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1. Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 17:42:25 UTC Robert McNees

   What are your favorite low-tech tools? I mean things you use regularly that you really appreciate, that aren't computers, tablets, phones, AirPods, etc.
   For example, my Stanley thermos is perfectly crafted and I use it every day. And this Rotring 600 mechanical pencil might as well be part of my hand. Exquisite balance and weight, makes writing a joy.
   Interested to hear your answers in the replies.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 17:46:52 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Michael Busch

     @michael_w_busch Hoping to get a comparable list of answers here, so that the very useful list people generated exists outside of that place.

   • Michael Busch (michael_w_busch@mastodon.online)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 17:47:01 UTC Michael Busch

     in reply to

     @mcnees As when you asked this on Twitter:

     The cast-iron teapot is a wonderful invention.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 17:47:22 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Pollux

     @polluxpimpim Oh! What exactly are they for?

   • Pollux (polluxpimpim@piaille.fr)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 17:47:31 UTC Pollux

     in reply to

     @mcnees For me, it's probably card scrapers, as a cabinet maker, it amazes me that you can do so much with just a blank piece of metal and an other harder one!

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 17:47:54 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Pollux

     @polluxpimpim (Also, would love to see examples of your work!)

   • Brian Siana (briansiana@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 17:48:11 UTC Brian Siana

     in reply to

     @mcnees

   • Carolyn Flegg (cflegg@med-mastodon.com)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 17:48:27 UTC Carolyn Flegg

     in reply to

     @mcnees today, it's my wooden double pointed #knitting needles #DPN

   • Pollux (polluxpimpim@piaille.fr)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 17:55:09 UTC Pollux

     in reply to

     @mcnees They are perfect when dealing with complicated grain, veneering, marquetry, and preparation for finishing a piece.
     I did this simple walnut jewelry box recently, I also just finished a desk that I need to take some pictures of!

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 17:55:31 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Pollux

     @polluxpimpim gorgeous

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 18:07:41 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     I am hoping the answers here double as an interesting gift guide for the holidays.

   • Robin Marwick (electricland@wandering.shop)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 18:15:13 UTC Robin Marwick

     in reply to

     @mcnees ooh interesting question. I guess my fountain pen; a really good mechanical pencil with a thicker lead; my asthma inhaler is pretty gosh darn neat; binder clips are useful for so many things; darning needles and embroidery hoops ditto; I replaced the lock on my front door this summer and highly recommend keys that actually work; really good scissors.

   • Guy (guyschmidt@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 18:15:50 UTC Guy

     in reply to

     @mcnees I probably use the little flat head screwdriver end of this little pocket knife as much as the actual knife:

     https://thejamesbrand.com/products/the-elko

   • RobJLow (robjlow@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 18:18:38 UTC RobJLow

     in reply to

     @mcnees Ball point pens (I find it hard to believe that they work) and bicycles (even now it seems somehow magical that I press down on a pedal and it goes forwards without falling over.)

   • moliver (moliver@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 18:42:38 UTC moliver

     in reply to

     @mcnees
     I keep a three foot crowbar in my truck. It has served me in many capacities over the years.

   • Jade :bc: (jade@toot.community)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 18:50:07 UTC Jade :bc:

     in reply to

     @mcnees I am of the perspective that a pair of comfortable shoes/boots are often underappreciated. When my feet are happy, I am happy. I use my feet literally every day.

   • SquirrelyGrrl (squirrelygrrl@heads.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:08:37 UTC SquirrelyGrrl

     in reply to

     @mcnees
     My old, beloved cast iron skillet. Knitting needles. Loom. Embroidery hoops.

   • braincolor | medienkurbel 🙃 (mannelossi@norden.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:09:33 UTC braincolor | medienkurbel 🙃

     in reply to

     @mcnees
     My bowl.
     I like the style and size.
     Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks - if I can eat it out of my bowl I'll do!

   • Keith Fieldhouse (kd2pyk@mastodon.radio)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:12:05 UTC Keith Fieldhouse

     in reply to

     @mcnees My Leatherman Wave multi-tool. It’s a fairly conventional (high quality) multi-tool. Knife blades, pliers, can opener etc. What sets it apart is that it takes multiple bits (screwdriver, square, star, etc. ). Mini toolbox on your hip. Invaluable in the field.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:20:21 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • em dee (she/they)

     @meoutloud Same here. Good pens, pencils, and paper an absolute must.

   • em dee (she/they) (meoutloud@mas.to)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:20:29 UTC em dee (she/they)

     in reply to

     @mcnees water color paper, paint, and brushes. I also *love* good black drawing pens and illustrator paper. Good sewing scissors and my Dr Grip pen. I've been using them for prob 15 years and they are outstanding (and affordable).

