Am I the only one who loves fixing old hand tools?

I fixed an old hand plane from a swap meet, and it works great now. Some carpenters say new tools are better because they save time. Others believe old tools have better craftsmanship. Where do you stand on this?

3 comments

3 Comments

emery191mo ago

Oh man, I totally get it. I love the idea of fixing up old tools, but my results are always a little... special. My garage is full of "fixed" tools that work in ways their makers never intended. Sure, new stuff is easier, but where's the fun in that? I just wish my fixes didn't always leave me with a new dent in the workbench.

julia_park441mo ago

Your garage must look like a tool graveyard with all those special fixes lol.

james7671mo ago

My garage workbench has a dozen of those dents from failed fixes. I've been there, @emery19, and it's all part of the learning curve. A simple trick is to place a scrap wood block under the tool before you start hammering. That way, the impact is absorbed and your bench stays intact. Sometimes, a good soak in penetrating oil does more than brute force.