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Adam Old tools were better
August 29th, 2005 02:29 AM
August 28, 2005 Old tools were better


This may be singing to the choir.

But, one reason old tools were better is that the only old tools we are holding "made-it".

The chafe is gone. That old tool with the mis-tempered cutting edge has been disposed of decades ago.

Also, back when hand tools were IT, they had to be made to be of stellar quality.

Today's wood chisel owner may only use it to butcher the shape of a door hinge or door lock plate.

Grandpa used his Firmer chisels for general work, like installing the mortised lock in the door.

The long paring chisel was used for carefully trimming through and blind mortises used in BUILDING, along with furniture construction.

The bevel-edged chisels (with their relieved long edges) were used for finishing off hand-cut dovetail pins and tails.

What we now think of as a "standard" chisel, was called a butt chisel. It was used only to install the "new" butt hinges and generally considered useless for much other precision chisel work.

Ever wonder why all the old wood chisels were socketed?

They weren't.

The tanged versions split their handles to the point of damaging the ferrules and becoming useless to their owners.

Carving tools are the only tanged tools still in favor (with internal ferrules in the handles).

"Old tools didn't rust."

Bull cookies.

Old tools were taken care of.

Most of them facilitated their owner's making a living.

"You can't get that quality any more."

It is hard to find. And very expensive. The group of users that support this level of quality has shrunk considerably over time.

But, there are most definitely still quality hand tools being made.

Check out Lie-Nielson planes, Woodworker's Supply, GarrettWade, Two-Cherries, and Lee Valley's Veritas line of tools.

The Craftsman, made in the US of A, hand tools almost go without saying. They always will have quality materials and manufacturing methods that competitors are slowly abandoning in favor of "cheap" tools.

Sayings like, "You get what you pay for.", "Good tools will take good care of you." and "Buy the best tools you can afford.", all come to mind.

I'd add a corollary, "Use tools for the use they were intended for."

I will be happy to exchange an old Craftsman lifetime-warranted old tool for a new Craftsman tool.

But, I do not accept tool quality ratings from users who abuse their tools.

Seeing a good quality vintage screwdriver ruined by a set of pliers run around its ferrule or handle is heart breaking.

I can not restore that (new components needed) without fundamentally changing the tool.

I've got an heirloom New Britain wooden handled #1 Phillips screwdriver that has the end of its beautifully stained handle destroyed or gnawed off by a big rat.

Only the fact that is was once owned by my father keeps it with me. I'm ashamed to show it to anyone.

That tool was savagely abused.

Need more leverage?

Use, buy, borrow or make an offset screwdriver.

Point is, we've still got a lot of good new tools and need to take good care of them, so they might have the chance of "becoming" old tools.

Thank you for the use of the soap box.
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