Tool Talk

Welcome Forum => Welcome Board and Introductions => Topic started by: Papaw on May 01, 2011, 10:07:34 AM

Title: Introductions
Post by: Papaw on May 01, 2011, 10:07:34 AM
It would be nice if all members, new and returning, would post an introduction here. We have lost so much, it would be cool to reacquaint ourselves.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Andrewhr on May 01, 2011, 10:14:52 AM
I'm Andrew, living over in England. I'm on most of the garage/tool forums but tend to read a lot rather than post. I am starting to collect some older English and American tools, mainly ratchets.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: strik9 on May 01, 2011, 11:19:08 AM
Hello all. I am strik9, or Gmonkee if you frequent GJ.  I am a gringo living in Mexico for about the last decade.

I work as a diesel mechanic and dabble in saving a bit of mexican tool history and trying to save all the old orphan usa stuff that filters into the local street markets and junk shops.  I also try to polish a few lost cause turds back into a usable and presentable wrench again just for fun.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Joe in PA on May 01, 2011, 12:00:10 PM
My name is Joe, I live in PA and I am a toolaholic. 
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Wrenchmensch on May 01, 2011, 12:58:33 PM
Bob here,

Another (antique) PA toolaholic living in extreme SE PA; we can walk to MD or DE from the house. I collect wrenches made between 1775 and 1925. Here in the eastern U.S. that's not so hard to do.  All in all, retirement beats working which, for me , consisted in developing and managing base pay and incentive pay systems for companies at U. S., European, and Asian locations.

I miss the European flea markets (boot sales, flaumarkt, marche aux puces, etc). I saw amazing stuff: clocks off Russian submarines, for example, at the flaumarkt in Frankfort.

This site is friendly, courteous, and kind, and probably brave, clean, and reverent. I am glad its back in business.



Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Fatboy on May 01, 2011, 01:35:04 PM
Howdy, My name is Jeff. Mechanic for 35 years, soon to be retired! And I tool am addicted to the old and rusted!
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: 64longstep/Brian on May 01, 2011, 02:55:10 PM
Howdy all, I’m Brian and I am a toolaholic. I am a broke down former trucker a hobbyist bladesmith/blacksmith and a member of “PHARTS” - Perfect Handle Admiration, Restoration and Torturing Society.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: 64s Wife on May 01, 2011, 03:04:32 PM
Hi  I'm new.  I'm 64longstep's wife. I don't collect any tools but do help support his hobby and go with him to look for rusty things. I enjoyed reading the posts from the old forum and checking out the finds. I look forward to interacting with all of you.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: ray on May 01, 2011, 08:48:16 PM
Hello, I'm Ray.
 We live in Michigan.I'm retired from G.M after 40 years as a maintenance electrician , ( in the later years I "baby  sat" robots ). I do wood working projects in the winter, and gardening and mechanical projects during the summer. I don't really collect tools,I just have a lot, from my brother,my Dad,my grandfather, some uncles and a few from my great grand father
Nice to see you back on line..
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: gibsontool on May 01, 2011, 10:36:28 PM
Hello from Canada, I joined just before the crash and it's great to see things up and going again.I collect any type of old tools and any thing else that's old and  that catches my eye. I'm presently in Portland Oregon visiting my son and we went to a few  garage sales over the weekend and I picked several great finds that would have taken me a lot lot to find in Canada. I envy those of you who live in this country.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Neals on May 01, 2011, 11:22:07 PM
Another Canadian here from Alberta. (Northwest of Edmonton) I'm a retired groundskeeper/maintenance worker. An auction addict who likes old stuff and is trying to put together a decent set of old tools, both mechanic and woodworking. Also some of the older tools of little practical use these days.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: hofferwood on May 01, 2011, 11:38:28 PM
Hi All,
I'm Chuck from Downriver Michigan.
I had to GRIN when I read Ray's intro.
I too am a retired(med/dis) maintenance electrician at Federal Mogul, Borg Warner, G.K.N. (same plant just different owners)lol. We made mostly G.M. powertrain parts
(http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab269/hofferwood/SD530477.jpg)
What is funny, is I fixed the robots that handled the parts, that Rays robots may have handled (whew)lol

Glad she's back up Papaw
Chuck
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Branson on May 02, 2011, 08:51:20 AM
Maybe the good side of getting nuked...  Looking at the new intros, I know so much more about people here -- especially Mr. Chuck and Papaw. 

