Construction Questions

By Menno Dueck

Fact or myth? Men are born knowing everything about power tools.

Mike and Stuart have different views when it comes to tools. Mike is proud of his collection, something he has been known to gaze at adoringly and even fondle from time to time. Stuart doesn’t like to spend money; he’s a more borrow from buddies and neighbours kind of guy.  Both are confident in their unchallenged carpentry abilities in that “can’t be too hard to do” kind of way.

Mike needs to replace five deck planks and starts by removing the deck screws with his shiny new drill. Hands on hips, he looks down at the now gaping hole and gives himself a thumbs up. New deck planks will be cut to size with the skill saw Mike’s kids bought him last Father’s Day.

First cut, while a bit shaky, goes not too bad. Second one better and by the time the fifth and last cut, Mike is so pumped he has visions of adding a roof over the deck or maybe a whole new addition. The saw rips through the final plank and Mike lets out a loud “yes” which quickly turns into a scream as the saw rips through Mike’s jeans and into his thigh.  In his excitement, he neglected to take his finger completely off the trigger and when he brought the saw to his side, the weight of it caused it to re-engage. Skill saw cuts are not pretty. The doctor struggles with sewing up the ragged, uneven skin and tells Mike he was “bloody lucky no arteries got cut.”

Down the street, Stuart wants to replace some broken pickets and fires up his hockey buddy’s skill saw, only to wonder if the ear splitting sound and smoke means the blade is dull. Contractor Neighbour (CN), partaking of some R & R on his own deck, stomps over to see what the noise is all about. A quick assessment reveals the blade is not only as dull as can be, but had been put in backward. Stuart borrows a sawszall from this neighbour, and after being given a short lesson from CN happily continues his project.

Word quickly spreads through the neighbourhood about Mike’s injury and his subsequent power tool phobia. Stuart hears the story, and rubbing his hands together, heads over to Mike’s. He’s planning to finish his basement and is short a few tools.

(Based on two true stories, names changed to protect the tool challenged)

Submitted by:  Menno Dueck, Ask Menno Consulting, Dueck Enterprises Inc. 

250-426-5460  www.dueckenterprises.com

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