Hand Tools

I've always struggled with cutting small parts to length, even when I had my radial arm saw, as it always seemed like overkill. I've been using a couple of Japanese pull saws for a while, really like them, and decided to make a bench hook for cutting small pieces. All parts are from the scrap bin - offcuts of luan plywood, a piece of cherry for the clamp block and a piece of thicker edge banding for the fence. First photo is the original one that I built - worked OK, but it occurred to me afterwards that the fence would be better behind the sawing direction. The original unit in use, cutting the MDF strips for the grid in my bit storage cabin…

Weather was into the 50s, around here.....van was at work, no cash in the pocket.....might as well do a walk about, and see what is in the two local antique stores, downtown.....Walking across a street,,twisted the knee a bit....ow! Finally made it to one of the stores....on the way around to a stall, noticed this gray thing $225+tax.....Appears to be a work bench...has a planing stop, too. Kept walking towards a cabinet... All kinds of goodies....however.. $38 for a well used #80? that #81 was even higher.. $58 +tax....cheap..compared to the other plane.. That be a $200+tax Stanley #72 champfer plan…

What solutions actually work to keep you hand tools where you want them. I normally work on the house if I do the work it is the spouses job to clean up. Should I put them all in places where the outline can be painted where they rest? Should I cut out felt in there profile same as paint but more protective? Should I just label drawers and shelves with what goes here? Should I get out only one tool at a time and then put it back? Should i get the set of tools out and confrim they are put back where I wanted them? What works in your shop?

OK, by the standards established in other threads this is not a collection since it's <24, but it's something to do and keeps old tools and traditions alive; plus I actually use now 3 of these from time-to-time. My fascination with hand drills began at over 60 years ago as did my collection...I just didn't know I'd start collecting at age 3. In the picture below, top row, the drill on the far left belonged to my grandfather. There is no name on it and it is not to the level of the Stanley's beside it. The cap is stamped on top 1.59. I seem to recall similar drills in the Hardware Section of our G.C. Murphy Department Store. The cap unscrewed for bit storage…

I had an English made stanley #4 that I wasn't too fond of. Light blue japanning, kind of loose with the settings.. I had traded off the Sargent #3 Fulton for a Craftsman #4 that the owner wasn't able to fix up. It had those grooved sides, and the worst frog seat I have seen, somehow managed to get it to work.... So, today while out and about, I stopped in at a place, looking for Rusty & Krusty Tools.....Found a nice Stanley #4c on the shelf...checked the price tag...OUCH! $45?! Hmmm... Got to thinking while driving home ( not sure which is more dangerous, me driving, or me thinking..) Decided to pack up those two trou…

I received an interesting news letter by Highland Woodworking this morning with a link to the following article, a plea to buy quality, over cheap. And to support the American worker. People Take Warning OPEN.SUBSTACK.COM Your favorite toolmaker can disappear.

I posted some of these over on Tool Talk, but thought i might share them here, too. A few old Kennedy tool boxes and some tools that are currently hiding in them. Yes, that's a drawknife in the one with the various hammers. the rules are for scale. The inside micrometer was in the first box i ever got which had been left in a house we moved into.

Anyone familiar with this place? Looks sort of eclectic. Warehouse sort of resembles Steve's shop ;-) They used to have a funky video showing how they picked an order and it was quite entertaining. They will also do "box art" and paint a picture on your shipment's box. If I ever get to KC, I'll have to check them out. https://www.harryepstein.com/

I love my big Dewalt miter saw...BUT...I'm gonna get me something set up inside in my shop that I can use for my smaller projects so I don't have to drag the beast out and plug in etc...There are a few still being made...but I think I'm going vintage. I could easily make the box and just add saw(s)...but looking at getting something like this set up. Just a cut through type wood miter box and hand saw.

Found this and thought of you. The paper cover was already damaged as found.

