FOG, remembering the old days.

[Runhard]

Well, if you factor in the amount of time I was on the site, 815 post doesn’t seem like much. Sometimes I would spend hours at a time on the FOG. Anyway, I’m shopping for Shun premier knives now! My Blendtec pro 800 blender arrived yesterday and I need to start eating healthier, hence the new knives. I fell for the marketing gimmick and bought the Coolina knives. They’re ok, but not what I was hoping for.

We now have an 11 month old baby girl. She is our only child and I’m almost 46. I jokingly say that she’s my first grandchild to people I don’t really know. I want to start building her some things with my tool collection, instead of everything collecting dust. So, I’ll probably be around more. Maybe I can achieve 1,000 post!

 

[nclemmons]

There was the original effort pre FOG threaded discussion board that Matthew ran.  Was it Yahoo?  I remember being involved back then before FT took over FOG.

[member=5]Bob Marino[/member] - I wish Christian and others from FT were still active here.  They were early to the game in using digital to build a fan base.  Too bad they have backed off from direct customer engagement.

 

[Michael Kellough]

There was the original effort pre FOG threaded discussion board that Matthew ran.  Was it Yahoo?  I remember being involved back then before FT took over FOG.

[member=5]Bob Marino[/member] - I wish Christian and others from FT were still active here.  They were early to the game in using digital to build a fan base.  Too bad they have backed off from direct customer engagement.

From a post of Matthew’s in 2016,

“Sometimes, I can't believe that a simple idea that came to me one afternoon in August 2004 to "see who else is out there who uses these tools" ended up leading to a forum like this!  I have all the e-mails and messages exchanged back in 2004 with Bob Marino and Christian Oltzscher and a few others, and it's fun to look back at them sometimes!

Recently, I have been getting back into woodworking again, and I am very happy to see how Festool has developed as a company.  When I first started the Yahoo group, and this forum, Festool was still kind of small.  Now, anyone who does woodworking knows about them.

Hope you are all well.

Matthew”

 

[jmbfestool]

Going through this thread I remembered Tom Bellmare.
Tom was awesome, when I called to order from him we would stay o the phone chatting for at least a hour.
I remember the day I called him to oder something. He was a little short to me. I thought he was having a bad day.
He called me back and apologized (wasnt a need for him to do that) then he told me the news about his cancer. I was shocked and saddened. Even more saddened at his passing.

I found one of his cards in a sortainer drawer the other day.

Brought back some found memories of him.

Also writing this reminded me of the guy (forget his name) who started making the systainer first aid kits. He was a great guy to who I miss.

Wow memory lane.....

Wow.... aka Wayne was a nice bloke.  I remember him messaging me, offering help with an issue I was having.

We were messaging back and forth and he was writing a few emails for me.

One day he responded by saying..... sorry he didn't get back to me sooner because he's in hospital.

I didn't think too much off at the time, little did I know he was extremely unwell.

It wasn't long after he passed away.

It got to me because even though he was so unwell in hospital, he was still spending his time helping others...me.

I wish I knew how serious it was at the time.. [crying]

 

[sancho57]

@ jmbfestool

Wow what a surprise seeing you posting here James.

Good to see you.

How have you been?

Last I remember you were building your shop?

How's that working out for?

 

[greg mann]

There are a host of guys I think about all the time. This has been a great place
to hang out and never devolved away from the initial civility we all shared. That isn’t all that typical in this digital venue. Nice to hear from you, Brice.

For my part, I owe Michael K. a phone call to get caught up. Life gets busy and time flies by.

 

[Lincoln]

[/quote]

Wow.... aka Wayne was a nice bloke.  I remember him messaging me, offering help with an issue I was having.

We were messaging back and forth and he was writing a few emails for me.

One day he responded by saying..... sorry he didn't get back to me sooner because he's in hospital.

I didn't think too much off at the time, little did I know he was extremely unwell.

It wasn't long after he passed away.

It got to me because even though he was so unwell in hospital, he was still spending his time helping others...me.

I wish I knew how serious it was at the time.. [crying]
[/quote]

Wayne (WOW) offered to buy, and post to me, a set of Snappy Centrotec countersink bits, as they weren't available in Australia. Always remember him as a helpful, friendly, welcoming guy - you can't ask for much more than that.

 

[Throwback7r]

I still have my WOW first aid kit and will be using it today! I was even lucky enough to get the second mini first aid kit his kids finished after his departure from this world.

He was a great guy!

 

[jmbfestool]

@ jmbfestool

Wow what a surprise seeing you posting here James.

Good to see you.

How have you been?

Last I remember you were building your shop?

How's that working out for?

Fine thanks, you?

The workshop has been up and running a while but in terms of being finished.... um ongoing lol

I think I should have finished it fully before going in and starting jobs with it....

Plus few other projects and kids don't help  [big grin] [eek]

 

[sancho57]

@ jmbfestool

I get james, Ive got a stand alone work shop now been in it for a couple of years.  Thought i was done setting it up... nope everytime I get out there I find myself wanting to make changes.

