Cool Old Tools

[FRJ]

Here is a winchester plane I used electrolysis to clean up the iron.

Nice looking Winchester plane and a very handy size.

[Unk]

Thanks guys!

[Unk]

I bought these old Marples "Made in Sheffield" chisels at an estate sale back in September. I cleaned up the handles a few weeks ago, and finally got around to cleaning up the blades. The previous owner had done a real number on them with a bench grinder. This steel is very hard - it too forever to sand the correct bevel back to 25 degrees. But they eventually wound up razor sharp. I did manage to avoid stabbing myself again while cleaning up this set.

From what I garner, the ones made in Sheffield are supposed to be a decent set of bench chisels. Then they (Record and then later Irwin) outsourced to China sometime after 2000, and quality went south (or East ).

[FRJ]

Those are nice chisels, Mike.
I have a full set of them that I have had for years.
I have a slow speed 6 inch grinder that I use on my chisels and plane irons.
The concave result is great for cutting. I put them on sharpening stones for the final edge.

[Unk]

Thanks Joe. If the edges are in bad shape, I usually get them in shape first with sandpaper, then move to water stones, then hone on a piece of leather. Most of the planes and chisels I get at estate sales are in rough shape.

These old Marples chisels are supposed to be good "bang for your buck" middle-of-the-road chisels. I don't really have a high end set, but I really like the old vintage Stanley No. 40 Everlasting chisels. I have a 1/2" and a 1". I will probably try to get a couple more if I can find a bargain on e-bay.

[Unk]

I bought this old Stanley No. 122A combination square a couple of years ago at an estate sale. Finally got around to cleaning it up. Bought a replacement level bubble for it from Amazon. I also spray painted the rule black then cleaned it off to highlight the numbers and marks a little better. This one is not that old. I have Stanley catalogs up to 1974, and the 122A is not listed. As the 122 (cast iron) has been around since the late 1930s, I assume the 122"A" is for the aluminum head, as a magnet does not stick to it. I am guessing it is from sometime in the late 70s or 1980s. I waxed it so it slides very smooth and then checked it for square - it is dead nuts on. It is missing the scribe, but I don't ever use those anyway.

I purchased a No. 22 (with two level bubbles) on e-bay today - it has a cast iron head, and dates to late 1930s to 1940s. I will post some pics when I receive it.

If you have a combination square that is not square, they are pretty easy to make square. There are some videos on youtube showing how to do it in just a few minutes.

[Unk]

The couple of combination squares I bought off e-bay have shown up recently. The first pic is 3 Stanley's. Top is a Stanley No. 22, which has a cast iron head and has two level bubbles, which is pretty unique. The 22 was made from 1941 to 1974. I think this one dates to the 1940s or so.

The next one is a Stanley 122, which was their standard combination square. Cast iron head and made 1941 to 1984. I think this will be my new go-to square. I cleaned it up, and made it square. Feels very good in the hand.

The bottom one is Stanley 122A. It has an aluminum head, and not sure when this one was made - I think in the 1980s-early 90s. All 3 of these are made in the USA. This is a very good square.

The next two are a Stanley No. 21 with Sweetheart logo. Stanley made the No. 21 from 1911 to 1984. This is a 9 inch version, and the Sweetheart logo dates this one from 1920 to 1935.

Also shown is a 6 inch Johnson ( ) I bought this one new from Amazon a couple of years ago and it is very handy. I couldn't see the stamped numbers very well, so I spray painted the rule and then sanded it down to darken the numbers. That helped a lot. This one of my go-to small square. Made in USA.

Lastly are 3 cheap ones from Harbor Freight. The 12 inch Pittsburgh is acceptable. The 6 inch is terrible. The other one I only use the center finder for finding center for lathe turnings.

I have spent about 10 or 15 minutes on each one of these just getting them adjusted to be square. All are square except the little Pittsburgh - it's just too wonky.

Sorry to expound on combination squares so much - but I have used them all my life, and most of the time they have been woefully un-square. Which makes for frustrating wood-working projects. In my old age, I finally learned how to spend a few minutes and square them up. It makes the work so much more enjoyable when everything fits together like it should!

