Old School Hand Tools
February 03, 2012, By Greg Hoard 0 comments
For years I’ve spent considerable time and money trying to find easier and more efficient ways to do things around the house and in the yard with tools that promise to save time and effort. Overall, it’s been a worthwhile endeavor. But the other day I realized there was a definite downside to my efforts and that I needed to get back to my roots: sweat and elbow grease.
It was a bit embarrassing. Here’s what happened.
A couple of friends and I were standing around an old-fashioned, cast iron grill that had been mangled by a haphazard deliveryman. The guy was backing up to drop off a product, didn’t see the grill in his rearview mirrors and plowed into it with his two-ton truck.
The grill casing was bent down until it was nearly parallel with the three-inch steel post that was buried in the soil and set with cement. Each of us took a turn in assessing the damage and trying to heft the grill up on the post. No luck.
“Doesn’t look good,” Bob said.
Sandman rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Don’t think it can be saved.”
“It’s a mess,” I added.
Just then Randy sauntered up. At first glance, Randy is a tough-looking bird. Tattoos run up and down both arms and legs. His handshake feels like unpolished marble. He might weigh 150 pounds, but he is wound as tight as a well rope. “What’s the trouble,” he said, a hint of Tennessee in his voice. He comes from Johnson City.
“Trouble,” Bob said. Bob is a cop.
“Deliveryman ran it over,” Sandman said. Sandman is a contractor. “We figure it’s wrecked. Can’t budge it one way or the other.”
“We all tried," I added. "Tried together. Can’t budge it.”
