My desperate saga
A few months ago I owned a #5 1/2 (G- condition), a #220 (G), a Record
#601/2 (new, but I have never been able to get it to work), a Carter 4
(sole heavily pitted, but not where it mattered, this is an Oz plane
from 1950's), a #5 (new, very cheap, but I have never used it, the
plastic handle!), a #20 Record (unused condition, I will find a use some
day), a #50C Record Combination (unused, and after trying to use it I
understand why). I also had 9 power and cordless drills and 3 routers. I
decided I needed a #7, and responded to an advert in a used goods
newspaper).
When I got there this old guy (I am 56, so you know how old I am talking
about) had these ramshackle sheds piled with a confusion of tools). I
bought a nice flat and clean #7, and a heap of other stuff. But this was
not all. I have been back several times. Also I have been going to flea
markets, and I have joined an old tools group (in Sydney), and I have
purchased a heap of reference books. I have even subscribed to this
discussion list. I am contemplating making a woodie (I have all the
materials needed, including an old 22" beech jointer that is past
redemption, but can be cut down for a smoother (and I really need one of
those), and a Mathieson double iron that needs a home and lots of scraps
of tough Oz hardwood (Jarrah, Brushbox etc).
How quickly we fall. Just on smoothers alone I have acquired - #3
equivalent Shelton (for novelty value); #4 and #3 Record stay-sets, nice
planes - VG+ condition; #4 ½ in almost unused state, never been lapped,
I have not actually used yet; 604 ½ (Type 7) that I paid US$45 for in VG
condition; Marples German style woodie; Mathieson coffin woodie with
quite thick iron; Spiers style infill with Marples double iron (G+);
Berg German style woodie (rough OZ made with a dreadful sole, a history
piece that I got for nothing).
My wife surveys all this and asks (don't they all?) "well what have you
actually made?". I like the 604 ½ best so far, but have not used the
infill until I get some idea of its value. Now this is probably a drop
in the Tool Ocean for you veterans, but don't forget, this is 5 months
work. And this is just the smoothers. The total cost of the above (don't
tell SWMBO) = US$250, so did not quite break the bank. Part of the
problem is that, what with the speculative decline in the A$, prices
seem quite cheap.
Good lord, I have even bought a digital camera (quality camera 2nd hand
very cheap) to record all this stuff! How much longer before I become a
Neanderthal?
Last weekend at a flea market close by I purchased 7 old pocket
wrenches, and I already have a few, what is happening to me?
Peter Evans
Sydney
Australia
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