What's the project you're most proud of?

I'm proud of a 7-strand barbed wire fence that I built with my dad 20 years ago; it's endured livestock, mower collisions and natural disasters, and it still looks pretty good.

Any stories of DIY disaster?

I started doing touchup painting on the exterior of my house once and ran out of that brand of white paint. I couldn't find any more of it, so I simply bought another brand of white paint and continued. That turned out so awful that I had to repaint the entire house to cover up the touchups. Trust me, one brand of white paint doesn't necessarily match another.

Why do you use Craftsman tools?

My dad worked in industrial maintenance and he'd been a farmer; his home tool chest contained well used Craftsman ratchets and sockets from the '50s & '60s. I still have those tools, plus my own Craftsman accumulation. Sears was the go-to shopping location for working-class families like mine, so Craftsman tools have always been a default choice for me.

How did you get your DIY skills?

I picked up basic woodworking and have learned to do small-scale, DIY carpentry for home repairs and projects. Fundamentally though, I've learned that you absolutely have to have the right tools for the job.

Anything you have to say to other craftsmen out there?

It's easier than ever to learn new skills with the internet, and I appreciate the ability to search for tips and techniques on the web. The Craftsman Club Community site's forum is a great place to see an exchange of ideas from a diverse membership; you can learn a lot!