Me, I like old tools, especially hand tools because they do the job, and let me experience the jobs people have done for centuries.  It's almost like shaking hands with those who came before.

I currently work with developmentally disabled adults, something I've done for almost 18 years.  Before that, I worked at different woodworking jobs, from theatrical carpentry, which taught me fast, light, and do it quick.  I did restoration carpentry, from houses to antiques, which taught me patience and observation, and, as I tore things down and read the tool marks, a lot about old techniques and tricks.  I worked with a couple of other fellows I had met in a shop that was filled with line-shaft mega machines -- sash stickers, 30 inch planers that could hog off as much as a half inch a pass, single end tenoners -- the smallest motor we had was 5 horse, and the planers ran on 25 horse behemoths.  We built, and occasionally installed, wood sash and doors.  Once we duplicated some doors for the oldest standing house in Sacramento.  Interesting.  Some of the mouldings were done by hand, while others had been run by machines.

I spent a decade working with Indo-Chinese refugees, a year of which was working with Viet-Namese carpenters and shipwrights, who started by building their own tools.  They really taught me!

I  spent about 17 years as one of the two master carpenters at Sutters Fort State Historic Park.  The interpretive period there is 1846, so we honed our research on tools to a fine edge, because anything we used had to have been designed no later than 1845 (had to give it a year to find its way to California.

I have a very few tools from my great-grandfather, a few from my grandfather, and a hoard of tools I've acquired over the years, mostly hand woodwork tools and blacksmith tools, all of which I use.

Since joining Tool Talk, wrenches have started talking to me...

And that's what I do with my degrees in anthropology and English literature.

Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: RedVise on May 02, 2011, 11:06:59 AM
Brian L. returning here.  Now posting as RedVise as I am trying to a little more careful when wandering the internet.

Located in Central FL , working at the bottom of the IT pile...

Interested in vintage tools of all types.

Able to recognise a friendly forum when I find it !
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Falcon on May 02, 2011, 11:16:27 AM
Here we are again. Dave here, in DFW, Texas area.
   I was a member before the crash, but I do enjoy reading the posts, and prehaps I will have something interesting to contribute from time to time. I am an accumuator of old things, most get sold, some get saved, and a little gets collected.
Cheers!
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Strongman79 on May 02, 2011, 12:02:36 PM
Hi again, Im Rob and I live in Madison, Wisconsin. I got started collecting before I was in high school. I took a lengthy break due to high school and college but am now back in the game. I am most interested in farm implement wrenches and tools. Matter of fact, I just went to Kermit Ketelsen's auction yesterday in Cambridge, Illinois and brought home almost 30 new IH wrenches that I didn't have. So glad this site is back!
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: benjy on May 02, 2011, 01:31:51 PM
wohoo its good to be back,,Benjy signing in,,i am a tomato grower,but have a healthy interest in vintage tools. mostly buying and selling as my shed is too small to keep them all
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Nolatoolguy on May 02, 2011, 07:17:47 PM
umm ah whats there to say about myself

