James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
The very popular Bosch 1590EVSK Jigsaw earns high marks from both professional users and homeowners. Variable speed control, easy blade changing without tools, and constant torque solid state circuitry add to the machine’s convenience and accuracy.
Instead of one detail that’s better, the Bosch provides several innovations over the standard homeowner’s jigsaw. Extra blade guides closer to the work piece stop the blade from flexing under pressure. Even in thick stock, the Bosch cuts an accurate 90 degrees. Operators can set the maximum speed of the blade with a control dial and then choose any speed down to 500 strokes per minute as the running speed. Instead of losing power at lower cutting speeds or under momentary loads, the Constant Response circuit keeps the power level and cutting rate constant.
With the Bosch 1590EVSK’s one-touch blade changing system, even blades too hot to touch can be switched out safely with one hand. The machine ejects old blades automatically — all the operator needs to do is pull a lever and insert a new blade. Even setting the machine base for bevel cuts is a simple operation — release a lever, set the base according to an accurate dial, and lock the base with the lever. Adjustments require no tools. Accurate bevel cuts up to 45 degrees are possible.
The Bosch doesn’t include a dust collection system, but still was rated top value by both Fine Homebuilding and Woodworker’s Journal. Bosch warrants the 1590EVSK Jigsaw for one year.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
The very popular Bosch 1590EVSK Jigsaw earns high marks from both professional users and homeowners. Variable speed control, easy blade changing without tools, and constant torque solid state circuitry add to the machine’s convenience and accuracy.