[enuf]

Herters Fly Tying Vise

[Unk]

Nice old fly vise.

I have picked up a few of these old "perfect handle" screwdrivers over the past year.

[treefarmer]

Those old screwdrivers always feel good in the hand!
Nice group of oldies!
Treefarmer

[Unk]

Those old screwdrivers always feel good in the hand!
Nice group of oldies!
Treefarmer

Yes they do! I find I reach for them more than my other screwdrivers.

[ThatWeirdKnifeGuy]

I found this old hammer at an estate sale. I let my 4 year old son work on it when he wants to be with me when I'm working on knives. I plan on actually using it someday. No identifying marks, but i like the way it feels. All metal construction.

[Mumbleypeg]

Went to an antique store in small town and saw these old planes. I know some of you collect them and like seeing them so I took a few pictures. They also had a bunch of old wrenches, some in good shape. I sorted through them and bought all the Craftsman wrenches (as if I need more wrenches!)

Ken

[Rockingkj]

Went to an antique store in small town and saw these old planes. I know some of you collect them and like seeing them so I took a few pictures. They also had a bunch of old wrenches, some in good shape. I sorted through them and bought all the Craftsman wrenches and bought them (as if I need more wrenches!)

Ken

That’s quite the pile of old planes. Good thing they are not local to me. I’m sure there would be something I would think I should have.

[Unk]

Nice pile of old planes, Ken. My wallet tends to leap out of my pocket when I get around old tools.

[Unk]

I have been looking for a rolling chest for my Kennedy tool boxes for a while. I finally found one on FB Marketplace in my price range. I didn't really need the top 2 boxes (526 and MC28) as I already had a set, but decided to keep them. The bottom cabinet is a 297. I wiped it down with WD-40, cleaned and lubed the drawer slides, and put liners in the drawers. Now I am slowly getting my tools loaded into it. It's nice not to have the tools stacked 3 or 4 or 5 deep in the drawers.

[Mumbleypeg]

Nice find Mike. You’ll like having that rig to keep your tools in. I have two similar ones in my shop, that I also bought second hand. Once I got everything organized it’s really easy to find what I need. Problem is I often need some of the tools in the field, so I load up a bag or smaller toolbox - just have to remember to put everything back where it belongs after I’m finished!

Ken

[Unk]

Nice looking tool boxes, Ken. Those old Craftsman boxes are very popular.

[ThatWeirdKnifeGuy]

Found this at a thrift store for 3 bucks. I grabbed it because.....it's heavy? It's metal? Seemed cool. But I don't honestly know what it is.

Can anyone help me out here. What is this? The green base plate is about 8 inches long. Lever on top has a spring.

[Rockingkj]

Been a while since I found a Winchester tool in the wild. Found today at a 2nd hand store.

[FRJ]

Been a while since I found a Winchester tool in the wild. Found today at a 2nd hand store.IMG_7159.jpegIMG_7158.jpeg

That's a really nice tool in good condition, plus a great name.
It looks like the cutters have not been abused. Someone cared for it.

[GSPTOPDOG]

I was pretty proud of my Fuller Pliers. Made In England.... until I saw the Winchester pilers.... now it doesn't seem like such a great tool anymore....

[Rockingkj]

I was pretty proud of my Fuller Pliers. Made In England.... until I saw the Winchester pilers.... now it doesn't seem like such a great tool anymore....

Well your Fuller’s are a quality tool. A great find also

[GSPTOPDOG]

I was pretty proud of my Fuller Pliers. Made In England.... until I saw the Winchester pilers.... now it doesn't seem like such a great tool anymore....

Well your Fuller’s are a quality tool. A great find also

Thanks RKJ I have been looking mainly for European made tools lately ... I have WAY too many USA .... if that is even possible

[Unk]

Found this at a thrift store for 3 bucks. I grabbed it because.....it's heavy? It's metal? Seemed cool. But I don't honestly know what it is.

Can anyone help me out here. What is this? The green base plate is about 8 inches long. Lever on top has a spring.

I would guess that is a rivet / grommet / snap press.