Lets See Your Favorite Tools

[David R. Pennington]

Here are some of my favorite tools. Not necessarily the best or prettiest, but the ones I go to most often. Many are antique, and many home made.

[James Wilson Everett]

Here are some of my favorites:

Tumbler Mill


Pan Grinder


Screw Plate for machine screws


Rifling Bench


Boring Bench


Freshing Bench


Screw Plate for Wood Screws

[David R. Pennington]

James, there are some treasures. I aim to build a tumbler mill someday. Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy your posts on traditional gun work.

[davebozell]

Some of my favorite tools.  Some are users, and some I just enjoy.

Bullet cherries, a couple unusual spoon bits (flat tang), and a depth gage.



Some tools stamped “J.P. Willey”.  He was a gunsmith from Maine.  Unknown timeframe, but very cool tools.  I found these all at once and have never found others.



A close-up:


Screw plates.  The two smaller ones are probably watchmaker tools.


Chisels purchased together as a gunmakers set.  I really like octagonal handles.  I use them all the time.


Another set of tools from a gunmaker.  This set is more modern, with mostly Swedish tools.  I bought them all together and want to keep them that way.

[Maineshops]

🧠 my favorite tool😁

[Clint]

I started making chisels in the 1980's, mostly bigger ship building stuff. I still make carving chisels and have gotten a pretty big collection.
This is one of the chisel boxes.

 
and this is one of the drawers. The box was made, years ago from some old table leaves that were thrown out with someones trash.

[David R. Pennington]

Neat little cabinet. At first glance I thought it was larger until I scaled it to gun a lock on shelf.

[alyce-james]

davebozel. Sir, great collection of old tools. I have a great 18th century cherry wood brace that uses flat tang tools. I'm always looking for flat tang tools. I do some blacksmithing so I have converted some old cherry to flat tang tooling for show. Cherries are easy to find. Thanks for sharing. Have a good evening. AJ.

[thecapgunkid]

Hope this post grows...there is some inspirational, great stuff in here!!!

[aaronc]

I started making chisels in the 1980's, mostly bigger ship building stuff. I still make carving chisels and have gotten a pretty big collection.
This is one of the chisel boxes.

 
and this is one of the drawers. The box was made, years ago from some old table leaves that were thrown out with someones trash.

Beautiful chest,...hinges are really nice. Do you make chisels to sell ?

[Not English]

Clint, That's a nice chest! Might you be the same Clint that I've run across on the various wooden boat forums?

Dave

[RedRiverII]

older post I know,  I'm older as well.  this is my favorite tool although it's been overused I like it best.  take good care of yours,  please.

[Frank Barker]

RedRiverII.... That is the best advice anyone could ever offer for without them all the tools in the world would be of no value.     

[Stoner creek]

Here’s my favorite, as the guys in last weeks class can attest.

[Greg Pennell]

Wayne, what’s that in your vise…it looks like sycamore?

Greg

[Stoner creek]

Acer Rubrum

Red Maple!

[120RIR]

Like everyone else I'm sure, I've got plenty of fancified power tools - drill press, angle grinder, palm sander, flex shaft, etc., but the vast majority of my hand tools are antique and I use most of them on a regular basis.  Yes, present-day versions work just as well but I enjoy working with the old stuff.  This pin vise is one of my favorites.  The amount of completely unnecessary detail put into this little piece (about 4.5 inches in length) is great and indicative of a proud craftsman.

[Bob Roller]

Here’s my favorite, as the guys in last weeks class can attest.

A beautiful Vernier Caliper.A rare item in today's shops as most rely on the dial calipers and I always called these "very near" calipers.I have several real Verniers and one is a combination diameter and height guage in decimal readings made by the Mauser Rifle Works in Oberndorf,Germany before WW2.It's a cased tool and I accepted it as payment for a $5 fix on a pistol years ago.The only drawback to the real Verniers is that they rely on the eyesight of eyes younger than mine.I now use the dials for fast checking and a "C" clamp micrometer for the rest.Thanks for showing this one.
Bob Roller

[Frozen Run]

[Bob Roller]

On 21 February of 2016 Taylor Sapergia posted a picture of a bench grinder make over modification that has risen high on my list of "go to" tools.I have 2 of these now and a cheap Harbor Freight 6"grinder that I adapted a Jacobs chuck to the right hand side and use it for polishing inside a trigger guard or any other internally circular item.Pictures are still in the list on that date.

Bob Roller

[JHeath]

Here’s my favorite, as the guys in last weeks class can attest.

When I see one of those left on a bench I take it to the owner and complain, "This cheap-ass wrench of yours doesn't grip worth a @!*%."

I still have mine, a gift from my foreman 40+ years ago. I use it when I misplace my digital. For a few years I couldn't read it, then realized I just needed glasses.

When I show young guys how to read it, they just shake their heads.

[Van]

    My favorite is an anvil made by my grandfather in his shop which he gave to me when I started building muzzleloaders in the 1970s.  Made from a railroad rail.

[Bob Roller]

Here’s my favorite, as the guys in last weeks class can attest.

When I see one of those left on a bench I take it to the owner and complain, "This cheap-ass wrench of yours doesn't grip worth a @!*%."

I still have mine, a gift from my foreman 40+ years ago. I use it when I misplace my digital. For a few years I couldn't read it, then realized I just needed glasses.

When I show young guys how to read it, they just shake their heads.

Today while awaiting delivery from a hardware store I came across this.The screw at the top of that "wrench"is supposed to be tightened with vise grips .Then the moveable jaw has a harder time getting past the corners on a nut or bolt.Getting away from the absurd,
I tried to show younger machinists in years past about these old tools and I would have made more progress by using another language.
I still call dial calipers a "Very Near"caliper and have never used one in making screws or lock tumblers.They are a good scribe in spme applications.
Bob Roller

[Dan Herda]

My favorite is my g grandads shave horse, originally built by him using no nails screws or bolts. (1875ish) A couple have been added over yrs past due to cracks. I aim to duplicate this with some mesquite I slabbed up in 2015.
Then I’ll have one to use.

[Dan Herda]