High-end Tools

Re: High-end Tools

CONGER - The Irish diaspora in Munich

>.... that is still common practice for the majority of fine craftsmen in the 3rd world.

TLN chisels... pooh.... better FORD or LandRover 'top leaf' brand!

-g-

Re: High-end Tools

Steve Kubien

>That is the sort of skill I would love to develop...when my handtool skills are of a level to satisfy me. Oh well, one thing at a time.

Steve Kubien

Ajax, Ontario

remove the _9 to email

Re: High-end Tools

Todd Stock

>Well, I've found '34 Ford springs are far better for this use than any other, with the '36 vintage as a close second.

Sure...one can prattle on about the lovely finish that an XK-120 leaf acquires from the hand-sewn, greased leather cover, or how the unique climate and terrain of the Australian Outback works all the stresses out of a Holden suspension, ensuring improved edge holding ability, but give me the work-a-day product of Henry's genious, with a bit of rust and mill scale, and imbued with honest American craftmanship.

Re: High-end Tools

Robin Frierson

>Well I think everyone knows wonderful work can be done with inexpensive tools or tools made for nothing. Old leaf spring chisels sound great.

But I prefer to use my wonderful new LN chisels myself. And then plane the sides with my LN planes, or perhaps an expensive infill. I get great satisfaction from using these premium tools. Do I really need them, of course not. I dont think most people who own these premium tools look upon them as a necessity.

Do they make me a better woodworker, of course not. Its the woodworker, not the tool which makes good work. But I like them, I get great pleaure out of looking at, owning and using these premium tools, so why shouldnt I use them?

Re: High-end Tools

Tim of San Leandro

>I suppose he made his own grinding wheel too? And took some sand and squeezed in his fist to make the sandstone? And of course lugged 20 gallons of water 20 miles, up hill each way to supply water?

This smacks of stories my grandpappy told me about how easy we young'ns have it today with 'lectricity and ice boxes and cars....... : )

hahahahahahahahaha....

to each his own. There is nothing wrong either way you go....high end toolery or shop made toolery or something in between. So long as you enjoy your work!

Tim

Re: High-end Tools

Tom MacGregor, Vermont

>I couldn't agree more. I buy the best I can afford. If Great-granpappy had had access to LN quality chisels the leafsprings would have gotten turned into tomato stakes. I just think that once in a while it's a good idea to remember the difference between what you want and what you need, appreciate what you've got, and give a nod of respect to skill and resourcefulness. It helps me keep my perspective when the latest catalog shows up so I don't get as much drool on the pages.

Tomato stakes?!

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>I'd be concerned that all that weathered, burned grease would contain nitrosamines or some such carcinogen that'd leach out into the soil, making for toxic tomatoes. No, far better to go with some inert, stainless steel tomato stakes.

Oh, wait - wrong forum. Nevermind... ;)

Gee......

Todd Hughes

>I sort of thought hand made chisels would be considered high end tools, eh?.......While I guess anything is possiable it sort of strikes me to grind somthing as small as a chisel out of a big piece of steel like a leaf spring would be like draw knifing chop sticks out of rail road ties.You would think some raw material a little closer in size to the final tool could have been used such as files,old drill bits,hay fork tines, etc. etc. does make for a good story though........Todd, who made a spring out of a chisel once

Carbine Williams

jim_reed@marietta

>Carbine Williams is the man who designed the M-1 carbine. He spent some time behind the walls of a prison in NC. At the state museum there is a display on his work. It includes a .22 that he made in the prison machine shop (under supervision). The stock was carved out of a walnut fence post and the barrel was turned from a Model T Ford axle. Looked like something off a production line. Seeing it never ceases to amaze and inspire me.

Re: High-end Tools

Ryan in MN

>Hi all,

I must admit that I do not own many high-end tools, but I buy the best I can afford. One aspect of a high-end tool, or high end anything for that matter, is that it is much easier to find a buyer if you decide to sell and it retains it's value much better. A perfect example is hand planes, bedrocks sell for much more than the standard baily's from the same type or time period. It's hard to give away junk or a tool that doesn't work properly.

Regards,

Ryan

Amen

Steve Kubien

>

What is a High End Tool?