Um ime 16 an have a large intrest in antique tools. Currently ime in highschool but plan on joining the military after highschool. I live in the midwest as well.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: oldpicker on May 02, 2011, 07:22:53 PM
Hi, I go by Oldpicker. Real name Noel age 60 from Iowa. Always buying rusted and unusual tools and will be asking if you know what the heck is this? My wife and I enjoy picking for antiques to resell at garage sales and shops. Enjoy buying and selling for a hobby. Thanks in advance for info! Noel.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Papaw on May 02, 2011, 07:34:58 PM
Hey Oldpicker- nice to have two Noels here, it is not a very common name. I have been Noel for 68 years!
Title: Lucakiki
Post by: lucakiki on May 03, 2011, 05:44:18 PM
Yes, I am the same lucakiki that posted on here before and purchased on here from some of the members.
My main interests are jeep tools and odd /old/ adjustable wrenches.
My nickname is the same on g503.com and on ebay.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: chopper1 on May 03, 2011, 10:31:39 PM
I'm glad to see Tool Talk up and running again :)
Retired after 37 years as a mechanical engineer/product manager from a large industrial combustion company now owned by the French.
Active street rodder and wrench on my old stuff.  Am a toolaholic, addicted to flea markets/estate & garage sales and Coca Cola collector.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: bonneyman on May 03, 2011, 11:38:07 PM
As my username says, I'm a fan of Bonney tools. I think that they were some of the best hand tools ever made.
Glad to see the site up and running again, and the new format is great. Looking to reconnect with all of you!
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: 64longstep/Brian on May 03, 2011, 11:58:33 PM
Howdy Bunnyman, Glad you made it...
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Lewill2 on May 04, 2011, 09:16:05 AM
I agree with everyone else, glad to see we are back up again. I was also on here before. My main interests are screw arm plow planes and odd, rare, quick adjust and unsuual adjustable wrenches. If it is unusual and tool related I'll be looking.

I am another North Eastern PA person. North Eastern Bucks County PA.

Has anyone ever seen another T. W. Fisher's patent pipe wrench like my avatar? February 18, 1890 patent date.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: crankshaftdan II on May 04, 2011, 09:44:53 AM
Hi:
Glad to see everything up and running after the "Meltdown".  I was starting to have "Tool Withdrawal Pains" waiting for the forum to come back on line.  My formal intro is I'm a 65 year old-retired shop worker after 34 years-2.5 years removed and loving every free moment of it.  Dedicated Tool Aholic-been buying, selling, trading for 35 + years.  Been trying to prune down the surplus as  space is at a premium.  Currently on a collect "Ratchets" USA and Truecraft(Japan) campaign.  Awaiting some warmer weather for estate-yard sales so I can pacify my quest for more Rats!  Please feel free to e-mail or PM me if you are looking for wrenches, screwdrivers, precision tools. old rusty stuff, sockets-bits & pieces, the list goes on & on.  I may or may-not have what you are interested in-never hurts to ask??  Happy to see Pawpaws up & at um again!!!     Cranky
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: humber2 on May 04, 2011, 07:23:37 PM
I'm back in, there's too much combined knowledge available from here to ignore.

I have a large Whitworth wrench collection from most of the Worlds suppliers.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: J.A.F.E. on May 04, 2011, 09:54:55 PM
Lewill2 do you have a larger pic of your avatar? Hard for me to make out on my screen.
Title: fliffy42
Post by: fliffy42 on May 05, 2011, 07:01:22 PM
Hey Its me, fliffy42 (aka Cliff). For those that dont know me I am a 48 year old grandfather of 12 with a couple more on the way. I am addicted to the hunt for tools. When I am not hoarding them for myself I am buying selling and trading. I have been married & divorced a couple time but it looks like I have finally found someone to live happily ever after with. Her name is Karen and she is pretty tolerant of my tool fetish. She even has a good eye for finding tools I sometimes overlook at yard sales & flea markets too. Anyway, glad that TT is back on the air!

ps.... my avatar happens to be one of my granddaughters with one of the magnifying glasses I use when trying to read the fine print we often find on old tools lol!
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Lookin4_67Galaxieconv on May 05, 2011, 11:06:54 PM
Hello, I introduced myself in a separate thread, but will do so here as well.  I was a member of the old Tool Talk site.  I collect old tools, and old toolboxes to put them in.  What I'm eventually going to do with all these tools and toolboxes will be something for my heirs to sort out.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Lewill2 on May 06, 2011, 06:44:08 PM
Fisher Patent Wrench.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: J.A.F.E. on May 06, 2011, 11:24:59 PM
Lewill2 thank you. That is a seriously cool looking piece.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: lauver on May 07, 2011, 12:15:36 PM
Hey Gang,

Glad to see the site is back up, alive, and well.

