Hello from a not quite new member

[scockram]

Hello

So I've been lurking on here for the last couple of years, soaking up the wealth of knowledge on all sorts of interesting subjects that I've found. Thanks everyone.

I don't focus on anything in particular, but having been brought up to be practical and as self-sufficient as possible I very much enjoy making, building, fixing and tinkering with stuff. This is on a hobby and DIY basis as I'm an engineer and tree surgeon / gardener by profession. I've been wood turning for many years, every now and again, on a Coronet Major lathe. (I'll be posting about this in future probably, seeking advice and opinion). Also, done quite a few bits of hand carving, or maybe more correctly whittling in the past. I'll do most jobs around the house, with the exceptions of the more specialist or safety critical things like wiring or boiler servicing.
I do some very basic metal work, but would love to do more. (Done a couple of blacksmithing courses which I really enjoyed). The main constraints being time and space.

I have a tendency to aquire tools, with big plans of what I'm going to make, but never quite find time to do that much with them! Like others I suspect, well, I hope! I recently treated myself to a fly press for example.
I love old hand tools, I'm sure the quality is better than modern versions in a lot of cases. .
I'm currently looking for a bandsaw, for turning blanks and also general wood work. I'll do a separate post for this.

Simon

 

[Peter Sefton]

Hi Simon, welcome to the forum.

Cheers

Peter

 

[Fitzroy]

Hello hello. The whole tools thing is a separate endeavour of its own. There are 5 old hand saws on gumtree near me for £10, that I oh so want, but oh so don't need. My current excuse is to renovate then and give them to buddies as manly Xmas gifts. Look forwards to seeing photos of your new acquisitions in action.

 

[scockram]

Cheers guys

On the subject of old tools.
I walked past a recently sold house at the weekend. There were a few guys there carrying out a "house clearance" operation. Guessing the previous owner was recently deceased with no close relatives. Anyway, I couldn't help but have a look into the back of the van in case there was anything worth salvaging. Low and behold there were quite a few old hand tools in there, with two blokes coming down the drive with a load more. All just mixed in with soil and other general rubbish. After some initial resistance i managed to pursuade them to let me take a few things, with the incentive of a £10 note! I grabbed a couple of planes, one a Marples, plus a few chisels, a pair of shears and other bits and bobs. Sure I could have taken more but I was in a rush unfortunately.

That kind of thing breaks my heart. It probably goes on daily across the country. It's such a waste of quality tools, and all those resources, skill and knowledge that went into making them. I guess that at best a very few items might find their way back into use, but most will just get weighed in then melted down, some probably just end up in the general waste stream.

 

[johna.clements]

Cheers guys

On the subject of old tools.
I walked past a recently sold house at the weekend. There were a few guys there carrying out a "house clearance" operation. Guessing the previous owner was recently deceased with no close relatives. Anyway, I couldn't help but have a look into the back of the van in case there was anything worth salvaging. Low and behold there were quite a few old hand tools in there, with two blokes coming down the drive with a load more. All just mixed in with soil and other general rubbish. After some initial resistance i managed to pursuade them to let me take a few things, with the incentive of a £10 note! I grabbed a couple of planes, one a Marples, plus a few chisels, a pair of shears and other bits and bobs. Sure I could have taken more but I was in a rush unfortunately.

That kind of thing breaks my heart. It probably goes on daily across the country. It's such a waste of quality tools, and all those resources, skill and knowledge that went into making them. I guess that at best a very few items might find their way back into use, but most will just get weighed in then melted down, some probably just end up in the general waste stream.

Sadly that is certainly a thing that happens all the time even if they have close relatives. People do not know the value of tools why should they. If they have a few cheap chisels which cost 3 for £10 at B&Q why would they think that those chisels maybe worth £50 each.

I would guess that the tools were in a shed that collapsed some years ago.

There must be plenty of stuff in peoples homes that even they do not know the value of. I would guess that the people doing the house clearance sort through the stuff and sell what they can, that will be where the profit is. The two blokes loading the van will not be benefiting from any sales.