 

[lumbajac]

Though I’m a year late, interesting thread Brice. I don’t remember how many years ago it has been since I last looked or logged in, but had the urge to do so today for some reason. Actually did a search of your name and a few others thinking back to earlier days and then end users training in Henderson, NV in 2010 or so working with yourself, Peter Halle, Dan Rush, dsweetser, I think Jesse Cloud was there, that character who wore the bandana whom I can’t seem to remember the name of at the moment, and all the old names mentioned already…

I’m mostly into metal work as part of my job these days so have been away from woods for some time, but will be back someday I’m guessing.

 

[tjbnwi]

Though I’m a year late, interesting thread Brice. I don’t remember how many years ago it has been since I last looked or logged in, but had the urge to do so today for some reason. Actually did a search of your name and a few others thinking back to earlier days and then end users training in Henderson, NV in 2010 or so working with yourself, Peter Halle, Dan Rush, dsweetser, I think Jesse Cloud was there, that character who wore the bandana whom I can’t seem to remember the name of at the moment, and all the old names mentioned already…

I’m mostly into metal work as part of my job these days so have been away from woods for some time, but will be back someday I’m guessing.

That character was most probably Kreg. He past away a few months ago.

He is laughing that you remember the bandana and not his name. That was his goal with it.
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/general-friendly-chat/kreg-mcmahon-the-bead-board-king/

Tom

 

[peter halle]

Though I’m a year late, interesting thread Brice. I don’t remember how many years ago it has been since I last looked or logged in, but had the urge to do so today for some reason. Actually did a search of your name and a few others thinking back to earlier days and then end users training in Henderson, NV in 2010 or so working with yourself, Peter Halle, Dan Rush, dsweetser, I think Jesse Cloud was there, that character who wore the bandana whom I can’t seem to remember the name of at the moment, and all the old names mentioned already…

I’m mostly into metal work as part of my job these days so have been away from woods for some time, but will be back someday I’m guessing.

[member=8073]lumbajac[/member] ,

So great to hear you again.  You met us at Lebanon in 2010 I believe.  Boy that was a fun trip.

Stay well and hope to see you again!

Peter

 

[lumbajac]

Ah yes, Kreg McMahon. I always found his posts about his various jobs constructing built-in cabinetry quite informative.  And you Tom aka tjbnwi… were you at that 2010 Lebanon course as well… seemed to be buddies with Kreg or became buddies there maybe?

Peter, yes it was Lebanon, not Henderson!  I was scheduled to go to Henderson later that year I think for an advanced course, but couldn’t fly out of our little 1 terminal airport up in the U.P. of Michigan due to weather. I’d been conversing with another old name from back then and so much looked forward to meeting him at the course, but never got the chance because of said weather issues. That was ccarroladams, if I remember his username correctly… had good posts too and seemed very, very knowledgeable from what I gathered in our couple phone conversations.

 

[tjbnwi]

Ah yes, Kreg McMahon. I always found his posts about his various jobs constructing built-in cabinetry quite informative.  And you Tom aka tjbnwi… were you at that 2010 Lebanon course as well… seemed to be buddies with Kreg or became buddies there maybe?

Peter, yes it was Lebanon, not Henderson!  I was scheduled to go to Henderson later that year I think for an advanced course, but couldn’t fly out of our little 1 terminal airport up in the U.P. of Michigan due to weather. I’d been conversing with another old name from back then and so much looked forward to meeting him at the course, but never got the chance because of said weather issues. That was ccarroladams, if I remember his username correctly… had good posts too and seemed very, very knowledgeable from what I gathered in our couple phone conversations.

Yes I was there. First time I meet most.

Kreg I had known for awhile. After the class he spent the weekend at my home in Cedar Lake, IN. I now live in Colorado Springs.

I hope that Festool brings back Connect, it is my chance to catch up with old friends.

Tom

 

[HowardH]

Hard to believe I joined this group over 15 years ago as a novice woodworker and having just purchased a CT22 and RO150FEQ.  Both, like me, are still going strong!  Loved the knowledge and how-to's of Brice, the folk wit and wisdom of Per Swenson and Bob Marino was my go to guy for anything I needed Festool wise.  My skills have improved while being here while my bank account has gone the other direction but I'm fine with that. I'm as much into woodworking today as I was then and always excited to see the new offerings. I remember the early problems and the subsequent start and later demise of TalkFestool.  Hope to be here in another 15 years. 

 

[dsweetser]

lumbajac, remember the night we spent at the ID airport? Never again. Don

 

[Chainring]

[member=4105]tjbnwi[/member] Tom,

In the thread you linked regarding the passing of Kreg, you mentioned knowing why Sedge is the way he is after meeting him at Festool. How so? I love Sedge, BTW. Such an excellent character and cut up.

 

[tjbnwi]

[member=4105]tjbnwi[/member] Tom,

In the thread you linked regarding the passing of Kreg, you mentioned knowing why Sedge is the way he is after meeting him at Festool. How so? I love Sedge, BTW. Such an excellent character and cut up.

Sorry for the response delay, did not know about your question until I logged in.

Sedge is a great guy. The same in real life as you see him on social media. Cannot say enough good things about him.

My comment was tongue in check, the way I phrased my comment was “Sedge was fine until he met us” type statement. Kreg and I together in one place is enough to drive anyone crazy or to drink…..

Tom