Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...
Discussion
GeneralBanter said:
YankeePorker said:
Good lord man, I know it’s not in the spirit of the thread but stop buying things, there’s no way that you need all that! 
They look well used which is impressive. dlks151 said:
You've literally only seen the half of it, and there's very little that hasn't been used at some point in time, but remember this has been accumulated over 40yrs, I've still got some tools from when I was an apprentice. 
I still have some tools, Sockets sets, pliers and Snap On Allen keys from when i was an Apprentice Auto electrician well over 40 years ago.dlks151 said:
GeneralBanter said:
YankeePorker said:
Good lord man, I know it’s not in the spirit of the thread but stop buying things, there’s no way that you need all that!
They look well used which is impressive. 
dlks151 said:
I look at the tools my tradesmen use now and like most things in life now they are relatively cheap and disposable, there's no pride in what they have, and gone are the days when sparks had Elliot Lucas pliers and joiners had Estwing hammers etc. I've never ever bought crap tools, the majority of them are 20yrs+ old, and when I was on the tools I used to pay my youngest sister pocket money to clean and oil my tools each week, that continued with my youngest daughter, the grandsons will be bestowed the privilege (chore) in a few years time.
Hold your horses there fella.Joiner here and I’ve used an Estwing hammer since the second year of my apprenticeship, had a Stanley 20 oz to start then a 20 oz Estwing at 18 and 32 years later still have one at the side of me. Admittedly it’s my second now and is in the later stage of it’s life but I wouldn’t use any other type.
I have always bought the best tools you can for a reason, they’re made far better and more accurate. I know some nowadays buy cheap stuff but to me it’s false economy when it’s your job to make you money.
Estwing I’m using today I bought in 2001, first one lasted about a decade, this one’s doubled it.
Edited by Promised Land on Monday 3rd April 11:01
Promised Land said:
I have always bought the best tools you can for a reason, they’re made far better and more accurate.
They make life easier and they last longer too.A good tool and moderate skill can achieve a result that a poor tool can never manage even expertly used, and usually for a lot less time & effort.
Promised Land said:
Hold your horses there fella.
Joiner here and I’ve used an Estwing hammer since the second year of my apprenticeship, had a Stanley 20 oz to start then a 20 oz Estwing at 18 and 32 years later still have one at the side of me. Admittedly it’s my second now and is in the later stage of it’s life but I wouldn’t use any other type.
I have always bought the best tools you can for a reason, they’re made far better and more accurate. I know some nowadays buy cheap stuff but to me it’s false economy when it’s your job to make you money.
Estwing I’m using today I bought in 2001, first one lasted about a decade, this one’s doubled it.
Geologist here, and Estwing hammers were the absolute best for destroying the countryside Joiner here and I’ve used an Estwing hammer since the second year of my apprenticeship, had a Stanley 20 oz to start then a 20 oz Estwing at 18 and 32 years later still have one at the side of me. Admittedly it’s my second now and is in the later stage of it’s life but I wouldn’t use any other type.
I have always bought the best tools you can for a reason, they’re made far better and more accurate. I know some nowadays buy cheap stuff but to me it’s false economy when it’s your job to make you money.
Estwing I’m using today I bought in 2001, first one lasted about a decade, this one’s doubled it.
Edited by Promised Land on Monday 3rd April 11:01
Promised Land said:
Hold your horses there fella.
Joiner here and I’ve used an Estwing hammer since the second year of my apprenticeship, had a Stanley 20 oz to start then a 20 oz Estwing at 18 and 32 years later still have one at the side of me. Admittedly it’s my second now and is in the later stage of it’s life but I wouldn’t use any other type.
I have always bought the best tools you can for a reason, they’re made far better and more accurate. I know some nowadays buy cheap stuff but to me it’s false economy when it’s your job to make you money.
Estwing I’m using today I bought in 2001, first one lasted about a decade, this one’s doubled it.
You're clearly a professional tradesman, a proper joiner. Most these days I'd class as wood butchers and not worthy of owning an Estwing Joiner here and I’ve used an Estwing hammer since the second year of my apprenticeship, had a Stanley 20 oz to start then a 20 oz Estwing at 18 and 32 years later still have one at the side of me. Admittedly it’s my second now and is in the later stage of it’s life but I wouldn’t use any other type.
