Old Tools and the Ghosts of Craftsmen

[Stringmaker]

I have a thing about re-using or "restoring" old tools at the moment.

I recently bought a really excellent old Spear and Jackson shovel, along with a general purpose garden fork, and my latest acquisition is an old billhook given to me. Both the shovel and fork have the "traditional" kind of wooden handle like this:

The billhook is equally old and is a bit manky right now but still a sound tool. I have a "before" pic I took last night prior to beginning to gently clean it. I was initially going to do a major cleanup, de-rusting the hook, sanding and varnishing the handle and then of course putting the edge back, but then I reconsidered. The reasons I like old tools are twofold:

1. They are usually of very good quality

2. They carry their life story with every nick, mark and woodworm hole, along with the touch of the last man to use them.

My plan now is to do the minimum to the billhook; all I will do is oil the handle after cleaning it with water, de-rust the blade surface and then put an edge on it. I like to imagine that the previous owners would be in favour.

Am I weird or do any others of you like old tools and kit?

 

[udamiano]

Totally agree with you there

 

[sasquatch]

Nothing better than finding an old gem somewhere and breathing new life into it for future generations to use. I've had a few finds and using something I've restored myself sure beats going out and buying a new inferior product!

 

[Toddy]

We're still using tools that belonged to our grandfathers and Son1 casts covetous eyes over some of his great uncle's tool shed too

I can't imagine *not* having good tools, and ones that have been recovered and restored can be very, very good finds indeed

Old Tools, and what do you do with them ? There's a good thread. From how to restore to how to use.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Stringmaker]

Just to finish the story of my billhook, here are the before and after shots of my very light clean up.

Before: Rusty, unused and unloved.

After: Cleaned, handle oiled, blade sharpened and oiled, ready to be used anew.

 

[John Fenna]

I love old tools and wish I had more.... they tend to be better quality than modern tools!

 

[Kepis]

i love old tools, i picked up an old Brades drawknife this week for not a lot of pennies (below), gave it a good clean up and a sharpen and now's it's ready for work, i have a couple of other draw knives, one is an old Marples, it has mismatched handles and a blacksmiths weld that was done decades ago, but it's one of my favourite tools

Im very lucky, as just up the road from home is a warehouse that does nothing but old tools, some are over priced, but you can also get some superb bargains in there, and talking of Old tools i got a late 1920's early 30's Frister & Rossman hand cranked sewing machine, or as the original users manual that's in the case says "Model E Vibrating Shuttle machine" in perfect working condition this afternoon on Freecycle that is going to see a lot of use with some groups i work with, it even had the spare feet, original needles still in the original packet, tools and load of spare bobbins as well.

Yep, i love old tools, cant be beaten in my book

 

[British Red]

Now thats a real beauty Kepis - never found a nice draw knife yet

My favourite older tools are my Elwell Knighton Billhook - used regularly to work the hedges and reduce timber


Elwell Knighton Bill Hook by British Red, on Flickr

My forged kindling knife


Kindling Knife by British Red, on Flickr

and my belt knife of course

Red

 

[demographic]

There's a place not a million miles away from me that sells old tools and niknaks. much of its from farm sales and house clearances so they get paid for removing it and then make money selling it onto punters like me.
Consequently its pretty cheap at my end.
I go there a couple of times a month and as a lot of the stuff is from house clearances I assume I have quite a lot of dead man's tools in my possession. They have serves someone else well and I want them to have a good home where they get used and looked after.
Recently I bought an old hammer (by its head design I'm guessing its 50 years old and its got the name J.J. Williamson engraved into it. I'm leaving that written on it as a record of how its served its previous owner.
Here it is on the left, next to the newer design head version on the right.

Then there's the two speed Metabo brace drill I got there.

The old oil can.

The A.J Wilkinson & Co folding drawknife (patented in 1895 bought at another tool sale.

The Enox tool box.
Old Eclipse hacksaws, British made pliers, Reed Mfg (US made) 3-4" micrometer, Garringtons British made adjustable spanner, Record and a Woden (manufacturer, not the stuff its made of) quick release woodworkers vice..
I could go on but it would get boring for you lot.

Instead of buying new Chinese made items I buy old (most commonly British made) but good quality tools that have already served a lifetime for someone else. Oh and usually at a quarter of the cost.

 

[Silverhill]

Old tools are window into the past of the little island. Every time you use an old tool, you're adding to its already rich and varied past. Some tools have been abused, and a little care and attention will bring you years of good service and the likelihood that it will serve many more folks long after you've bitten the dust.

My pride an joy is this;



It's my 4cwt Peter Wright. Forged by no less than four men in around 1910, and used by a smith up on the Wirral. You can see that he must've made a few chisels in his time by the condition of the waist and feet.