Trauma – PTSD

Question:

I mentioned in a thread that I paint my tools and if anyone wanted to know why I would tell.  I was asked. To keep this short, I retired from the Army in 1981.  I had started

                (Big snip of good post) You do your woodworking for yourself? What could possibly be wrong with painting the shop and tools colours that make you feel good, for whatever the reason. I have worked in way too many dingey shops with dark coloured tools and bad lighting. When my wife and I build our next house and shop the whole shop is going to be white. It may show dirt and dust quicker, but it doesn’t make it feel like a dungeon. As long as you don’t start painting cherry yellow George

Response:

Be sure to paint a light color under the workbenches.  I can tell you from experience that it is a lot easier looking for small parts that fall on the floor.  The downside is that when the floor needs sweeping it doesn’t keep it a secret. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I mentioned in a thread that I paint my tools and if anyone wanted to know why I would tell.  I was asked. To keep this short, I retired from the Army in 1981.  I had started                 (Big snip of good post) You do your woodworking for yourself? What could possibly be wrong with painting the shop and tools colours that make you feel good, for whatever the reason. I have worked in way too many dingey shops with dark coloured tools and bad lighting. When my wife and I build our next house and shop the whole shop is going to be white. It may show dirt and dust quicker, but it doesn’t make it feel like a dungeon. As long as you don’t start painting cherry yellow George

Response:

Rob <snipped for bandwidth dark coloured tools and – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -bad lighting. When my wife and I build our next house and shop the whole shop is going to be white. It may show dirt and dust quicker, but it doesn’t make it feel like a dungeon. As long as you don’t start painting cherry yellow George

Response:

You do your woodworking for yourself? What could possibly be wrong with painting the shop and tools colours that make you feel good, for whatever the reason. I have worked in way too many dingey shops with dark coloured tools and bad lighting. When my wife and I build our next house and shop the whole shop is going to be white. It may show dirt and dust quicker, but it doesn’t make it feel like a dungeon. As long as you don’t start painting cherry yellow George

Actually, I think I am going to paint my shop walls yellow.  I painted my laundry room a very pale yellow to match a wallpaper border and have discovered that it is just the right shade that even if it is a dreary day outside, that room looks like the sun in shining in it!  It’s a light enough yellow (color is called Sunshine, the brand of paint that Lowes features now, Olympic I think) that it will brighten up the shop, especially since I will paint the ceiling white.

Response:

I have had a couple of people reproach me on this, like I am committing a sin painting tools. These are my tools, so I can repaint them if I want.  

Tell them to get a life (the people, not the tools). Do whatever works for you!                            -=- Gary -=-   rec.woodworking FAQ:  http://www.robson.org/woodfaq/ Closed Captioning FAQ:  http://www.robson.org/capfaq/ My Web Site:  http://www.robson.org/gary/

Response:

I mentioned in a thread that I paint my tools and if anyone wanted to know why I would tell.  I was asked. Theo, I have an old CB Rodger’s 16" jointer,  I always thought it would look nice if I painted it Victorian colors…just never had the time.  It’s an ugly puke green and black….I like the look of painted machines! Good luck Gary

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I had always wanted a shop and was never able to have one, but in 1995 I was downsized (for the 2d time) and took some of that money and had a small shop built and bought some tools.  I painted the inside of the shop white for more light (something I highly recommend).

I’m painting the concrete walls of my cellar white for the same reasons. I’m lucky to have some windows into the cellar, but white walls are a big step up. Now I’ve got a 30 year old Delta gray bandsaw and a Grand Edition Unisaw. You’ve inspired me to paint my bandsaw white as well!

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Hey Jack, Way to go guy! I have always known that woodworking helps to ease my mind and body. I was born with spina bifida, and use a wheelchair. I built my benches to that height and all my machines have enough clearance to get the chair into a workable position. Woodworking (and this group) are great. –David

Response:

I mentioned in a thread that I paint my tools and if anyone wanted to know why I would tell.  I was asked.

Jack,     Paint away! Being in a bright, cheerful place is good for all of us. And thanks for your service. You should ALWAYS try to have a Plan B. And even more important, have a Plan A.

    Good one! — Thomas M. Goethe

Response:

I mentioned in a thread that I paint my tools and if anyone wanted to know why I would tell.  I was asked. To keep this short, I retired from the Army in 1981.  I had started having headaches in 1979 and they became one in 1980.  Stress, post traumatic stress disorder, post Vietnam stress syndrome (I don’t know if I accept this, Nam was a nice place to visit, I just wouldn’t want to live there), different cause with each doctor, all they agreed on was it was not physical.  Finally got bad enough I put in for SSD in 1997 and it was approved in 1998. I had always wanted a shop and was never able to have one, but in 1995 I was downsized (for the 2d time) and took some of that money and had a small shop built and bought some tools.  I painted the inside of the shop white for more light (something I highly recommend).  I didn’t even need to work in the shop, sometimes just sitting in it, smelling the sawdust, was enough.  Wonderful therapy just owning it and knowing it was there.  But one day I noticed the dismal grey of my bandsaw and thought it would look better painted another color.  Forest green sounded good and looked good, but it really seemed to suck up light and make the shop dimmer.  I then tried canary yellow, which I really liked, but it only came in water base and did not go on at all well.  So I got oil base bright yellow.  I goes on nice (needs two coats really) and looks good.  It surprised me when it seemed to make the shop brighter, more reflected light I guess.  But what really surprised me was it seemed to lighten my mood.  As part of the stress I guess I get periods of angst.  The bright yellow seemed to ease this.  So then I painted my ShopSmith (since sold and dedicated machines got, which were also painted).  Now I paint all of my power tools, hand and stationary bright yellow.  I leave all the labels, warnings, etc., unpainted, I am not trying to pass anything off as DeWalt or Delta.  I find I got a number of unexpected bonuses, including cheap therapy with positive results. The shop appears brighter (I cannot prove it but I think there is more light due to the reflection off the painted tools), the sanders and such are much easier to spot when covered with sawdust, and no one seems to want to borrow them, hehe.  I find it relaxing to sit and paint them. The fact that all the tools match now is also pleasing.  No more green, three shades of industrial gray, black, etc.  I have had a couple of people reproach me on this, like I am committing a sin painting tools. These are my tools, so I can repaint them if I want.  Hell, if I were to get a unisaw I would paint it too.  I still have the headache, but it is a bit more bearable now.  And that is why I paint my tools, short version. You should ALWAYS try to have a Plan B. And even more important, have a Plan A. rec.woodworking FAQ:  http://www.robson.org/woodfaq/        

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