I have this old brass Gray Canada mallet that belonged to a beloved older machinist we worked with. It has been given to a coworker for remembrance. it has no handle , I cannot find any illustration of it anywhere and hope somebody can help me to reproduce a handle for it and pit it back in service. Does anyone know what the handle should look like? image:3618 image:3619 image:3620 image:3621

Was roaming around an indoor flea market that I go to quite often. ran into this little gem. I have been needing one of th these. I been using a screwdriver s since I start started wood working

Not quite woodworking and only kinda a hand tool but thought I would share before and after son a nice Vulcan anvil I was asked to clean for a friend. It tips the scales at 209 pounds and really is a dandy with a nice ring! Makes my 87 pounder look a bit malnourished! I was going to Etank this one but decided on wire wheeling instead. This one is coated with linseed oil warmed in with my heat gun to protect the patina and keep future rust at bay. I have read that this practice was used in the old days for anvils and I am pleased with the results. She and I are discussing a swap as my smaller one would be more manageable for her to move so this may find permanent res…

Have three (that I can find at the moment) dried out and crusty oil stones. I tend to use oil stones when I sharpen things up. There was a discussion about sitting the stones in Vaseline, in a pan. Sitting the pan in a 200 degre oven for an hour. This is supposed to repack the stones so any honing oil won't just disappear into the stones. Hmm, mine are well dried out. But, IF I go "baking " Vaseline in the Boss' oven.......I might get shot. Besides, the Pumpkin Bread would taste a bit.....funny. Found a plastic tub, and some Quaker State 10W40. Dropped the three stones into a layer of the oil. And just let them soak awhile.. …

Bright and early ( for me..) and off to a few Yard sales.....first three....Meh, turned down a $10 D handled 1/2" drill....already have one... Finally, at the fourth stop......found a tub with my kind of saying on it... Tape along the one edge said "Make offer..." Added a couple items to the tub, and paid the $6.......That pair of Visegrips, and the Carpenter's nippers were a dollar each. Got home, and cleaned and sorted a bit, found a wobble bit... 1/2" drive, 19mm for an impact gun. Socket set is one of the black, Laser etched set. 3/8" drive. There were 4 ratchets in the tub, all 3/8" drive. There was even a fla…

So I recently acquired a couple of new to me planes that need some work. Both I need to check the soles and irons for flatness and the iron needs a serious iron sharpening. I'll clean as best I can as well. Any other suggestions? Best methods for checking flatness on the sole? I do have a 3"x18"x12" very flat granite block in my shop. While I have flattened plane irons and chisels I've never done a plane sole. Some solid advice would be great. I often look to the infonet but there's as much bad advice as good so unless you know a solid site for such advice you're on your own. I created a web page for those planes here. Thanks again for any assistance.

I headed out to the great State of Iowa over the weekend to visit my folks and, while there, made a stop with dad at an antique and repurpose shop that I never had walked before. I am not so much into this trend of decorating with old and rusty repurpose but appreciate that it is a current trend and many people are. I have started poking my head in these shops however because tools appear now and again. So, I am most of the way through this fine establighment and spy this piece of barnwood tagged as a Towel Hanger". I liked the styling and happily paid the man for my new "towel hanger". With a little rational thought, I have since repurposed my slightly rusty, pitty,…

Its about 2" long by 3/8" cir and is adjustable. It seems to be froze and won't turn. I don't want to break it, I could soak it in something to get it loose. It has ( I'll call them teeth ) on one end 8 teeth. I looking for someone to tell me what this thing is Preston

Everyone hates these sort of days....Mom is staying in an assisted living center....her house has been sold....the "kids" and their kids have to go in and clean things out, before the new owners arrive. What we don't want, will go to an estate Auctioneer.... So....Dad was a Mechanic...all his life....had two full sets of about every tools Craftsman, S&K, Proto ever sold...I got the set he used at the house...I also got a ladder or two.. 8 footer. Got a couple lawn chairs.. Not sure how well this will do in gravel... Have spent many an hour on this thing..with these in use.. Anyone know what this big tool was for? …

Found this at an estate sale. It was being run by a company consisting of all women. They had it priced at $8.50. I jumped on it!!! The rod seen in front closes the opening if you don't like an open throat. Not shown is the edge guide. Also picked up a Bailey #5. For $4.50. No masks involved.