I have always bought the best tools you can for a reason, they’re made far better and more accurate. I know some nowadays buy cheap stuff but to me it’s false economy when it’s your job to make you money.
Estwing I’m using today I bought in 2001, first one lasted about a decade, this one’s doubled it.
Edited by Promised Land on Monday 3rd April 11:01
Promised Land said:
Hold your horses there fella.
Joiner here and I’ve used an Estwing hammer since the second year of my apprenticeship, had a Stanley 20 oz to start then a 20 oz Estwing at 18 and 32 years later still have one at the side of me. Admittedly it’s my second now and is in the later stage of it’s life but I wouldn’t use any other type.
I have always bought the best tools you can for a reason, they’re made far better and more accurate. I know some nowadays buy cheap stuff but to me it’s false economy when it’s your job to make you money.
Estwing I’m using today I bought in 2001, first one lasted about a decade, this one’s doubled it.
Are you a curved claw or straight claw type of guy? My 30ish year old Stanley is a straight claw and along with my Rabone combination square I bought from new around the same time, they’re the hand tools I’d be most miffed losing.Joiner here and I’ve used an Estwing hammer since the second year of my apprenticeship, had a Stanley 20 oz to start then a 20 oz Estwing at 18 and 32 years later still have one at the side of me. Admittedly it’s my second now and is in the later stage of it’s life but I wouldn’t use any other type.
I have always bought the best tools you can for a reason, they’re made far better and more accurate. I know some nowadays buy cheap stuff but to me it’s false economy when it’s your job to make you money.
Estwing I’m using today I bought in 2001, first one lasted about a decade, this one’s doubled it.
Edited by Promised Land on Monday 3rd April 11:01
wolfracesonic said:
Are you a curved claw or straight claw type of guy? My 30ish year old Stanley is a straight claw and along with my Rabone combination square I bought from new around the same time, they’re the hand tools I’d be most miffed losing.
Always had the curved claw, I have 3 Estwings now, (all blue handle) my first which is in an old tool box and doesn’t get used, handle worked loose at the bottom of the shaft, I know why, pushing glazing beads in with the bottom of the handle wore it away over time, the one I use now and a spare I’ve had maybe 15 years ready to jump in when needed.I did get one of those fancy head weighted Stanley hammers quite a few years ago along with a load of other free Stanley stuff when I opened an account somewhere but I’ve never even tried it.
With pin guns and nail guns it gets used more for chiselling, tapping something into position, tapping wall plugs in more these days.
skwdenyer said:
If we're going to talk hammers, I find The Essential Craftsman interesting:
The Americans get a larger range of tools in stores than we do here.Hickory handled hammers are from the 70’s though, you need a spare shaft in your tool box just in case you snap it on site, saw one or two do that when I was an apprentice, no good at pulling 3 or 4 inch nails out at all. So you would never use one for shuttering.
dlks151 said:
Here's a teaser for you, more tools than I care to photograph just in case the wife ever comes across this post . I've bought a lot of the Teng individual sets over the years and they've proved to really good quality tools and the storage compartment helps keep a track on whats missing (take note son in law !!!).
I also have a sizeable investment in tools. I often think about my son and daughter who will inherit them and whether they'd actually want them. I can only wish my Dad had a decent set of tools to pass onto me but although he had some, they were never a priority for him and as such were cheap and "made do" types.. I've bought a lot of the Teng individual sets over the years and they've proved to really good quality tools and the storage compartment helps keep a track on whats missing (take note son in law !!!). Mars said:
I also have a sizeable investment in tools. I often think about my son and daughter who will inherit them and whether they'd actually want them. I can only wish my Dad had a decent set of tools to pass onto me but although he had some, they were never a priority for him and as such were cheap and "made do" types.
My grand far raised me and was a mechanic, had a huge amount of snap on (the days when they really were the only option for professional spanner twirlers) - but unfortunately he retired when I was too young to 'inherit'.Sold the whole lot for a stupidly cheap price. Gutted.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff