You Know You Are Old When

[Runner]

I keep a big box of wire hangers around for utility use, such as hanging parts for painting, cleaning out drains, etc. For me, plastic hangers work best for everything else except heavy items such as winter coats, coveralls, etc., for which I use wooden hangers.

 

[ultrarunner]

Wood and plastic hangers can’t leave rust stains.

I’ve seen clothes on metal hangers for decades with rust stains.

Of course coated or plated hangers should also be rust free.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Me too...so we're old!
"I’ve seen clothes on metal hangers for decades with rust stains."
My wife is finally getting rid of clothes we had since the 70s!

 

[WinterDeere]

Getting old is a PITA, especially when you misplace the tractor keys, look all over, no luck and then find them in the ignition switch on the tractor.. Do that often.

I did that with my mower when it was time for the yearly maintenance over the Christmas break. I checked the drawer where I normally keep keys, and they weren't there. But I did not have to hunt for them, as I knew right away that I'd find them in the ignition with a dead mower battery. Doh!

When I park the mower at the end of the season, I close the fuel cutoff valve, and just let it run itself dry. I usually remember to retrieve the key from the ignition after that, but apparently forgot last fall!

I also normally install a battery tender, but since the mowing season ran late and I knew I'd be moving it again for maintenance in just a few weeks, I hadn't bothered with that last fall.

 

[Oaktree]

My wife is finally getting rid of clothes we had since the 70s!

I wouldn't even come close to fitting any clothes of mine from the 70s!!

When I park the mower at the end of the season, I close the fuel cutoff valve, and just let it run itself dry. I usually remember to retrieve the key from the ignition after that, but apparently forgot last fall!

I leave the key in my mower all the time. Not something anyone's going to steal, and it keeps the mason bees from laying eggs in the keyhole and filling it with mud.

 

[MossRoad]

I was able to get a good supply of wire hangers from the uniform service truck driver that I got shop towels from. Still have a bunch of them. I do occasionally cut one up for some odd use, though.

At my last job, we had uniform service. 11 uniforms. 5 in your locker, 5 at the cleaners, and 1 on your back. There was always a pile of wire hangars in a barrel that the service never collected. So endless supply.

Getting down to my last few lately. I like to cut them into lengths, bend them in half, and use them for giant staples to hold down Christmas decorations in the yard.

I apprenticed with an electrician for a couple years there as well. Right before he retired, I had to opportunity to teach him how to gas weld with coat hangars. We had a big project that used a lot of 4x4 metal ducting that took a lot of custom length pieces. He was fretting about getting the correct sizes. I said "Let's just make our own." He asked "Can you do that?" Sure! So we took some measurements and several standard lengths of ducts, went over to the truck garage, cut the ends off, cut to length, and I welded an end back on.

Then I asked him if he wanted to give it a try. We spent a few hours on some practice pads and he had it down pretty quick!

I'd known this guy since I was a kid in Boy Scouts with his 3 sons. He'd given me so many lessons over the years, and then 15 years later I'm apprenticing with him and he's showing so much more. I was really happy that I could share a skill with him.

He lived well into his 90s and in the last few years of his life he was making his own 3d printers. RIP Ralph!

 

[WinterDeere]

I leave the key in my mower all the time. Not something anyone's going to steal, and it keeps the mason bees from laying eggs in the keyhole and filling it with mud.

Key in the ignition is fine, but in this case I had left the ignition on after it ran dry.

I've honestly never had trouble getting anything in the key hole. Most have a metal shutter that covers the hole, or at least a rubber boot around it. My shed isn't exactly the heated and air conditioned clean room that my friends accuse my shop and garage of being, but it's still dry and relatively bug-free.

 

[masscity]

When my Boss changed the boom cable on the P&H 215 crane he always welded the two ends together with a coat hanger.

 

[MossRoad]

You know you're old when you are wearing a Polo shirt and are overdressed for the occasion.

 

[WinterDeere]

You know you're old when you are wearing a Polo shirt and are overdressed for the occasion.

Not to rant, but it's downright embarassing what people wear in public, these days. Even at church, I see folks in everything from ripped jeans to tank tops.

It's not that hard to throw on a pair of khaki's and a shirt with an actual collar.

Working in the shop or yard, I'm the dirtiest grease monkey you'll meet. But I do at least clean myself up and put on clean un-ripped clothes, before heading out somewhere.