Nostalgia kicking in

[SA1911a1]

My Father graduated from high school in 1929... Welcome to the depression, young man! I believe that he did some farming to begin with but by 1933 he was working as a carpenter. (and hauling Moonshine from Alabama) I have his home made carpenter's drop lid toolbox and some of his tools. What I do have that is a nice heirloom is the Diston handsaw he bought new in 1933. He engraved his name all over the blade and dated it. I was born in '52 and in '53 he engraved on it, "To Steve, 1953. My son was born in '82, so in 83 I engraved it, to Ben 1983. A triple date; 33/53/83.

Anyway, the handle on the saw was dry-rotted and falling apart so I decided to replace it. While I was at it, I cleaned up the whole saw and started looking for a pro to sharpen it. (None within 200 miles) so I ordered a set of files and a set tool. One thing led to another and I started cleaning up his planes. Now I have decided to fill the toolbox with time appropriate tools. I have been hitting the flea markets and finding everything that I need for prices less than Pop was paying for the tools during the depression. I am about $200.00 into the process and am damn near done. I have been buying rusty, ragged-out looking tools and cleaning them up. At this point I have a pretty nice stable of tools for the itinerant carpenter. To give you an example of how cheap these fine tools go for, On Saturday, I bought four carpenter's braces (for brace and bit) and an average of $3.50 each...Yea, they were rusty, dusty, full of cobwebs and dirt-dauber nests, but they were not hurt.

Hanging out in the barn/shop sanding an polishing, grinding, sharpening, I was thinking about what a difference a couple of generations make. Today, I buy an battery operated drill, probably made in China, that will be obsolete as soon as the next line comes out with a different voltage. Batteries won't be available for it in five years, even if it lasts that long. The hand tools I have been working on are the product of expert design and skilled American labor, producing tools that last, not a lifetime, but many lifetimes. It was what the people demanded and what the market supplied. The carpenter's brace is a prime example. Such a simple tool, but full of ball bearings, even in the handle; every thing about it says "quality." It was made better than it had to be to do the job it was intended to do. That is not today's America.

I am getting these old tools ready to go back to work, and I intend to use them. I have been having a ball restoring the stuff. When the apocalypse, that people keep warning of, comes, I will still be able to build a table with tools that have never seen plastic, have a history, and were made in the USA...

I will take the camera to the barn tomorrow and show you what I have been at.

[ffuries]

Awesome, and it'll make an even more awesome time honored tradition. Imagine a few generations down the road and a young Steve is looking at the names and asking questions.

My brother refinished the old planes of our grandfather's. I've got the old Iver Johnson shotgun that is now owned by a 5th generation (my son).

Look forward to your pictures, but having seen your other projects and workmanship, I expect this to be damn near perfect in not perfect as always.

[tomaustin]

your issue may not be building a table, but a problem finding food to put on it................

[SA1911a1]

your issue may not be building a table, but a problem finding food to put on it................

As long as some of my neighbors survive, I will have available protein on the hoof. ;)

[Junk Yard Dog]

from your past description of your neighbors I would avoid consuming them. Meth poisons meat, eat the rats, it's safer.

People have been dumping old tools in our scrap bin for years, and I salvage them, clean them up, and often use them. Gallons and gallons of Evaporust. It's often younger people cleaning up grandpa's estate and just tossing everything as they lack the skill to use tools, or the willingness to learn. Some of the stuff thrown out will bring good money on eBay from the few useful tool users left. I tend to split the population into two groups, tool users and useless no-loads who the tool users have to take care of. Care to guess the larger group?

.

[steelbuttplate]

Two sounds I remember growing up, the sound of a handsaw ripping and nails being hammered. It's been a long time since I heard either on a job site. Just around my place. I can play Jimi Hendrix on a handsaw. I need to find some at yard sales with good tone.

[SA1911a1]

I am a few tools from having this project done. I need and age appropriate hacksaw, a set of wood chisels, and a coping saw. The coping saw is on the way. I need to replace the cheap framing square with one that has all of the tables. My goal with these was not to restore paint, and shine, but to return them to their ability to function as designed.

The next project is on the bench. It is a Stanley Handyman, probably from the late 40s or 50s. It is one of those tools that do a lot of things, but none of them well. I bought it in '18 because it was the only one I had ever seen. This thing would make an OSHA inspector lose his lunch. One switch turns on the table saw (6") the joiner, the sander and the grinder. It is a hoot to watch it run. When you use one tool, you better keep your other hand in your pocket. No guard on the table saw blade, and it will not retract. The only thing this old tool needs is a new drive belt and fresh paint.

[ffuries]

Everything is looking awesome there Steve, today's generation couldn't tell you what most of the tools are, yet how to use them. Going to look awesome when all is done.

My grandfather on my dad's side did construction in North Carolina for some outfit called DC Linn (SP). He could look at a wall with his Mark 1 Eyeballs and see if it was plumb or not. There was a story where he looked at a wall said it was leaning, out of plumb etc, told the youngsters how many degrees etc.

They not believing took out their slide rules, calculators, etc and went to ciphering. Sure as shit my GF was right, and within a degree. When asked how he knew, he replied "Son, when you been at this as long as me, you know when something is wrong".

Back when people took pride in what they did, everything was repaired to the point nothing original survived, but the damn thing still worked, and had multi generational repairs.

[SA1911a1]

Here is the "after" on the Handyman. I have a new grinding wheel due in on Monday and it will be wrapped up. No more rust, new belt, new paint, new grease, everything aligned and ready to take a finger. The top was originally painted as were the screw heads, blue on the top, black on the bottom of everything. That heavy piece of cast iron will be around for another generation or two.

A point of interest, the motor had a 1956 date.

[ffuries]

Damn what a difference, you done did good there Steve.