ShowMe your tools

Discussion in 'DIY (Do It Yourself)' started by SEMO, Dec 15, 2016.

  1. SEMO

    SEMO Member

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    We all come from different backgrounds with varied skill sets. A man's trade determines his toolbox. Maybe you just tinker on projects, or work full time with your hands.
    Do you have any heirloom tools? Handmade tools? Custom, one of a kind tools? From woodworking, to shaping/forming metal, to leather tools. Here's a thread to show them off.
    Let's see what you work with.
     
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  2. SEMO

    SEMO Member

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    Some leather tools image.jpeg

    Old marking tools from my granddad.

    image.jpeg

    And some more modern tools...
    My knife grinder:
    image.jpeg

    Small lathe my son uses for turning pens.
    image.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2016
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  3. Delkancott

    Delkancott Member

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    Where do I start? We have more than 150 years of tools scattered over a lot of places. Every time I buy a tool, I find a similar one that I didn't know we already own (or should I say the own us?)
     
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  4. SEMO

    SEMO Member

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    My favorite metal moving hammer.
    image.jpeg
     
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  5. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    IMG_6072.JPG

    My scale adjusters.
     
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  6. VaughnT

    VaughnT Member

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    A little collage thing I did to show how I adapted a small vise to work on the anvil. Very very hand thing to have when you want to hold your work steady while trying to punch and chisel.


    3rf Anvil Vise Collage.jpg
     
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  7. SEMO

    SEMO Member

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    Back to the basics.

    Nice adapting of tools. Are you forming hooks out of nails?
     
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  8. VaughnT

    VaughnT Member

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    Yep, nail hooks are a mainstay of my business, oddly enough. Anyone can simply pound a nail into the wall to hang something up, so I thought I'd dress the notion up a bit...... Folks love the hooks for decorating cabins, cottages, man caves, garages, etc.

    It was the need for a hook in my own smithy that gave me the idea. I had a rusty ol' 12" spike just sitting there in the bucket of bits and bobs... so I decided to use it instead of cutting fresh stock. The rest, as they say, is history!
    IMG_3150.jpg
    The vise helps to hold the hook 90º to the anvil face, the same orientation it would be on the wall, so I can hammer in a nice divot. Before I came up with the vise idea, I was just eye-balling it and ended up having to tweak each hook because it wouldn't sit on the wall right. Thorough pain in the butt!
     
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  9. VaughnT

    VaughnT Member

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    Since we're talking about handy tools for the shop.....

    The Steel Puck of Awesomeness -- my dad's invention and super handy to have around if you do anything with sheet metal. The flat side makes a dandy little stamping anvil and the concave side does wonders for any dishing needs. I work in steel so I didn't need a mirror finish, but I'm sure it wouldn't take long to polish the things up if someone was so inclined!

    I honestly don't know how I got along without it. Thanks, Dad!
    IMG_4533.JPG
     
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  10. VaughnT

    VaughnT Member

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    Probably my most-used tool.... the center punch!

    It started life as a car's coil spring. I forged it down, hardened and tempered the working end, and have been using it for as long as I can remember. The soft striking end has had to be dressed at least a half-dozen times to remove the mushrooming -- and it's due for another go!

    Here you can see it with some of my rune pendants and the beginnings of some flame-tipped nail hooks.

    IMG_4007.jpg

    While I'm always attracted to old tools because of the stories I imagine them having, this center punch really stands out in my mind because I know the full story of it. I'm the one that brought it to life and it's been with me ever since. Every little bump and imperfection... well, my hand knows them all.

    Kind of sad to think that in another 20 years I'll have this thing worn down to a nub and will have to retire her. I think when that happens, I'll either give her a nice funeral, burying her with honor in the back yard.... or I'll forge the remains into a pendant or ring that I can wear.
     
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  11. Expat

    Expat Expat™ Knives Staff Member

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    Well, here's my socket drawer:

    IMG_0876.JPG
     
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  12. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    Very organized sir!
     
  13. Delkancott

    Delkancott Member

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    Where's the big stuff? No 1" drive?
     
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  14. Expat

    Expat Expat™ Knives Staff Member

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    I don't even have 3/4" drive.

    Small nuts.
     
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  15. cosmophonic12

    cosmophonic12 Member

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    Not my photo but my nursery production potting bench is similar to mine.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  16. Delkancott

    Delkancott Member

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    IMG_3661.JPG IMG_3663.JPG These haven't been heavy users lately, but sure are in queue now for some farm work.

    Cleaned up, re handled and BLO'd
     
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  17. SEMO

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    Very well organized. Couldn't post pics of my socket drawer. Would be embarrassing.

    Nice. I had two semesters of greenhousing and plant transplanting/grafting....way back in the day. You work for a nursery?
    Now that looks like work!
     
  18. Delkancott

    Delkancott Member

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    I know they haven't been the same for a while, but Craftsman has been sold.

    http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Stanley-Black--Decker-to-Buy-Craftsman-409755205.html

     
  19. VaughnT

    VaughnT Member

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    The Craftsman story is pretty neat because it's an illustration of how the customers can ruin a good thing.
     
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  20. SEMO

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