Old Fools Journal: Another Skill Born Out Of Necessity

Yellow 6 inch rule for scale

If you don't know what this instrument of torture is then count yourself among the fortunate. If you do know what it is then you know what I did today.

I learned many years ago that if you have a plumbing, air conditioning or electrical problem then you better have a lot of money to pay for the service, have time to wait the two weeks on the waiting list or do it yourself. I started doing it myself and sort of keeping track of an imaginary hourly cost kept somewhat under the going rates at the time whatever they may be. I've never really gotten a straight answer to the question of "how much is it". I guess it's a secret around here until you get the bill. Never mind that. I have the tools, patience and can still sort of bend into the contortions required for this work. I just do it slower, say "goddammit" a lot and require a nap afterward. I also make several hundred trips to the shed for a tool until I have the entire tool box at hand.

At $40.00 an hour I made about $120.00 today. I used a gallon of gasoline going for the part but I combined the trip with a visit with those beautiful ladies that are at the motel with the enclosed pool and video games they are pretending is a " SPA" so I can't really count it.

The old faucet leaked under the sink. It is a strange leak occurring in the body of the faucet after the valve itself. It is a well made name brand and all non-ferrous metal. I have taken it apart but I still can't find the weak spot. Oh well I now have some nice little copper and brass pieces for future art fun.
We now have a bathroom faucet that makes sense. I love its simple lines and it is totally functional. I believe water will be flowing through it long after I've gone to the great do-it-yourself hardware store in the sky.
I installed this one a few months ago with a retro style that I liked the lines of and find very practical. Like the one in the bathroom you can wash your hair in the sink, fill a water bucket or wash out the pressure pot. Both of these fixtures that I replaced were more than 20 years old so finding parts to repair them was out of the question.

The tool at the top is called a basin wrench I believe. Parts are much easier to replace now than they were when I bought that wrench which was in the 1970's I think but I don't really remember. Most everything can be done by hand now or with pliers and a better wrench as been developed that is much easier to use. This one is a bitch. That curve in the sliding lever at the right end didn't get that way just laying around.