A Few of My Favorite Tools
Buc Fitch Explains Why He Brings Not One, But Eight Toolboxes
When He Hits the Road
by Charles S. Fitch
"When are you going to send me programming from your location?"
This question over the walkies from the station took us by surprise.
We had in fact been sending signal from our remote over the RPU
link for more than 20 minutes, or so we thought. At 6:40 the station
had acknowledged our signal. Now it was almost show time, but no
signal.
What had happened?
It was the 100th birthday of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball
team. On this May night in 1983, we were behind home plate to broadcast
the pregame ceremonies to mark the big occasion at Veterans Stadium.
Essentially we were isolated inside a chaotic house of 50,000 fans.
Our connection with the station was via an antenna mounted on a
50-foot mast on our remote truck, out in the parking lot. A 500-foot
umbilical cable connected us to the truck and transmitter.
Quickly it became obvious that the problem was "out there,"
while we were "in here." Being the only real tech type
on this remote, I took off for the truck.
Security in the stadium was severe. I knew that it would take nearly
an hour - way beyond the length of the show - to get out to the
lot. So I took off following the direct route of the cable, coming
eventually to a six-foot-high concrete wall with a chain-link fence
on top, separating the stadium from the lot.
I vaulted to the top of the wall (this was in my younger days),
swung over the fence, hung by my fingertips and dropped to ground
on the opposite side. A quick dash to the truck and I was inside.
I realized that the power supply on the transmitter was dead. I
needed about 24 volts of DC, and fast.
We had a little portable TV with a 24-volt battery tray on the
bottom, but it was eight screws and two clip leads away.
Thus our whole broadcast hung on whether I had remembered to put
my screwdrivers and clip leads back into my briefcase.
My life was contained in that black beauty, but in my controlled
panic, I simply dumped it all on the truck floor. Blessedly, I found
myself looking at the small Phillips screwdrivers and two clip leads
sitting there atop the pile.
Like a whirling dervish, I took off the screws, bared the contacts
and applied power to the transmitter just as the opening theme and
sponsor credits ran out.
We made it, barely.
Sometimes the difference between success and failure in this business
comes down to a single tool.
The Greeks knew
Socrates said you would know a craftsman by his tools. Plato said
there is a tool for every task. These gems of wisdom were spoken
nearly 2,500 years ago but remain true today.
To do your best work, you need a wide compass of proper and adequate
tools in serviceable condition, and you have to be familiar with
their use, limitations and operation.
Truly there is a tool for every task. My eight toolboxes are proof.
"Eight toolboxes?" you ask. Yes, and here they are, organized
by function or type of use. In some cases, one must cluster certain
tools to be effective.
Box 1 holds general tools. If I can only take one box, this is
the one. Ninety percent of my work is done with this box. It includes
small hand tools such as screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, a small drill,
my electrician's pouch and of course my trusty, fiberglass, 24-ounce,
Craftsman hammer.
Box 2 holds light specialty tools such as a torpedo level, small
punches, crimpers and riveter.
Box 3 is mainly for ratchets in three sizes: 1/4-, 3/8- and 1/2-inch,
with cross-size adapters and related items.
Box 4 contains heavy specialty tools such as large wrenches and
a 100-foot tape measure.
Box 5 is for extra-heavy tools including large pipe wrenches, 3/4-inch
ratchets and large conduit punches and hole saws up to 2-inch. For
any job that requires larger than 2-inch, we bring in the industrial
electricians.
Box 6 holds video/RF tools including low-loss jumpers, my trusty
Bird Wattmeter, five select elements and nearly 100 adapters. This
is proof of Buc's Cliché No. 1, "The Universe Is Divided
Into Two Equal Parts: Connectors and Adapters."
Box 7
contains audio and data tools - essentially the same as the RF box,
but for audio. It includes a small audio oscillator and the invaluable
CD put out by Ed Dulaney with every special audio sample you might
want including touch tones.
Box 8
is for expensive, delicate stuff. This is where my digital voltmeter,
inclinometer for satellite antenna adjustment and amprobe are kept.
This box actually is a hard-shell makeup case. It may or may count
as a toolbox, but it does a great job of protecting expensive items.
In addition to these, I have a few carry-ons including a 3/8-inch
chuck, 14-volt cordless drill in its own carryall and an ancient
carpenter's box with woodworking tools such as a precision planer
and an assortment of wood chisels.
At hand
Even if you are a master virtuoso with a tool, if you can't locate
it, it won't help you. Keep your tools in a known spot. Replacing
each in the same location as a matter of habit will reduce the chance
of lost tools, a problem that can bring any project to a halt.
From my vast experience in construction, I can warranty that most
master craftsmen are master artists. A peculiarity of artists is
that their tools are organized "just so." Exact personal
organization is a strong trait that has been used as a plot device
in murder mysteries, including Lord Peter Wimsey's tale "Five
Red Herrings." Organize your boxes to save time, energy and
frustration.
Mark your tools. Our work in broadcasting often takes place in
collaborative environments. A few toolmakers dominate the industry
(Sears Craftsman, Xcelite, Klein, Jensen and Snap-on) because of
their quality and selection of product; so sometimes multiple copies
of the same tool will be at hand in your work theater.
Buy several hundred name and address labels and paste them all
over your tool boxes, test equipment and anything of yours that
is worth more than the label. This practice causes misanthropes
to think twice about stealing; and it's good publicity for you.
Etch your initials or ham call with your Dremel tool onto anything
metal of value.
Scotch 33+ makes a great generic, quick-find marker. This versatile,
durable electrical tape comes in a spectrum of colors. My personal
tool color is super-hot red. My close associate, the exceptional
engineer Bill Rosenfeldt, uses cool blue. Kevin Smith, a contract
engineer in upstate New York and another regular construction partner,
uses a minty, refreshing green.
When four or five of us work together, the tape on safety glasses,
ear protectors, hardhats and ratchets makes the room look like one
of those early, garish Technicolor movies minus the leading lady.
At the end of the day, though, we get our tools back into the right
boxes, ready for use another time.
Respect your tools and those of others. A favorite instructor at
MIT once told us, "A tool is a machine that makes money. Everything
else is a hobby." He was right. Take good care of your tools
and they'll take good care of you.
Charles S. Fitch, W2IPI, is a registered professional consultant
engineer, member of the AFCCE, senior member of the SBE, lifetime
CPBE, licensed electrical contractor, station owner and former director
of engineering of WTIC(TV) in Hartford, Conn., and WHSH(TV) in Marlborough,
Mass. Reach him via e-mail to fitchpe@attbi.com
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