For the record, I'm a vintage tool junkie living in Belton TX.  I also like mechanical work and fabrication, though I am no pro at this stuff. 

If you are interested in Craftsman tools and want to know who made them and when they were made, I have a thread over on the Garage Gazette and the Garage Journal.  Feel free to explore these threads and post any questions, comments, or observations.  Photo's of Craftsman tools are always welcome.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Papaw on May 07, 2011, 09:55:45 PM
Here- http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?topic=5298.msg72391#msg72391

And here - http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84807
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Batz on May 07, 2011, 10:12:18 PM
So this is where you all went, I was thinking it all fell into a black hole some where.

I'm Batz (Jeff) from Queensland Australia, I collect blow torches mostly.

Cheers
Batz
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Papaw on May 07, 2011, 10:13:11 PM
Welcome back ! You are #100!
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Batz on May 07, 2011, 10:24:46 PM
Welcome back ! You are #100!

100, and I feel like it today as well  ;D
I'm working away from home ATM, we are doing maintenance on a power station in Australia's outback. This is what I do now days, go away and do a month of 12 hour days 6 days a week. The up side is I only work for around 3 months a year.
Batz
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: fflintstone on May 08, 2011, 11:44:59 AM
Although I posted elsewhere, I should under this thread too.
Ok I am 49 unemployed and a first time father of a 5 year old.
Had to short sell my home and move into the cabin last year and was setting uo a workshop on a shoestring budget.
I started out on GJ then went to GG. I dabble at T&G just to read the rantings of crusty old men.
I LOVE tools and recently lost 90% of a 35 year collection due to fire. I enjoy tinkering in the garage and used to take great pride in using vintage tools. Now I am starting to rebuild my collection. Thru the generosity of a few members on GG and now GJ I am acquiring some nice vintage and new tools. I have a soft spot for older craftsman tools, particularly the RHFT ratchets. Until joining these boards I would have never thought a man needed more then 2 dozen ratchets……
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: kxxr on May 26, 2011, 08:27:23 PM
Greetings All,
  And thanks for all the great contributions. I very much enjoy seeing all of the great photos and learning about all of the various topics. I like to collect things that I can afford and never get enough. My wife just thinks I'm a pack rat. I live in Montana and when I am not working, I find tool browsing, tuning, cleaning, sorting, collecting and admiring very relaxing. I have a similar affliction with guitars but that is for another forum. It's great to find a place where my problem is understood. This is my second post here, for my first, I just posted a photo of the great Proto 5849 for your enjoyment. Thanks again!
Title: Re: fliffy42
Post by: fliffy42 on June 17, 2011, 06:18:05 PM
Hey Its me, fliffy42 (aka Cliff). For those that dont know me I am a 48 year old grandfather of 12 with a couple more on the way. I am addicted to the hunt for tools. When I am not hoarding them for myself I am buying selling and trading. I have been married & divorced a couple time but it looks like I have finally found someone to live happily ever after with. Her name is Karen and she is pretty tolerant of my tool fetish. She even has a good eye for finding tools I sometimes overlook at yard sales & flea markets too. Anyway, glad that TT is back on the air!

ps.... my avatar happens to be one of my granddaughters with one of the magnifying glasses I use when trying to read the fine print we often find on old tools lol!

Ummmm... did I mention I have 3 more grandchildren on the way?! That will make 15.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Papaw on June 17, 2011, 06:36:46 PM
Cornering the market on grandchildren, are ya?
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: fliffy42 on June 17, 2011, 07:38:49 PM
when they get older I will be bringing them to the estate sales and send them to different parts of the house grabbing whatever tools they can find lol.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: OilyRascal on September 06, 2012, 04:56:20 PM
Great thread - I enjoyed the read.  As as "newbie", I missed background on folks that were already here before the crash - that is, until now for those kind enough to post here.

