<VERB> the Damn <NOUN> After <VERBING>

I don’t like rules much. But when a group of people share shop space, you must agree on some baselines. If you don’t, it quickly becomes a “Lord of the Files” situation.

Tools are cast to the wind. Nobody can find nothing. So, you spend most of your day looking for the one damn bit/wrench/adapter you need.

I try to keep the rules simple here. In fact, they are unspoken – this is the first time I’ve written anything down. But I bet Megan would nod her head at every one of them. And maybe throw in a few of her own.

You must keep rules simple, otherwise confusion reigns. I prefer the following Mad Libs format:

<VERB> the Damn <NOUN> After <VERBING or ADVERBIAL NOUN>.

Therefore: Close the damn glue cap after glue-ups.

Unwind the damn clamps after clamping operations.

Clean the damn handplane after using it.

Flatten the damn stones after sharpening.

I think you get the damn idea. We can even do some shorthand here.

Empty, dust collector, it’s full.

Switch off, machinery, you’re done.

Stow, dangerous s…