Todd Hughes

>Is a Bedrock plane really a "High End" tool while a standard Stanley "Bailey" isn't? The Bedrock sold for only about .50 cents more when new. Is a no.2 plane more of a high end tool then a no.5 because it is worth more today? It sold for a $1 less then the no.5 when new.If I find a nice Swann chisel at the flea market for a $1 is it a high end tool? Maybe if I pay $50 for it from a tool dealer it is.Is a common $10 Stanley 750 chisel a high end tool? How about a modern copy of it priced at 5 times that? Is a hand made wood plane a high end tool?...how about if it was made by C.Chelor?.....what do you think?....Todd

Re: Sinful

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>Taking pleasure in good tools has got to be some sort of sin. I think you should just send them to me, and rid yourself of that evil.

Re: anyhting that costs more than a nickle

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>

Re: High-end Tools

Alan Hamilton

>Tim,

Exactly! You and Robin have it covered.

To buy or make: it depends on how you want to spend your time and money. I think most will agree that we should have and use the best tools we can. How we get those better tools is a matter of ability--in all its meanings--and inclination.

If you have a forge, the necessary materials, blacksmithing know-how, and you like to spend your time making woodworking tools in your forge, perhaps you should make your own tools. If, however, you prefer working with wood over blacksmithing...

Alan

my leaf spring chisel

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I made a chisel out of a leaf spring years ago. I cut out a 6 inch chunk of leaf with a torch,cut a notch in a length of pipe to take the piece of spring and welded it in. I shaped the blade end with an angle grinder. Finally I drilled a hole in the other end of the pipe to hold a loop of rope for a hand hold and took my chisel ice fishing.---Crackerjack

Re: High-end Tools

Charles

>Don't the Japanese use ship anchor chain from before 1860 due to the content of the metal?

Re: What is a High End Tool?

Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs

>Any tool to which a particular value is ascribed by a particular person. The essence of the particular value is totally subjective and completely relational and thus has no constant alpha-numeric identifier.

The particular person, in similar fashion, cannot be described so as to limit his/her unique characteristics. To attempt such a descriptive endeavor is a fools errand, much akin to undertaking certain tasks with a wood plane.

Thus a 'high-end tool' simply 'is', in so far as anything actually 'is', and each person seeking it will recognize it when he/she sees it.

Todd, what it all boils down to, I guess, is that it all depends on the meaning of the word is???;>)

Frank, who just finished a great supper and is looking forward to planting some flowers in the front yard.

Re: High-end Tools

dave caudill

>You know I like what in my collection I consider high end tools. But they aren't always the ones that do the best work for me. I had a great WW2 Stanley #4 1/2, you know the ones that many people don't like. Well this one was a doozy. It tuned up so nicely and worked so well. So what do I do. I "High Grade" and trade off my old #4 1/2. Well the next one took a lot more work to tune and while now it finally works as well as the other you have to ask yourself what did I gain? I've done it other times too. I have a really junky #5 and a not so nice #3 that are just a dream to use. My #605 Bedrock not nearly as comfortable to use. As others point out big money doesn't always mean great results.

I have my share of nice high end, whatever tha means tools and I enjoy them and at times I unlike Rob think they do make me a better woodworker if only for the fact that I enjoy them so much. I think that has a lot to do with how good your woodworking is. If you are comfortable and like working with a certain tool you will do better work. On the other hand some folks are so focused on the job at hadn it wouldn't matter if you gave them a sharpened shoe horn, they will do good work. WE all need certain things to make our work important to us. Some people can't work in a cluttered shop others can only work in the wee hours of the night to do good work. To each his or her own.

I too agree buy what you can afford and what makes you happy. If its Lie-Nilesen than so be it. I kind of mix and match and enjoy old and new. I think it gives me perspective and makes me think about what I am doing rather than just going through the motions. Tuning old tools gives me great comfort and even more so when I finally put them to wood. The impotant thing is that whatever tools or methods you use that you are happy doing it.

Now can someone give me a Hallelujah?

Dave

Hallelujah, brother! :~)

Alice Frampton, UK

>

Re: High-end Tools

Todd O. Cronkhite Native of Maine

>Jack,

Putting a rope on the other end of the pipe of your ice-chisel was a good idea, and one that my Dad overlooked. It is really amazing how fast a nice heavy ice-chisel will slip from your hands once it no longer meets resistance from the ice. DAMHIKT :~( I've always wondered if that chisel stuck in the bottom straight up or not.

Todd, why does it not surprise me that you made a spring from a chisel once? ;~) Now, I have to know why so I can sleep tonight and not lay awake and wonder about it all night. I do wish that in the future you'd expound on the "whys" of such things as it just kills me not to know why you'd make a spring from a chisel.

Todd O.