I was out in the shop today piddling around (or maybe it was piffining around) and realized that I had quite a collection of old tools that I’ve been keeping with the thought that maybe someday, I’ll get around to fixing this or replacing the switch on that or using the cord of something for another tool before throwing it away. Anyway, I’ll bet I could fill a full sized wheelbarrow with them before adding to the stack today’s latest – my old Paslode impulse nail gun.
Anybody else have a shelf like that?
Excellence is its own reward!
Replies
Use to have the tool bug so bad I would attend auctions and buy the non-working tools with the thought of... man, I don't know what I was thinking. Anyhow, now I've got these piles of old tools sitting, saws, drills, cases, etc. and have never done a thing with them. I think the space is more valuable. Time for a garage sale.
I don't have any dead tools laying around anymore, but I have several semi-retired. Since the company I work for provides everything, and I only remodel/build part time, I have tools that haven't been used in months, and in the case of corded drills years. How many screw guns and 3/8 or 1/2 inch drills does a one man operation need? I also have to many shovels, madox, rakes, sledge hammers, and concrete finishing tools. Some of those things you just can't kill.
Piffin, rez,
I have a few on the list to be fixed but I usually fix 'em and pass along to the young carpenters. If you don't want to fix you could ship to Luka and he'll put them to good use. His new firewall has conflicts with prospero so he is not around here now.
KK
But I couldn't give that Paslode to a friend - only an enemy.Excellence is its own reward!
I thought I was the only collector of totally beat, busted, used up tools. I just have a hard time letting go. Just my collection of busted cordless drills used up 2 shelves under the work bench, to say nothing of the collection of portable table saws, laminate trimmers, palm sanders, etc. It costs more for parts than the tool is new most of the time, but I try and justify saving them by telling myself they are for parts for future breakdowns. Of course, after setting 5-10 years gathering dust, the parts won't fit anything I own now anyway. Now, at least I can take comfort in knowing I'm not alone.
Bish
I was looking again today. There's got to be enough for three wheelbarrows ful. The real estate value to store this is getting to me. I feel a funeral procession coming on...Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin: Hey, great post, my kinda post. <ggggGGG>>
Have a barn and about 6 sheds full (almost, do trucks count??). Absolute best old tools that are better than anything new are Souix power tools. Only problem with their drills is if you sieze a bit you are likely to break your arm.
Picked up a "Craf(p)tsman Industrial" sawzall for $5 at garage sale last weekend, only had a bad plastic switch . An at least 30 year old all metal frame switch from an old B&D (when B&D were good) burntout sidewinder fit almost perfectly.
Figure I pay $4000 a year in property taxes for extra room to have the priviledge of keeping my heritage alive with "junk" collections. (I let neighbors dump grass/branches et al. on 1/4 ac compost pile, so they don't complain, can't see sheds for the trees anyway)
PS: Heritage aspect - My father (82 next month) bought the house next door to him to use as a shop just to store and repair bicycles (his retirement is fixing and giving away about 30/month)
PPS: Wife says to clean up (for last 38 years) - last year I posted on keenjunk.com to come and get 2 tons of free blacksmith tools - tongs, anvil, swages, etc. . Did I get the response to that! Told'em I'd let them get whatever at 11AM on Superbowl Sunday, looks like the tools won out over sports that time, may get rid of construction stuff in a few years (here, of course, prospero notwithstanding), in similar fashion unless GK's claim first, still have too much fun butchering wood, lots easier than iron.
Man, was I wordy here, must be a subject that just "warms my heart".
2 tons of free blacksmith tools - tongs, anvil, swages, etc.
That stuff is worth a fortune! Blacksmithing is really catching on as a hobby, at least around here. Wish I'd been in on that......
Edited 5/29/2002 10:01:53 AM ET by Boss Hog
My favorite junk tool story was the old beat up B&D jigsaw, that was barely worth taking home when new, that my father-in-law asked me if I could fix. He'd bought someone elses junk at a yard sale for $3-4.
The motor worked, first test.
Let's put a blade in, second test.
Opps, blade holder snapped off of shaft, shaft too short to do anything with.
What a piece of junk, cord wasn't even worth keeping.
" I feel a funeral procession coming on..."
Give it to an old man that would want it to play with , otherwise a moment of silence ,.........
Tim Mooney
My problem is that I have old tools still running that I wont turn on , and wont sell them . I have a sears 12 inch table saw that rocks , except for fence and guide . Ive got my original 9 inch rockwell mitere saw . Bostich air compressor bought 30 yrs ago or more when we put Bostich in the store . Slow as heck, but will still run all day . Thats the problem with it . A graco airless 400, my first 30 years ago. One of my back ups that has never backed up. LOL
Tim Mooney
Look at the dates in this thread and see how one can come back from the dead!I started it in May and it laid dormant for several months.
Excellence is its own reward!
Edited 10/17/2002 11:45:30 AM ET by piffin
mostly Craftsman tools that are retired cause they were throw aways when I needed something but didnt think I'd I ever use again like a router from 25 years ago,,,ended up spending over three hundred bucks for a good one over my thirty five dollar Craftsman...same for the jig saw. Oh yeh, I have a tried and true Millwak. that needs work...just cant seem to throw that baby out,
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Hey does Craftsman still have their lifetime guarantee? If so, head down to Sears and turn them in for new ones!
Oh, come on! You know that's just for hand tools!
Have you been in any of these chain restaurants decorated with old junk? Chile's, TGIF, whatever. There's one near me that has a rowing skull hanging from the ceiling and another with old life vests and surfboards screwed to the wall and another with crap like washboards and tin coffee cans and rusted through drawknives on the walls. There should be one all done up with busted power tools. You could just hang 'em from their frayed old cords. Call it "Sawyers" or "Drillers" or "Fasteners" or "The Nail and Bolt." Serve good beer on tap and you'd make a fortune. All we need is some fool to start a franchise and we could all unload a bunch of junk. Meanwhile, I keep saving rechargerless cordless drillls for the $25 off when you trade in an old tool sale at the hardware store. Trouble is, I never get any less stuff.
But if you had an old tool and THE BOX IT CAME IN, then you could sell it all day long on eBay. What a racket.
So let's open a restaurant and call it "Glaziers".
We can build the walls with rejected glass units, cracked, pitted, and fogged up.
The waitresses can wear...
One room can be all broken mirrors for the perennially unlucky.
Shards of broken glass embedded into the concrete floor can take the place of tiles.
The seats can be old glaziers putty, shaped to fit your derriere.
Just don't throw no stones.
Excellence is its own reward!
restaurant, good idea, I can see the restrooms now....Plugs.. and Receptacles.listening for the secret.......searching for the sound...
And a special table for Ron. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar,
the hills roll and the ...