Do you admire tools you don't use anymore?

knarfeng

knarfeng

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I put this here because it really has nothing to do with anything. I just had an odd experience and needed to put it into words. Feel free to ignore this and go back to something that means something.

I've done a ton of things since I left the parental nest some 37 odd years ago. Chemist of several types, electrician, truck driver, engineer, factory floor worker, messenger for a large corporation.

I spent a number of years as a paint formulation chemist. Formulated everything from house paint to special paint for military aircraft. While reading a thread here, I followed somebody's link to Heimerdinger. I saw they had industrial knives and looked to see what they carried out of curiosity. Among other things they carry the spatulas that ink and paint chemists use at the workbench. I found myself looking at them and picking out the two that were the size of my old favorites. Found myself saying, "sweet". Then I thought, "what the hey!? I haven't worked at a bench for 10 years."

Too many years on the bench, I guess.
Goes along with not passing blood tests anymore. Spent too much time with the old solvent based paints.

Do others of you of a similar age look at a tool that you would have used at a different stage of your carreer and say, "Nice tool?"
 
knarfeng said:
Do others of you of a similar age look at a tool that you would have used at a different stage of your carreer and say, "Nice tool?"
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Yes, I do. That's why I now have 12 or so different models and brands of silde rule, after getting through engineering school and the first years of my career with only one.
 
I do the same with ice axes and waterfall climbing ice tools

I have some from as early as the 70's that sit in a corner of my living room, reminding me of past adventures.
 
I still own most of the tools that I've ever used,if I need something that I don't have I usually buy it in case I ever need it again.I usually don't part with it unless I wear it out.
 
Let’s see if we can find the right forum …
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I have a lot of camping equipment. Don't use it any more, but I can't think of throwing it out.

Slightly different, I have a lot of tools that I bought but rarely use. Router, table saw, bisquit joiner, belt sander, reciprocating saw, etc., etc., etc. I've used them all, but not nearly enough yet to say I've gotten my money's worth from them.
 
I have lots of tools never used in years and years, if fact, I have all my wifes' uncles' tools, he started collecting them in 1898 when he went to work for Bethelhem Steel at the age of 8 years old. He retired from them with over 70 years of service. When he was on death bed, he called me over and asked me to clean out his shop and take everything home with me. I did, now most of those tools are framed in a shadow box type display. Memories for sure.
James
 
knarfeng said:
Do others of you of a similar age look at a tool that you would have used at a different stage of your career and say, "Nice tool?"
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Of course! I used to be an aircraft mechanic. My big, red, roll-around toolbox is still out in the garage and full of tools.
 
ronsec said:
I have a tool I don't use much anymore, but still admire .... sigh.:o
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Really, does that just happen? A friend of mine once told me. "It's all down hill after 60." I know what that really means.

:grumpy:
 
Hill?
What hill?
I don't remember any hill.
 
MikeH said:
Yes, I do. That's why I now have 12 or so different models and brands of silde rule, after getting through engineering school and the first years of my career with only one.
Click to expand...

I love old tools, and it drives my wife nuts. I have several old tools; taps, old slab dies, old micrometers, handmade screwdrivers, folding rulers, handmade shop tools & jigs.

My dad was a missile tech in the navy in the 1960's, back before the calculator was invented. We found a slide rule at a flea market years ago, and I had no clue what it was. My dad spent ten minutes showing me how they worked, and I loved the mechanical aspect of it. Like a fool, I let myself get distracted, then, as we were leaving, I asked about it, my dad's response: "aw, I don't need it. I put it back." Typical of my dad, pretty unsentimental. I looked for it the next time I was there, but it was gone. I'm kicking myself to this day over that one.

thx - cpr
 
I have a soft spot for drafting tools... I love a good compas, calipers, and nice scale and mechanical pencil set with the sandpaper sharpener.

CAD programs have made those tools antiques.
 
orca8589 said:
I love old tools, and it drives my wife nuts. I have several old tools; taps, old slab dies, old micrometers, handmade screwdrivers, folding rulers, handmade shop tools & jigs.

My dad was a missile tech in the navy in the 1960's, back before the calculator was invented. We found a slide rule at a flea market years ago, and I had no clue what it was. My dad spent ten minutes showing me how they worked, and I loved the mechanical aspect of it. Like a fool, I let myself get distracted, then, as we were leaving, I asked about it, my dad's response: "aw, I don't need it. I put it back." Typical of my dad, pretty unsentimental. I looked for it the next time I was there, but it was gone. I'm kicking myself to this day over that one.

thx - cpr
Click to expand...

slide rules can be bought on ebay. I still have original that I used to use, but I bought a couple of models that I had wanted at the time but could not afford.
(Hi, my name is Knarf and I am a geek.)
 
knarfeng said:
slide rules can be bought on ebay. I still have original that I used to use, but I bought a couple of models that I had wanted at the time but could not afford.
(Hi, my name is Knarf and I am a geek.)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info; I've seen them on eBay, I may get one for me, and another to send to my dad. He's at a point in his life where he might appreciate it now. I'd have to tell my wife it's for my dad; if I come home with one more mechanical thing that only I could love, I'll be sleeping out on the patio with it. ;)

thx - cpr
 
HP35 calculator..cost the price of a used car when it came out. Now a $10 calculator from staples does the same thing
 
I like old Stanley bench planes, but I use them. However, I love to clean and sharpen them as much as using them because it affords an opportunity to fondle and admire them. The quality of those 80 year old planes just staggers me.
 
HP35 calculator..cost the price of a used car when it came out. Now a $10 calculator from staples does the same thing
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Hahaha. Funny, isn't it?

I bought a scientific calculator from Radio Shack sometime in the early 1980s for about forty dollars, a lot of money for a kid back then. My new $15 Texas Instruments calculator is ~way~ nicer!
 
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