OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

63758 Minch <ruby@m...> 1999‑06‑10 Re: Drying alcohol (for shellac)
Date:  (Date Unavailable)

I am an energy efficiency contractor (accepting questions) and have been
building things in wood since 1968.  My brother, the arch'tect, and I had
a little house building business going in the 70's - solar stuff when
there was still a tax credit.  We would do everything in the house from
concrete to framing to finish carpentry.  The only things we subbed out
were plumbing, heating, electrical, and carpeting - we did the rest.  It
took us about 5 years to realize that we can't compete with the guys who
do each trade as a specialty and still make any money.

However, in that time we "apprenticed" to a couple of different old
galoots and came out of it with a healthy respect for hand tools.  We had
our share of p*w*r (12" radial saw!) but still had a respectable box of
good handtools (I still have the primo Sargeant 424C)

Over the years I have acquired more tools as needed for building a house
full of furniture, several additions, about 6 houses, and a 40' sailboat.
 Since '93 I have been a volunteer carpenter on the Kalmar Nyckle, a
replica of a1620's Swedish colonial ship that started their first
settlement here in Wilmington Delaware.  Have you ever seen 30 tons of
purpleheart?

However, it wasn't til the fall of '97 that I was epiphanized.  I have a
friend in Albany who enjoys his hand tools, and he came up with 2
toolboxes:  One was owned by a carpenter working before the turn of the
century, and the other by his son working in the 20's and 30's.  The two
boxes were roughly parallel in their contents except for the age of the
tools - one had a wooden compass plane, the other a 113, one had a set of
woodies, the other all metal planes (including an Auburn #6 with
adjustable throat).  There must have been 400 tools laid out in the
basement.  They were all used, but not abused, and the sight, the feel
and the smell of the whole scene was intoxicating.  I was being sucked in.

Then in September of '98 I spent a couple of hours in the basement of a
friend of a friend here locally.  He said "I am not a collector, I am an
accumulator".  He has bought every tool that he came across that was
cheap since 1980.  His pride and joy is a small cabinet full of 147 tools
that he paid a total of $150 for.  Saws, planes, chisels, a #45 with a
dozen blades, etc, etc.

He has over 1500 planes, everything from 2's to 608's, 8 circular planes,
countless block and rabbet planes, milk crates full of boxwood handled
chisels and rosewood handled mitre squares, 3 leg vises!  For the last 10
years he has been travelling to England and has been stricken by their
stuff - over 50 infill planes including a Norris 1 - none higher than 40
pounds (about $80).  About a dozen record 042's. A drawer full of little
ebony and brass levels, etc, etc.  He had 10,000 tools in that basement.

Well, since fall of 98 I have been on the steep end of the learning
curve.  My mid-life crisis seems to be owning more tools than I could
possibly use, but I also like to get them for others in need.

I have been lurking for about 3 months and really enjoying the opinions,
philosphy, and expertise of the accumulated mass.  I have finally signed
on.  I have no idea how big the porch is , but it must be huge, and I
enjoy being here.

Now if I can only find a turn of the century caulking gun so that I can
actually "use" my hobby!



Recent Bios FAQ