Hand Tools

Ok---be easy on me--- Beside throwing them into the garbage Has anyone found an acceptable way to recycle/up cycle these "nominally effective" POS HF clamps??? the pads for other clamps? The pins in case you need them the bars for ?? etc. talking the bar clamps not the "F" style screw clamps be easy please

Thought some of you might be interested in carving tools. Most, if not all, of these were made in the USA, but you'll find no makers name on any of them. Necessity being the mother of invention, all these tools were made from re-purposed steel, using whatever methods were available to soften, work, and anneal the steel. There may well have been a blacksmith or two among them.... you see, these tools were forged in several POW camps, from Omaha, Arizona, and one or two other places, roughly between 1944 and 1949. My dad was allowed to bring them back to Germany with him, and continued to use them for another 35 years. John

I've decided I want to increase my usage and proficiency with hand tools where possible, instead of always turning to a power tool. To that end, sometime around the first of the year, I intend to purchase one of the customizable hand planes from Lee Valley. They are pricey, so which should I get for my first and maybe only bench plane? I have a low angle block plane from LV, which I like and find myself turning to more and more frequently, and I know I also want their medium shoulder plane. Right now, I am leaning toward the #5 1/2 jack plane, in their standard configuration. Keep in mind I have almost no experience with full size planes such as this one. Any recomm…

From on-line auction about three weeks ago, I bid on "4 empty tools cases" I was the only one to bid, so got them for $1+ auction premium. Due to miserable weather it was a few days before I got them out of the truck and to my surprise, they weren't empty. No major scores, but got $1.15 worth. I was just happy with the cases. Finally got a-round-tuit taking pictures. You know what "they" say..."one man's junk is another man's junk, 'er treasures." Picture is auction site picture. I wanted the top case for my Ryobi cordless reciprocating saw and R/A drill. Figured I could cut out any molded pockets so both would fit. Lucked out, some…

Recently did some mortise and tenon work and found my basic chisel set in need of an upgrade. Having my eye on Narex chisels for awhile I am asking for some advice on what type of chisel or chisel sets would suite my needs. These would be a nice upgrade: Narex chisel set BUT, what else would I need to do more work?

There is a Pine plank just sitting around...starting to get quite a twist to it. 1/2" x 6" x 6"......thinking I can cut it up into the 6 parts to build a box...using just hand tools? And maybe post a bunch of photos on HOW such a thing can be done? I MIGHT use the bandsaw for one task, but that would be about it.....all the rest will be by hand...and using just that one Pine plank. Not sure IF I should post it here....or..up in General Woodworking? Or both? Stay tuned...camera is charging up at the moment...

I just acquired this old brace, i have not started cleaning it, looking closely i cannot find any markings. Anyone have an idea what it is? A couple of key items: The head is cut flat on 2 sides, looks original. The head does not turn at the moment, but since the flats are at an odd angle (not aligned with the frame) i’m thinking it should turn. The small device next to the gearbox can be pulled out and turned, it controls the ratcheting of the chuck. Clockwise, ccw and fixed. The shaft sticking out of the 90* corner looks like it accepts a crank handle, and it turns with the chuck.

Stopped in at a local indoor "flea market" yesterday...picked up these treasures. Grand total with tax +$13 or $1.625/ea for the 8 items. The pruning saw maybe has been used 1 or 2 times. DIB price tag was $19.98. It replaces my old Fiskars pruning saw. The egg beater is a no name, but like new condition...wooden handle & crank knob, but nylon gears; the chuck is as valuable to me as the rest once I remove the stuck 1/4" twist bit; might be a good beginner tool for my oldest grandson? The Karbo-grit is more of a novelty than anything especially since in OB although the grit surface (fine) is very good. I always can use an extra 1/4 chuck key + the cord ret…

Tonight I pulled my end vise from my new bench. When I picked up my bench over a month ago, I noticed the vise was very stiff. Beyond stiff, actually the tube holes swelled around the tubes to the point of zero clearance, as a matter of fact the wood was tight around the tubes. I don't know when the last time was that the previous owner used his vise, it could have been years, judging by how his shop appeared to have not been worked in for a long time, he may have not known that his vise was nearly in-operable. at 95 years old, he may not have even been able to spin the handle, maybe, maybe not. I was able to turn the handle, it was tight but functioned. …

