And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Classic Tools. Probably one of the skills everyone should have is the ability to set up and sharpen a hand plane.
yeah, right. a old woodworker took the time to show me how many years ago. and remember they stopped shop classes back in the 1980's so. a lot of skills where never passed on to the younger kids. my dad worked in house building trades and I got lucky as a lot of the other guys with skills would take 5-10 minutes to show me how to do something the RIGHT way. so, one thing I still do to this day is try to help or show others what I do happen to know how to do. skills are meant to be shared with others. or so I was taught. made a few friends over the years doing just that too. also it does give you a good feeling afterwards too. helping others that is.
Was in shop classes in the 1980s. Believe it or not, this was the task on the second day of class - also had to learn how to sharpen chisels and wood-turning tools.
Today, I wouldn't bet an being able to RECOGNIZE, let alone name, a plane. I'd settle for knowing which end of a hammer to grab. Extra credit for being able to hit a nail one time out of three while holding it at the end of the handle.
I have that exact level. Miller's Falls, made of cherry. It was my grandfathers. Once I got it, I put up some cabinets using it. Stepping back, I noticed they were WAY off. Turned out it was the level, off about 1/8 a bubble. It sure explained why things were always off in his house. I keep it as a reminder that you can never completely trust a tool.
Over the winter I bought an 1869 Miller's Falls auger from somebody on Etsy. It's in good shape but this summer I'm going to tear it apart, inspect, R&R, and reassemble. Presently looking for a complete set of square shank bits for it.
yeah, right. a old woodworker took the time to show me how many years ago.
ReplyDeleteand remember they stopped shop classes back in the 1980's so. a lot of skills
where never passed on to the younger kids. my dad worked in house building trades and I got lucky as a lot of the other guys with skills would take 5-10 minutes to show me how to do something the RIGHT way.
so, one thing I still do to this day is try to help or show others what I do happen to know how to do. skills are meant to be shared with others. or so I was taught. made a few friends over the years doing just that too.
also it does give you a good feeling afterwards too. helping others that is.
not a "fine craftsman" but I always carried (and yet) a stanley low-angle block plane to make things fit.
DeleteWas in shop classes in the 1980s. Believe it or not, this was the task on the second day of class - also had to learn how to sharpen chisels and wood-turning tools.
ReplyDeleteflat on the sole...
ReplyDeleteToday, I wouldn't bet an being able to RECOGNIZE, let alone name, a plane. I'd settle for knowing which end of a hammer to grab. Extra credit for being able to hit a nail one time out of three while holding it at the end of the handle.
ReplyDeleteI have that exact level. Miller's Falls, made of cherry. It was my grandfathers. Once I got it, I put up some cabinets using it. Stepping back, I noticed they were WAY off. Turned out it was the level, off about 1/8 a bubble. It sure explained why things were always off in his house. I keep it as a reminder that you can never completely trust a tool.
ReplyDeleteOver the winter I bought an 1869 Miller's Falls auger from somebody on Etsy. It's in good shape but this summer I'm going to tear it apart, inspect, R&R, and reassemble. Presently looking for a complete set of square shank bits for it.
DeleteThat and how to sharpen a scraper...I'm an old guy, but just acquired those skills this year.
ReplyDeleteI've got that exact brass plumb bob... and it still works!!
ReplyDeleteYea that's a good thing, gravity.
Delete# 1 never set the plane like the picture, Dad will slap your head for that.
ReplyDelete