   • Speed Paste Robot (speedpasterobot@mstdn.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:22:04 UTC Speed Paste Robot

     in reply to

     @mcnees

     YES:
     #ReasonsToBeCheerful

     uniball bold 207 pen,
     exacto knife mini razor
     pink cutting mat
     blank index card

     all of these compact, like a portable nano studio

   • Ben Evans (kittylyst@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:22:35 UTC Ben Evans

     in reply to

     @mcnees My Florentine kitchen knives. Cooking is a major way that I relax and stop working - the knives help with the entirely different sort of flow state that cooking helps induce. Likewise, my cast iron casserole dish and my father's wood-chopping axe.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:31:16 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Ben Evans

     @kittylyst Anything that promotes a flow state!

   • Ricki Tarr (rickitarr@beige.party)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:39:02 UTC Ricki Tarr

     in reply to

     @mcnees My Mercer Bread Knife I use it nearly every day, very well designed.

   • Mike Fragassi (refrag@mastodon.cloud)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:39:09 UTC Mike Fragassi

     in reply to

     @mcnees Fountain pens, for me.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:41:06 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • moliver

     @moliver The lever is a classic for a reason.

   • moliver (moliver@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:41:47 UTC moliver

     in reply to

     @mcnees
     Yes, it occasionally serves as a lever too.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:46:44 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Mike Fragassi
     • Sal From Jersey

     @refrag @saltrifilio If you ever spot the Field Notes "Arts and Sciences" edition out in the wild, you should definitely pick it up. Was my go-to doodling / scratch work notebook for years, and not just because I was responsible for the puzzle on the insider cover.
     https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/arts-and-sciences

   • Mike Fragassi (refrag@mastodon.cloud)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:46:52 UTC Mike Fragassi

     in reply to

     • Sal From Jersey

     @saltrifilio
     Paper: Field Notes dot grid pocket books for EDC, and Midori MD notebooks
     Ink: Waterman Serenity Blue
     Pens: I'm a collector, so it's hard to pick one, but that Kaweco in Extra-Fine is my everyday pocket pen. I'm actually using Monteverde Capri Blue cartridges in it right now.

   • Sal From Jersey (saltrifilio@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:47:46 UTC Sal From Jersey

     in reply to

     • Mike Fragassi

     @refrag Love it when people know their gear like this. You've inspired me to do some of my own research into this, although I do really appreciate all you've shared. Curious, what's your go-to combination of the Big 3 Things™️ ?

   • Mike Fragassi (refrag@mastodon.cloud)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:47:55 UTC Mike Fragassi

     in reply to

     • Sal From Jersey

     @saltrifilio The thing is, that's a factor of 3 things: the ink, the pen/nib you're using, and the paper you're writing on. Some paper is notorious about bleeding ink - official "Moleskine" brand notebook paper is like this; oddly enough, generic big box store notebooks made in Vietnam often are really good. Some inks are known to be particularly 'dry' or 'wet' (based on viscosity) and some pens are too, although that can be ameliorated by only writing with really extra-fine nibs.

   • Sal From Jersey (saltrifilio@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:48:04 UTC Sal From Jersey

     in reply to

     • Mike Fragassi

     @refrag Appreciate the reply and suggestion, Mike! How do you feel about how much ink these things use? The one I used this weekend felt like it was right on the border of delivering too much ink, that would cause page bleed—or make it so you can't really write on both sides of the page.

   • Mike Fragassi (refrag@mastodon.cloud)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:48:12 UTC Mike Fragassi

     in reply to

     • Sal From Jersey

     @saltrifilio Pen on the right is a silver Kaweco AL Sport, made of aluminum. They run like $70-80, but Kaweco make plastic models with the same size & shape that cost less than half that. They're great, and very sturdy, but do get scuffed if you pocket carry.

   • Sal From Jersey (saltrifilio@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:48:21 UTC Sal From Jersey

     in reply to

     • Mike Fragassi

     @refrag these are beautiful, especially the one on the right. My BiL let me use his fountain pen over thanksgiving and I really liked it. Had no idea they're used outside of art these days. My only encounter with one prior to this week was in an elementary school art class, where we literally had to dip for the ink. Now I want one ... lol

   • The Geoff (_thegeoff@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:54:43 UTC The Geoff

     in reply to

     @mcnees Vernier scales are basically witchcraft. Measuring things to hundredths of a mm by hand, eye and simple mechanical engineering is just weird.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 19:54:55 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • The Geoff

     @_thegeoff Tbh it still amazes me, too. Like a magic trick, even thought I understand how it works.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 20:08:02 UTC Robert McNees

     • Molly Cantrell-Kraig

     @mckra1g I keep my papaw's old Victorinox Fisherman knife in good shape and it never fails me. But I always have to make sure it's not in my bag when I travel. I'd never forgive myself if it was taken by a TSA agent.

