James, I am, no way a Studely!(although, I greatly admire the man's ingenuity and skill!) When I am in the midst of a project, my shop becomes a huge disaster area. I just finished a therapy project and am now cleaning up the mess. I find that I cannot work efficiently in a mess, but part of the nature of rebuilding is making large messes...especially if it entails such things as Routers, and such! <G> That's my shop. My "in-the-field" setup is much different. I do not need to make a mess in a clients home, nor do I want to. Not a good thing there. If making a mess is the criteria for an in-the-field job, then I have a third approach. You are right, we each have a way that suits our basic nature. For me, I love fine tools and take care of them, since they are very expensive. Even the tools I make, need to be specially cared for because "I" made them and I'm not a cheap date. The time taken to make them is paid for by more efficient way to do my job. That helps "pay" for the time taken. BTW, I always try to make my tools "pretty". There is something to be said for a tool with an exotic wood handle and such!<G> They just FEEL GOOOD!<G> Incidentally, I have invented several tools which a lot of techs use on a regular basis. Many are marketed through our suppliers. And, I don't get squat for the tool sale. Since I didn't take the time to patent the darned things, they just "surface" as if by some miracle.<G> BTW, I'm forwarding this to Pianotech, as it is good for others to see our different philosophies, that accomplish the same end.<G> Regarrds, Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain of the Tool Police Squares R I > [Original Message] > From: James Grebe <jamesgrebe at charter.net> > To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net> > Date: 12/30/2010 4:54:14 PM > Subject: reply > > Hi Joe, > About 25 years ago I took on an apprentice who was retiring from the bicycle > business. I let him work with me each day on client tunings and in the > shop. He was what I call a "mechanic". When I call someone a mechanic it > means they are a natural born master of things mechanical and hold my > respect for their skill. He was organized so much it made me nervous. He > would take the cord of my trouble light after I used it for each tuning and > coil up the cord like it was in the hardware store before I bought it. Each > time I would use it I would have to undo the cord to use it. He would coil > up my temp strips and put rubber bands around them. He was so meticulous > that I found it hard to work around him as he was always putting things away > properly and organizing them. After about 6 months we parted ways and he > went on his own after I offered to give him around 100 of my tunings clients > to get him out of my hair. My tools are mostly what I began with in 1962 > except for recent regulating tools. I do VERY little regulating. Since > part of my work is making caster cups and piano benches, I made my own > tuning hammer out of poplar with an apple knob at the end, The ferrule is a > piece of copper gas pipe that I fashioned for the ferrule.. The metal shaft > is a universal Schaff lever. It is about 5 years old now and, though > chipped, functions just fine.. Some of my tools I make myself. I do not > have beautiful tools so I do not take much time to protect them. I guess it > is just my style. Most of my work (98%) is tuning in homes, schools, and > churches and the rest is spent on making caster cups, benches, and writing > instruments. I am not really organized and often have trouble finding > things in the shop as I tend to not put things away in a proper place. I > know , to you, it would just drive you crazy but that is how I function. > ..There is room for each of us to do our work in a manner befitting our own > philosophy. I would think that you are of the (Studley type) if you have > seen a pic of the famous tool case of Studley in the Smithsonian. > Peace and Happy New Year. > James > > > James Grebe Est. 1962 > Piano Tuner-Technician > Creator of Custom Caster Cups > Creator of fine Writing Instruments > Pump Organ & Plyr Piano benches > Table Timepieces > Theatre and Theatre Organ Historian > www.grebepiano.com > 1526 Raspberry Lane > Arnold, MO 63010 > (314) 608-4137 > Become what you believe
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC