Ok, as everybody knows, I tend to go out and pick up old, neglected tools.   While go through a couple of other sites about hand tools ( it is a hobby of mine)  , the prevailing mood seems to be:

"New out of box, and I HAVE tune it?    I can't afford any time for this!    I'm sending it back with a bad review!   Imagine, having to spend that much time to make a tool work!"

Sound firmiliar?    The "Tune up" they were talking about involved maybe 15 minutes ( most people get that at Break Time at work) of a little honing on a blade.     There is a story about "Joiners" ( the trades people who built thing out of wood) who, at the end of the day, would pack all their tools up, and head home for supper.    Were they "done" for the day?   Not hardly, they spent as much time as needed to restore any and all tools to ready for work status before bedtime.   They maintained their tools, they had to, in order to earn a days pay.    The tools had to be sharp, and ready to go, when they arrived at the job site, period.

Now,  come to the "Craftsman" of today.    End of the day, lock up the tool chests, turn off the lights, stop for a beer on the way home.   Tools?   Haven't the time, as no one will pay for my work ON the tools.   Take them home to maintain them?     Too much trouble.      Can't spare any time for that..

OK,  now we have a person that wants a new tool to preform perfectly out of the box, can NOT take  a little time to at least maintain the edges, or at least keep it in adjustment to use.  I would then go into this person's shop, while seeking a craftsman to do  a project for me.     I ask to see the shop, and the tools he uses.   Asking IF any need to be maintained?    One look could tell that.     Edges dull?  "Waiting on a new one"  What about just a sharpening of the old?    No time!    Well, buddy-roo, been nice, see you later.     NO SALE   Maybe then you will have a few minutes to take care of your tools?

This is going on way too much!    If you can't maintain  your tools, how can you do a project with them?   A simple program, used by almost any FACTORY I have been in, in the last 40 years or so, has something called Preventive Maintainence.    Some even schedule a full day, or if you are at the local Honda Plants around here, a full week.  It can be as simple as just going over each item, checking for wear and tear.   Maybe a thorough cleaning.   In a wood shop, this would amount to maybe a weekend day, or so, to sharpen all edges, lube anything that needs it, clean out all the junk hidden under machines,  change belts, any filters.    In short, make the shop ready for work, the next time you show up.

I go around, picking up old planes, and to see what some think is "good enough" just ticks me off!  Then to have some say that about a brand new $400 handplane!  "Dude, YOU have to maintain that plane yourself!   L-N ain't coming to your shop to do it for you!"   "Take the time, and maybe you might have an even better plane, that suits how you work"    If they can't spend the time for that, I have zero time to give them my business.  

Rant over.  

Oh BTW, I do maintain a few of minea $9  Millers falls 900 "V" line plane, about a #4 sized plane, with a cracked frog, to boot.  Took MAYBE an hour total to bring it back to life.   Don't know how I can afford to lose that much time in one day........LOL

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Planer? I'm the 'planer', and these are what I use...

Too true and great looking plane, I ned to get mine done but lately i just havent felt like it and i need other sand cloth anyway that i dont have at the moment.

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Charles Nicholls
Site Host
nicholls61@att.net
Proud supporter of The Wounded Warrior Project, Homes For Our Troops and the NRA

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nichollswoodworks

I agree with you  about today's 8 hour worker attitude- "If you aren't going to pay me, I ain't doing it".

There is also something to be said for the sorry state of quality control at some companies. Some tools being shipped would have, in earlier years, been melted down and recycled at the plant.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Geez, i hate sharpening chainsaws on the job, lol

3 guys waiting for one saw, lol

 Back in the day, an Apprentise was expected to buy what tools he needed from the Master.     Chisels were sold as just un-finished blades.   It was up to the Apprentise to:  1)  make a handle for each chisel,  2)  sharpen and hone each chisel.   The Apprentise was required to keep each tool ready for work.   He was also required to put his name on each tool in his "Kit", to prevent others from taking his tools. 

When I see people now a days complaining about chisel handles not being to their liking,   I think, why not just make your own?  Size it the way you want it to feel.  And be glad it at least comes almost sharpened up, saving you some time in putting an edge on it.So the next time you see an old handle-less chisel at a sale, pick it up, take home, and make a new handle for it.  Put a new edge on it.     The Master would be pleased...

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Planer? I'm the 'planer', and these are what I use...