Claudio wrote:

"Ooh, that's the best thing, finding a rusty neglected axe for $3 and then
discovering that it's an old forged Swedish axe!  I got that disease too!"

Doesn't that just completely summarize "the thrill of the hunt?"

It extends far beyond axes.  Finding whatever it is that "floats your boat,"
cheaply, in a neglected but reasonably restorable condition makes many
galootish hearts beat faster.

The ability to do a tool restoration is part of what sets us apart from "the
average Joe."  Anyone with money can buy a spiffy new axe or plane, but it takes
skill and patience to turn a rusty flea market find back into a user.

The fact that we CAN do it, and others cannot, is part of our self-image - and
therefore we are driven to do it.

John Ruth
Thinking about people with less in their heads than in their pockets.