Using a few older tools today. Made a plane stop a while back. Piece of old saw blade and a wood dowel. Dowel then becomes a bench dog That I smack down into a dog hole near the end vise... The saw teeth grip any wood item pressed against it by the end vise. I also cleaned out the tool well......decide to at least make that chore easier to do the next time around.. So, I made a wood ramp. Nailed in place, it will help out as I can sweep out the well right up the ramp. Once the trash hits the floor, Igor's problem, then. been having a bit of trouble, when chopping out mortises.....how to remove the chips down in the bottom? …

While we were on vacation a few week we stopped at a flea market looking around. Ron saw this piece in the bottom of a display cabinet and pointed out an old caliper. Upon further observation I noticed it was a Belcher Bros. piece. I debated on whether to purchase it or not and my wife finally went back in and bought it for me. This is the third one of these I have run across and each one is different. Belcher Bros is one of the hardest to find rulers, the most rare and generally cost the most. The first one I found is hinged in the middle and folds up. They started making these around 1822 and closed shop in 1873. …

Okay I have this screwdriver, unless someone comes up with a different name for this tool, and it belonged to my Grandfather. The wooden handle inserts needed replacement, got stabbed the other day. I removed them and made two replacement pieces to fit the angled edges. Used some 100+ year old mahogany. So my question is what would be the best way to go about attaching the handles again. Then any suggestions on carving down the handles to fit this nicely? I posted pictures of the numbers I found inside the handles. Anybody got any ideas on how old this thing is?

@derekcohen mentioned in the General Woodworking forum about a dresser he had built that was featured in the current issue of Fine Woodworking magazine. I didn't want to detract from his topic my post, since his work was so beautiful, so I am posting here. In that same issue is an article about spokeshaves, written by Peter Galbert. Since I know nothing about spokeshaves, I thought his article was quite informative. I have been interested for some time in purchasing a spokeshave, (no I am not going to build a wagon wheel), so I looked to see what he recommended as a first purchase. He recommended a Stanley 151, which he said could be had from the used tool market. I…

From the depths of the "Dungeon Warehouse Basement" in Milwaukee Wisconsin, we have this "Poor Soul" of a Stanley Bailey No. 22 Smoothing Plane. This "Poor Soul" spent the last few years in the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet that was in the basement of a warehouse in Milwaukee that flooded 4 or 5 years ago. There were several planes in this drawer, and this one survived in the best condition. I did a little research, and found that Stanley made these planes from 1870-1943. I believe this one dates from the end years of production due to the Stanley Tools decal on the side of the wood sole. I couldn't quite make the d…

Many of my projects involve bow fronts, which result in compound angle dovetails ... I do enjoy building furniture with dovetailing challenges. Between furniture pieces, I find time to build a new tool. This time it is the Moxon dovetail vise I have been promising myself for a while. My first and only one was built in early 2011, after Chris Schwarz helped put it on the map. I immediately modified this design, and have been making modifications since. (Link: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/MoxonDovetailVise.html This new Moxon incorporates the best ideas. Ironically, this design is not geared for compound angles.…

Retired the old mallet I used for years,and made a new one.two....three.......... Herb

Good day folks, I am working on a project that requires the creation of a specification sheet for hand planes. I am having a hard time coming up with any examples in my online research, but I have put together something like this: Manufacturer/Builder: Stanley-Lie Nielsen-Clifton etc Type: smoothing-jack-joiner etc Size: No.8 - No.4 - No.8C etc Patent Date(s): Body Material: bronze, wood, metal, aluminum etc Body Length: Body Width: Overall weight: Frog Angle: Iron Type: O1, A2, etc Knob Material: wood - plastic - metal etc etc That is what I have thus far, any help in adding, or taking away unneces…

Friday and Sat. , The games was afoot! Not much in the budget for the 2 days, either...only had $12 in me pocket. First day? Well, one place had these. That strange looking screwdriver is a MAC.....$2 so far...drove just outside of town...said there was "tools"...dug through a "tray" of rusty tool shaped objects...didn't NEED any foot long screwdrivers...but..nose was itching a bit, dug down a bit further... I tend to shake hollow handles..sometimes there are bits inside..That North Bros ( pre-Stanley) No. 41? yep it made a bit of noise ( pun intended) 6 bits IN the handle, another in the chuck....Fifty cents a piece for these 2…

Today we take a look at a wooden hand plane in our Throw Back Thursday event. In the past few weeks while helping to clean out an old building, I ran upon this old wooden plane which at the time was quite dusty and dirty. It was about to make it's way to the burn pile when I ask if I might have it. Immediately I took it to the truck and saved it from the burn pile. All I knew at the time was this was just an old wooden plane, but looked good enough I thought I could put it on a shelf in my office for conversation. While spraying some finish on a table this week and waiting for it to dry between coats I decided to take the…