   • Gerard Thomas (iamgerardthomas@mastodon.art)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 20:18:16 UTC Gerard Thomas

     in reply to

     @mcnees 100% on the 600. And the 0.7, which Is my default go to, must be nearing on 40 years old...!

     Robert McNees repeated this.
   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 26-Nov-2022 20:19:27 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Gerard Thomas

     @iamgerardthomas I had mine for maybe two weeks before I dropped it. The pencil fell about a foot and landed on carpet, but it was still enough to bend the pipe. Luckily I was able to straighten and it works fine, but wow that thing is not resilient!

   • Stephen Webb (stephenwebb@astrodon.social)'s status on Monday, 28-Nov-2022 12:00:00 UTC Stephen Webb

     in reply to

     @mcnees I have a Paisley-patterned cup with a gold-painted handle that I have used for about 40 years. The gold is almost entirely worn away.

     It's perfectly weighted.

     And, being a Brit, I have used it for about 5 cups of tea a day. (40 x 365 x 5 is about 73,000 cups of tea over the years...)

   • Justin Flood (justinflood@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 28-Nov-2022 12:53:42 UTC Justin Flood

     in reply to

     @mcnees my absolute favorite is this smooth edge can opener that is superior to any can opener you’ve ever used. Instead of leaving behind a sharp opening that you have to pick at to get open without dropping it into the food, this cuts the SIDE of the cab by the lip. Leaving a smooth opening and the ability to PUT IT BACK when you’re done. It’s a masterpiece.

   • Anjijade (anjijade@mastodon.scot)'s status on Monday, 28-Nov-2022 15:30:22 UTC Anjijade

     in reply to

     @mcnees my norpro stainless steel cookie spatula. It’s amazing how often a straight edged small spatula comes in handy. Baking, cooking, frying. Use it all the time.

   • Canageek (canageek@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 28-Nov-2022 15:34:36 UTC Canageek

     in reply to

     @mcnees Chemistry spatulas! There are a bunch of designs, but they are these pieces of shaped metal that do EXACTLY what chemists need them to do

   • AstroHyde (astrohyde@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 28-Nov-2022 15:37:38 UTC AstroHyde

     in reply to

     @mcnees simple mechanical coffee press, 6 years running, always makes coffee. No power or complexity 🌟

   • Eric's Edge (ericsedge@bitbang.social)'s status on Monday, 28-Nov-2022 16:06:36 UTC Eric's Edge

     in reply to

     @mcnees daily? Has to be this mug. With this beard and mustache, the shape is essential for morning coffee.

   • charlesesmith (charlesesmith@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 28-Nov-2022 21:20:10 UTC charlesesmith

     in reply to

     @mcnees This box knife. So small, I carry it absolutely everywhere. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UZHT432/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

   • Greg Whitehead (grwster@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 28-Nov-2022 22:28:46 UTC Greg Whitehead

     in reply to

     @mcnees I don’t use it every day, but a church key keychain is my longest running EDC and has been very handy over the years

   • PeppermintPatty (peppermintpatty@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 28-Nov-2022 23:19:48 UTC PeppermintPatty

     in reply to

     @mcnees a garlic press

   • Charlie Mcintosh (zappaszep@mathstodon.xyz)'s status on Tuesday, 29-Nov-2022 00:06:40 UTC Charlie Mcintosh

     in reply to

     • Gerard Thomas

     @iamgerardthomas @mcnees ok, forget mathstodon, who’s starting mechodon?

   • Michele Banks (artologica@chaos.social)'s status on Tuesday, 29-Nov-2022 02:16:40 UTC Michele Banks

     in reply to

     @mcnees general's tri-tip eraser. The best! Super cheap, really works, lasts a long time.

   • Robert McNees (mcnees@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 29-Nov-2022 02:50:39 UTC Robert McNees

     in reply to

     • Eric's Edge

     @ericsedge

   • SAE York (palimpsest22@mastodon.scot)'s status on Tuesday, 29-Nov-2022 05:24:06 UTC SAE York

     in reply to

     @mcnees
     A lead cutter. Feels heavy in my hand. Very simple rocking knife. Probably unchanged for centuries.