hand tool examination

Re: hand tool examination

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>If you have the space, don't get rid of anything right now. Once you've used hand tools for a year or two, you'll have an idea of what's worth it to you one way or another; and you may find that something that is no longer terribly workable as a tool still has enough sentimental value to sit on a shelf, reminding you of your great-grandfather.

You may also find that looking at his decisions about how to organize his toolchest gives you an idea of how he worked. Or you may find that he was like most of us, and held onto junk long after he should have gotten rid of it.

Re: agree -- keep them

Dave Mount

>I agree with Bill -- hang on to them for now. If any are of particular value, they'll only go up with time, as long as you have them stored where they won't deteriorate. Their value to you may increase with time also.

If you want to get a sense of value, I'd watch eBay. You can either cruise the collectible carpentry section, or do searches for terms applicable to your tools. Of course, this alone doesn't tell you all you need to know to know value (e.g., why one Stanley #5 will sell for $10 and another for $100), but it can get you started. For planes, there are lots of type studies out there that can give you an idea of age.

My $0.02,

Dave

Re: hand tool examination

Gil

>Don't get rid of anything. The tools have such a long history of use, and probably a great sentimental value too. If you do get rid of anything, ask your family memmbers first (immediate and extended). Someone might want something to remind them of him.

-Gil

Re: hand tool examination

Dave Anderson Chester, NH

>I have been fortunate enough to have been in your situation. I have inherited 2 tool chests with contents for which I am now the 6th generation custodian. I wish to strongly emphasize the word CUSTODIAN. These are items with which a member of your family made their living and their value is only slightly measured in their monetary value. The real value is the heritage and the familial association surrounding them. Currently they are yours to use, maintain, display, and treasure. Isn't treasure a wonderful word? Your responsibility is to maintain the line of succession and pass them on to a son or daughter, a grandchild, or someone in the family who will insure that they are not thrown out, sold, given away, or otherwise disposed of.

Old family tools have great value as a reminder of our heritage and provide us with a link to our ancestors. Of all of my tools, my two most valuable are a rather ordinary panel gage stamped with my g-g-g grandfathers stamp of J Anderson, and a Stanley #3 plane from the 1870s of pedestrian condition with the initials JA Jr drill engraved on one cheek. A third tool, a Disston and Sons #8 crosscut, is engraved ROBERT ANDERSON CAMBRIDGE,MASS and is another of my favorites. All three of these tools are displayed proudly in my shop, carefully maintained, and are used by me. I find great joy in knowing that after my time comes they will go to my son or grandson and will be kept together with the items which I have added to the mix.

In response to your question about identification, I would strongly suggest getting in touch with one of the many tool collecters organizations and asking for guidance. These folks are always willing to help out . Remember, lots of folks have carpenters tools which are old, but rarely is a patternmakers chest found with all of its contents. It would be a shame for it to we pieced out.

Re: hand tool examination

Adam Cherubini, NJ

>Hi Gary,

I think its a good idea to go on ebay and do some general searches for tools. That should give you a good sense of what you have and what its worth today. Then you can sort out the junk from the valuable stuff. The real trick is deciding what belongs in the junk pile and what the treasures are.

Someday I'll leave my toolchest (or chests by then) to my children. I hope they know by then that my favorite tools, the tools I really love, are all the little meaningless, valueless bits and pieces I keep in that tiny compartment at the end of my till. They include my dividers, stringline and chalk, bradawls, gimlets, a folding rule, marking gauge etc. Yeah, I made half of them, but that's not why they're special to me. These are very personal and personalized items that I use on every job. I think they will say a lot about the kind of woodworker I was.

I hope my kids give me the chance to tell them something about me after I'm dead. I hope they'll look in that till compartment and find treasures, and dump the ubquitous, expensive junk.

Adam

Re: hand tool examination

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Gary,

First off, got to agree with the others to NOT dispose of anything----ever! I inherited :~( my Dad auto mechanics tool chest back in '95 and if he was to walk into my shop right now he'd find most things right where he left them. I use the tools, but put them back when I'm done. He add lots of odds and ends tucked here and there and they are still there. Call me Sentimental I guess.

Secondly, what kinds of tools are you talking about? Planes,(all wood bodies?) chisels, marking knives?

If these tools belonged to your great-Uncle than chances are they ALL are quality tools as back in the days' of old all tools where well made and worked good, and if by chance there was a bad one in the batch great Uncle surly would of disposed it long ago.

Todd O.

Adam- chisel question

john jesseph

>Hi Adam;

Who made your chisels? I seem to remember you posting somewhere a while ago about some reproduction chisels...

W.Butcher

Adam Cherubini

>John,

I searched for close to a year for a smith who'd be willing to take my money and deliver chisels. Met many millionaire smiths, many intersting and talented smiths, but no one who'd sign up for more than one (must be nice- God bless them every one)

Saw some recently at Williamsburg that fooled me (not hard to do), but I suspect they would be prohibitively expensive.

The chisels in my chest are all antiques. The firmers and some of the others are W.Butcher.

Adam