Anyone who has taken a class at Roy Underhill’s The Woodwright’s School knows that you don’t bring a tape measure to class. It will almost surely be confiscated and returned to you at the end of the class.
Today, however, Megan Fitzpatrick needed to cut down some 12’-long poplar sticks for a tool chest class she’s assisting me with this week. And she really wanted to use a tape measure to mark out her cutlines.
So while Roy was stirring the glue pot…
— Christopher Schwarz
P.S. You should see how she smuggled in a Japanese saw. Ye-ow.
I have a 6 foot tape measure made by Zippo that is the same thickness as the old Zippo lighters that were ubiquitous during the 1950’s and 60’s. It is about 2/3 as tall as a Zippo lighter, otherwise it looks just like one. It’s so easy to hide that I put it in a safe place and now I can’t find it!
I hope Megan didn’t lose track of any “smuggled” tools, otherwise they could show up at an inopportune, perhaps embarrassing moment!
How did she smuggle in those newfangled ear plugs?
“AA.. A… B… C…D…DD… Dang it, I brought the wrong tape measure!” – Megan
Chris, I always enjoy your posts but his one had me busting a gut, too funny. Way to go Megan! Tim Danielson Black Diamond, Washington
if roy tries confiscating that one he may draw back a stump where his hand once was!
Is a translation of the art of décolletage by Boubo in the works there at lost art press? Just askin.
Let no one say Megan didn’t think this one through!
I am curious just how you knew when to be at the right place and time with a camera.
But really a 500 ft surveys tape is a little overkill.
BUSTED!
I’m not too proud to go for the obvious. 🙂
Oh great, now we’re gona have woodworkers bustin’ out in gangsta clothes. And instead of have sawed offs in their baggy butt crack showin’ jeans, they’ll have forbidden saws, power tools and tape measures. 😉