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Living a sheltered life on the IOW I have never seen a No 3 smoother in the flesh so I have been on the hunt at boot sales. At the New Forest BS I spotted these two, and as I couldn't decided which one was best I bought both for £15 the pair. One according to straight edge and square is better...

I have been carrying sheet steels for years, all we use is a hook. Get a piece of 8mm - 5/16th diameter rod, bend a small hook at the bottom, slip a bit of rubber hose over it if you are concerned it might damage the sheet. Work out the distance from your clenched hand to the ground with your...

At the start of the summer I set up a small workshop to start practising and relearning my woodworking skills. Within only a few weeks I had to move a Honda cb250rs that I am attempting to rebuild into the new workshop, as the bikes previous home is due for demolition. So no woodwork in the...

I go for the complexity issue, there isn't a thing I haven't tackled on my Morris Minor van. Lift the bonnet on my Pug 406, I can't even work out what it does let alone fix it. Neither have I got the computerized diagnostic equipment to tell why the thing won't go in the first place. Gareth

I have a 26" hand saw, with a Kangaroo trade mark that is progressive toothed. It starts at 5 to the inch, ending at 3tti. Did this type of saw have a particular name or use? Gareth

Having just manged to get to the local boot fair between showers looking for the elusive Record 5 1/2 I did manage to get one bevel-edge chisel for 10p. Covered in several layers of paint and putty, I could just make out the word 'Sweden' on the paper label, so thought it was worth a punt...

Mike, thanks for the vote of confidence that I will be up to a reasonable standard by then. I will see what my friend has available, and I am sure he will give sound advice on what he has in stock, and what I can afford. G

I have an acquaintance who is a tree surgeon, and runs a log fuel business, but he is also able to plank timber as well. What would be the best timber for me as complete beginner to ask for, which I can then store to dry out. My cunning plan would be to use the next couple of years practicing...

Over the years I have acquired about thirty wooden moulding planes which one day soon I hope to have out of their box and start experimenting with. Idly watching one or two go by on e-cove I got to wondering was there ever a recognized 'set' that a young apprentice might have to save up for...

I found a long lost jack plane last weekend, but it was not the record or Stanley I was hoping for rather it was a Whitmore. I must have acquired it during the 70's, its a No 5 made in England, and there is QC under the handle so not much doubt who cast it, but has anyone heard of a Whitmore...

They should go the whole hog and make the clampers pay back the fines, with interest. G

My 'puter is now entering its second decade, so has to go, as its always short of virtual memory. (What the hell is virtual memory either you have memory or you don't)? I think I like Dibs solution the best. Gareth

Take all the details and say you'll get back to the caller with a price. Simple And there you are back where you started with Mr Grumpy who couldn't have his price on demand. Then the customer says its too expensive after the phone call, or two other walk in customers have turned up also...

back on subject - I understand that the boss is probably out a lot, and that the boss would want to be the only one pricing large orders - but if the small cash sales are basically a favour to the local community could he not leave a rough price list (per ft, metre or whatever) and then allow...

On the DNA thing, it is said that it is a million to one that someone else has your DNA. Does that mean in the UK there are 50 other people out there with my DNA type make up? Spread them around and that means within about twenty five miles there is someone else with similar DNA to mine. If...

Most small fabrication firms do small cash sales as a favour to the local community. You can't run that type of business on small stock sales. My boss is out getting the large orders, I and two others are making the said orders, two others are installing the finished items. A board...

As I am often the guy at the other end of the phone, a couple of points. Prices for steel section have risen by about twenty percent since the beginning of June, and as we have a non computerised shop just keeping up with it is a nightmare. The other bane which we have long learned of is the...

Somebody should tell them that a door cannot accept tools as its made of wood. I am not clear at what age a door can be held legally responsible to accept the tools, especially blades! Gareth

why use timber at all? I use 50x25x3 box section. I have made several nice clamps from junk off-cuts over the years, and if your local fabricator is anything like where I work three or four foot long off-cuts are a good get rid of. If you want longer a stock length is 25', and that should meet...

I like old tools that have been well used, an item where you can get the 'feel' of the master who used them and has now past on. Unused old tools are like those toys collectors seem to prefer, never opened, never played with, devoid of their true purpose and rather sad. G