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I suggest you put a fairly deep saw-cut in the end of the shaft (hickory or ash) - on the long axis, before final fit of the head, then there's a start for your wedge (of well dried oak or ash, I'd suggest, wet wood will shrink and make the wedge less tight). When the wedge is hammered in...

In the UK and North America much tool history/collecting interest revolves around the details of factory made tools. In the French speaking countries there were large and interesting manufacturers of good hand tools such as Goldenberg and Peugeot, but the collecting interest has for decades...

It's not as attractive as yours, but they're different types, and I rather like the remnant indication of its past use (the faint file lines and the maker's mark). Of course, I take no credit for it (apart from a gentle fettling). I'll flatten the back a little more and sharpen, use and look...

There are two parallel threads on using worn files - I posted on the other about some new rasps being sharp but flexible - ie probably case-hardened in one way or another. Yesterday I was in a junk-shop and came across a fine chisel made from a file (at a guess from a Sheffield engineering...

DW - as of today I know why there is concern about case/surface hardened rasps and files. I had ordered a couple of Far Eastern rasps along with one of those wire rasp-sticks I wanted to try out. The rasp stick is wicked sharp - don't quite know how to use it. but I did happen to need a rasp...

Testing - sorry it's dark but bigger size image than above - seeing if it will send and if text clearer. (In response to questions about vice numbers/sizes/weights). Buck and Hickman London 1963/4. No copyright etc so feel free to use/modify/post etc (I tried lightening but very slow editing...

Here's a Buck & Hickman catalogue page to see some vice sizes - I do realise that if attached as a .25M file it won't have the definition to be clear. I'll see if I can size as a file that will be both sendable and readable. The other image is a very early Handy 00 Swivel --- it doesn't have...

Looking at a tool store catalogue of about 70 years ago I see that all the Sheffield made files and rasps are advertised as made from 'best cast steel' - ie plain carbon tool steel. (The (more expensive) milled files (some flexible) are described as made from a 'specially hard alloy steel')

DW, I'd be surprised if any 19th/20th century files are case hardened in the sense of being a piece of low carbon steel with added surface carbon. It is poss that when quenching and tempering, the surface accidently (or on purpose?) got a different treatment so was differently hardened. But...

cabinetman - was this to supply the Barrow works where most of those subs were made? ie the same place where they admitted a few years ago to assembling one of the main Trident segments on upside-down because the measurements were fairly similar that way? And the place where they found during...

I have way too many good chisels already, but I do like this. Being in what was once the city of file making, it's easy to find good old files and rasps for next to nothing (if I look, it's usually for hand stitched cabinetmakers rasps with reasonable points left on the stitches (just run a...

You're signed up as requested. Next we just need a few selfies. Then the millions are yours, but you do need to persuade all the makers of Peter Wright - type vices to sponsor you - typically at about 0.01% of trade sales value; oh, and an agent would be advisable, otherwise you'll have a job...

The 1909 Marples catalogue has a plane just like this - they call it a German Jack or roughing plane, sold in 10in 1 1/4in blade, 10in 1 1/2in blade and 12in 1 3/4in blade the engraving shows a Marples Shamrock on the side of the horn. This doesn't prove they were actually made by Marples, but...

like them peri, but I guess the blacksmith's vices were never painted (all that hot metal and sparks) but maybe something like a stove blacking. Anyone use stove black (Imp brand?? in a tube) - brushes up well for a good sheen. on the other hand they were also the universal workshop vice before...

I was cutting up a nice piece of high ash stump in the neighbour's garden a couple of years ago when I hit something - right in the very centre (about 4 ft above ground level) - turned out to be a steel wedge - someone had tried to split the stump, given up and left the wedge in place the tree...

My well-thumbed copy of a reproduction of the Marples catalogue of 1909 shows Marples version of the wrought vice (undoubtedly made by Mousehole or Wright) in sizes from 4in wide jaws to 8in (the latter weighing 210lbs). As a comparison, the 5in width jaw 'wrought T-bar' (ie as heading the...

like those workshopted - any ideas on the use of the very long thin ebony (?) handled one? I expect you know, but the ones with stepped shafts were said to be made from spinning or weaving machine reel shafts -- anyone confirm this? I had a full set of heavy sparkless tools in a box (for...

just seen this thread --- wow -- those are beautiful objects Robert - I hope you're keeping them - look good in that room. I wonder if Hepworth or Brancusi saw such.

Interesting that you (TF) say the maker's name is 'cast in' - it does look like it, although it just could be die forged in. In about 1890-1910 great play was made of the fact that this style of vice (Peter Wright of B'ham area and Mousehole Forge near Sheff) was all wrought (forged of true...

that's a beaut, Pete - I was about to show my equivalents, they're not bad, but glad I didn't Sideways - glad to hear Wiha's plastic handled drivers are good. re wood taking a polish - yes, but I tend to remove varnish and just use a little linseed + turps - stays matt for a long time and easily...