PATINA - 2006

Yesterday was the festive PATINA Spring tool meet, and it was a great time. Tom and I arrived in Moby III at about 6:15, just in time to claim one of the last spots at the front of the tailgate area. I was surprised that there were that many tailgaters set up that early as usually the lot is half to 2/3s full by then and fills up at around 7.

I had reminded the Sawnut that our method of operation is to park and LOOK FOR TOOLS FIRST, than set up to sell. He lost his mind a couple of years ago and setup first. We have a tendency to separate as we prowl around. When we met up again I had acquired a scraper plane and a pushdrill. Surprise, surprise - Dr. D8 had bought saws. I had noticed a lot of patternmaker's vises this year. A ton of user benchplanes were on sale, at a wide range of prices. Saws out the wazoo. Even more chisels were out the wazoo. A number of old workbenches were available.

We set up to sell and moved a few things. Tom sold quite a few chisels. Not a lot dollarwise, but we both put a few shekels in the pocket in anticipation of buying things in the hall. The weather was so nice that folks stayed in the tailgate area even past the time when the unwashed masses are allowed into the hall for free. Although the tailgaters had arrive earlier than usual, I think there were fewer overall. A second row of parked cars never did form behind the front area whereas in previous years there has always been one. I think there were less attendees overall. There was not a total crush of people in the hall as there always has been, and it cleared out much earlier than usual. I was skunked on tools. Hardly anything on my want list was available. I bought a GTD catalog and that was it. I made a third complete pass of the hall whereas I usually do two - I was thinking the third time would be the charm and I would find some great items. Nothing turned up. Tom got a great bargain on a Millers Falls No 18c plane in a condition that would make the west coast MFia Don, Ken Greenburg, swoon.

I went back out to the balmy breezes and bright sunshine of the tailgate and put out some things again, whilst chatting with Tom and Joe Rogers. I decided to make another pass of the parking lot and two spots over found a Disston No 12 with a crisp nib and a full blade. I got permission to take it back to show to Tom and Joe and feign that I wasn't sure if I should buy it. After irritating the hell out of both of them, I went back and bought if for a buck less than the tag price.

They were incredulous that a No 12 would still be there that late in the day when everyone was looking for one, and the very few there were north of the $100 mark.

I was fortunate to talk to a bunch of great guys during the course of the day. Bill Duffield and Joe Rogers spent a good amount of time talking tools. Charlie Driggs was looking great after some recent surgery. He looked empty handed when he left, though. Met Tom Graham just before we left, and he looked busier than a one armed paper hanger. We met Chris Gochnour from Fine Woodworking and a fine gentleman he is. I had brought a Gage No 5 jackplane that I hadn't looked at for months. I was asking a high amount for it in the morning and no one bit. When I was putting it away before going in the hall, the bright sun showed it to be in far less condition than I realized.

I felt like a moron for my original asking price. I chopped it in half in the afternoon and Chris picked it up. He and Tom found they have a Utah connection. My usual policy is not to stop and chat with folks in the hall during the first hour or so. I feel as though I'm busy looking for treasure, and so are they and they would appreciate not being delayed from their appointed rounds. So when I saw someone who looked like Bill Ghio, and someone who looked like Chris Schwartz (who said he wasn't coming this year) I didn't attempt to meet up. I didn't see them later, so never determined if it was them or not. Tony Seo, the new Man in Black, stopped by whilst trolling the tailgate. Anatol Pallilo stopped by late in the day and discussed the DVD releases of his earlier video productions. Of course, we met up with Todd Hughes and his buddy Joe Rut.

Todd, as you might guess, had the quote of the day. I was standing there a couple years ago when Bill Duffield asked Todd to sell him one of his many anvils. When Todd said no, poor Bill looked just like a kid who watched the schoolyard bully crush his lollipop. So yesterday, I was harassing Todd to sell Bill one of his anvils and he said, "You know, I kinda like to collect stuff you can stack". I wish you continued good success in your stacks, Todd.

Regards,