James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
The Fein FMM 250Q is one of the few power tools that actually does those critical awkward jobs you’d otherwise need hand tools to accomplish. With the Fein, you can avoid the other carpenter’s solution of busting things out and starting over.
The Fein MultiMaster drives an assortment of useful blades with a high-speed oscillation that cuts, sands, rasps, and scrapes efficiently. This machine doesn’t just do impossible cuts like trimming door frames flush with the floor while still in place — with a different blade or just a different technique, the MultiMaster cuts mortises and crosscuts you’d otherwise need a circular saw, table saw, dado blade, or mallet and chisel for. Not only that, it does the job neatly and accurately so you don’t skimp on quality. The usual restrictions apply, and you can’t expect zero blade deflection in knotty pine, but the quirks are the ordinary problems you’d expect in any woodworking system. With the tri-corner sanding head and pre-cut sanding pads, you’ll be able to access even tricky corners and grooves, the places you’d otherwise have to finish by hand.
Other blades convert the Fein 250Q MultiMaster for removing grout, chiseling old adhesive layers, and cutting carpet and composite flooring. The carbide blade even cuts some types of concrete. If you work on pipe or restore autos, the MultiMaster cuts tubing, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and up to 20 gauge sheet metal. Attachments switch out quickly with simple tools that come with the Fein MultiMaster Detail Sander Kit. Combine the MultiMaster with a Shop-Vac, and you’ll be able to do all this in nearly dust-free conditions.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Designed by Doug Ritter of “Equipped to Survive,” the Adventure Medical Kits Pocket Survival Pak earned positive reviews from survival instructor Cody Lundin and...
The Fein FMM 250Q is one of the few power tools that actually does those critical awkward jobs you’d otherwise need hand tools to accomplish. With the Fein, you can avoid the other carpenter’s solution of busting things out and starting over.
