Working on this antique chest I bought. Tried smaller and smaller screwdrivers to no avail-nothing would go in the slot. Slotted screws were common for many years. It's on the floor in the garage, with poor lighting. Hunkered down (not easy with the arthritic joints) with a flashlight. They're nails, with scratches across the heads.   Good ol' Vise-Grips made short work of those nails. Now, anyone here familiar with antique French locks? I could buy a bucket of keys and sort through them, but that wouldn't be any fun.

(September 28, 2024 at 8:27 pm)Fireball Wrote: Working on this antique chest I bought. Tried smaller and smaller screwdrivers to no avail-nothing would go in the slot. Slotted screws were common for many years. It's on the floor in the garage, with poor lighting. Hunkered down (not easy with the arthritic joints) with a flashlight. They're nails, with scratches across the heads.   Good ol' Vise-Grips made short work of those nails. Now, anyone here familiar with antique French locks? I could buy a bucket of keys and sort through them, but that wouldn't be any fun.

I have a collection of old locks and keys that my dad had picked up when going to estate sales.  Send me a picture, I seriously might have something.

(September 28, 2024 at 9:29 pm)arewethereyet Wrote:

(September 28, 2024 at 8:27 pm)Fireball Wrote: Working on this antique chest I bought. Tried smaller and smaller screwdrivers to no avail-nothing would go in the slot. Slotted screws were common for many years. It's on the floor in the garage, with poor lighting. Hunkered down (not easy with the arthritic joints) with a flashlight. They're nails, with scratches across the heads.   Good ol' Vise-Grips made short work of those nails. Now, anyone here familiar with antique French locks? I could buy a bucket of keys and sort through them, but that wouldn't be any fun.

I have a collection of old locks and keys that my dad had picked up when going to estate sales.  Send me a picture, I seriously might have something.

It says "Paris" on the back, with the number 36. I doubt that a pic of the lock would help more than that. It would be really neat if you had the key!

(September 28, 2024 at 11:30 pm)Fireball Wrote:

(September 28, 2024 at 9:29 pm)arewethereyet Wrote: I have a collection of old locks and keys that my dad had picked up when going to estate sales.  Send me a picture, I seriously might have something.

It says "Paris" on the back, with the number 36. I doubt that a pic of the lock would help more than that. It would be really neat if you had the key!

I'll look in the morning.

I think I'm beginning to feel a little loosening in my left ear.

Going Gonzo on the knife sharpening stuff. I ordered two honing rods, one ceramic and one slightly finer diamond steel. And I learned that I was using my strop incorrectly. That's probably why I was less than impressed with my results. But I used the steel honing rod and it was sharper cutting an onion than it has been in a long time. And I ordered a few inexpensive knives to use for practicing my sharpening skills. I had looked into making my own strop before, but for some reason the prices for leather blanks that I found at the time were about $30. I redid my research and found a 1.5" wide blank for $15. Given my handicap, I think making a strop out of a large piece of wood will go a long way toward making it a lot easier for me to strop an edge. I'm also thinking of trying a couple of other sharpening systems. By the time I get everything, I'll have invested enough to pay for a lifetime of sharpening at a store, but it's becoming more of a hobby now.

Amazon had a lightning deal on a good set of oxide stones for $15. This will complement my other gear.

https://www.amazon.com/Knife-Sharpening-...0CPTS9LVR/

Went and got wood to make a new top for the base of the buffet I just bought. Not even going to try to remove that sag; it'll crack, for sure. Hit up a locksmith for a key to the thing and he found one after hunting through several boxes. I was figuring $30+ but he sold it to me for $10. Too sweet!

(September 27, 2024 at 7:48 am)arewethereyet Wrote:

(September 27, 2024 at 7:38 am)brewer Wrote: Covid and flu shot on Wednesday, a little sore but not bad. RSV planned for week 2 in October.

I think the two shots (along with my other health issues) are why I was not able to travel at the first of the month.  I felt a little yucky for a couple days but then got really shaky and weak and that lasted a while.  I didn't feel it was safe to drive.  I need to look back on my calendar to see when I got the RSV shot last year.

RSV vaccine is one and done.

Not annual like flu.

(September 30, 2024 at 7:04 pm)A. Secular Human Wrote:

(September 27, 2024 at 7:48 am)arewethereyet Wrote: I think the two shots (along with my other health issues) are why I was not able to travel at the first of the month.  I felt a little yucky for a couple days but then got really shaky and weak and that lasted a while.  I didn't feel it was safe to drive.  I need to look back on my calendar to see when I got the RSV shot last year.

RSV vaccine is one and done.

Not annual like flu.

That's good news.  The combo of the COVID and flu shots kicked my ass.