Rusty remains a mystery.  "hmmm"
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Papaw on April 02, 2013, 01:35:13 AM
I hope to bring this thread up to date some.
I have slowed down on buying wrenches. I think I may have enough for right now, at least until I get them organized again. I still collect H D Smith and Bergman tools in addition to alligator wrenches.
How about some further responses from members, both new and old?


Here are two pictures of my older son and me goofing off Easter Sunday.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: oldtools on April 02, 2013, 03:55:35 AM
Great photo!!  It would be nice to see more photos of the guys we are talking to on this site.. Posted mine on other page...
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Branson on April 02, 2013, 09:49:12 AM
I hope to bring this thread up to date some.
I have slowed down on buying wrenches. I think I may have enough for right now, at least until I get them organized again. I still collect H D Smith and Bergman tools in addition to alligator wrenches.
How about some further responses from members, both new and old?


Not a lot has changed here.  The past two years have been one ($*&%^(& "growth experience" after another.  I'm mostly focused on recreating a portable forge and carriage maker's tool set for the mid-19th Century US mountain howitzer with a friend.  And accumulating more tools along the way.   Once in a while, I find something on eBay cheap enough to buy -- most recently a brass bodied spoke shave pattern hand router -- that didn't attract or was missed by other collectors. 

I've acquired a lot of tools in the past that are still in storage.  There's a carpenter's tool chest in storage I haven't been able to dig down to that holds a lot of wrenches of various sorts, and after a couple of years on Tool Talk, I'm anxious to see what goodies might be among them (I didn't know much at all when I got these -- a bunch were in the chest when I got it).  A couple of trips to the storage unit have yielded up good things I had forgotten.  I found that somewhere I had picked up a Planet Jr. wrench, and there was a box that had about a dozen lathe tools, including a D.R. Barton that looks like it has never been used or sharpened, along with four others.   

No workshop yet, which slows down things.  It limits access to tools, and it limits jobs I can take.  If I had the money, I could build the shop; if I had the shop I could make the money...
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Branson on April 02, 2013, 09:51:09 AM
Here are two pictures of my older son and me goofing off Easter Sunday.

Are you sure he's related?  LOL!  Great pictures!
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: john k on April 02, 2013, 11:52:55 PM
John in Nebraska, seem to be the only tool hoarder here.   Do have a neighbor, but thats another story.   Live in the country on the farm place.   Have mechanics and farm tools that my father and I used.   Have collected sufficient hand tools to keep me busy through retirement.    Do woodworking by hand tools, and blacksmithing.   Full time auto mechanic yet for awhile anyway.  Own a couple of old JohnDeere tractors that need old tools, and a red one.  Enjoyed talking to the folks here, and swapped tools with some.   Have made great progress in filling out wrench sets, that I had thought I'd never complete.  Still haven't met another member from here face to face, but it might happen.  The amount of accumulated knowledge, and old tool resources revealed in the posts is amazing. 
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: autobon7 on April 21, 2013, 09:29:43 PM
Hey there.....Morgan (autobon7) in Alton, IL. Just across the river from St Louis, MO. I'm 47 and have worked at the same factory for 24 years. I do the purchasing for repair and maintenance so I deal with alot of vendors both good and bad. I'm a shade tree mech wanna be...ha ha but love tools. Mainly use them around the house and maintaining my daily driver 1995 Toyota Landcruiser and my weekend fun car 1975 BMW 2002. Have a mix of Craftsman, Gearwrench, Facom, & Toptul. When my Grandmother passed away several years ago I was able to get a few wrenches my Grandfather had from long ago. Don't use them very much but will break them out when finishing a big project, in his honor. Have to say that I am partial to my Facom wrenches but usually catch them on sale or clearance as new they are bit much for a divorced Dad who does not use them for a living. I absolutely love the feel and quality and have yet to experience a failure in the 25 years of use. My stuff may not see everyday use but I do not baby anything I have. My 2 fav places to buy tools online is www.ultimategarage.com & http://store.harryepstein.com/   Have been active on garagejournal for awhile but glad to be here as well.
Title: Re: Introductions
Post by: Papaw on April 21, 2013, 10:25:11 PM
Welcome to Tool Talk, Morgan!