The Beauty of Tools

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Mike,

I agree about the 'downside' ... but [dare I say it] Lindstrom cutters are "only" as good as a tool like that should be.

I am still using the Lindstrom box-jointed, angled cutters that were purchased 30+ years ago.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/01/2017 11:05:46

There is aquired beauty in many things, guns, cars aeroplanes, yachts and wives! Many individuals follow a theme, for instance Philately or birds. Nothing wrong there at all and OCD does not come into it at all.

Useful things aquire value as you admire them like old masters paintings so why not lovely tools or machines or accessories. At least they can be used!

Nature is beauty, except where it upsets you to watch Lions at a kill. Or mass harvesting of Whales or Fish.

Every person is an individual with their own thoughts and actions so collect on and enjoy it!

Clive

Having been to quite a few model engineer shows it is evident that the perfectionist is alive and well in our hobby as is the it'll do engineer. There is a temptation to make things to unnecessary tolerances and too high a finish but a finely finished item will draw the admiration of many but a few will say it was a waste of time and effort to take things to that level. The restoration of vehicles falls into the same trap, some will criticise things for being better than factory new. Will we be restoring our Chinese machines to a better than new condition one day?

Mike

Nothing wrong with perfectionism. However sometimes the "fit for purpose" approach is needed as you don't have enough time to get anything done.

With regard to restoring Chinese lathes in years to come, I doubt whether many people in the early 1960s viewed Japanese motorbikes that were then coming in as potential future classics, nor do I imagine they'd have believed you if you said that such bikes were now worth as much as their British counterparts and venerated just as much.

I think you'd be right. First impressions are rarely final.

As we speak right now, I have a friend who restores bikes as a business, and he wants to do british bikes, and has done for many years but says they struggle to justify the effort now, whereas Japanese bikes are where it's at.

Michael W

Edited By Michael-w on 04/01/2017 14:26:20

I don't know what the fuss is about. It looks like a rather poor copy of the Eclipse scriber I've been using for over 40 years.

Still available but now branded Spear and Jackson: http://www.spear-and-jackson.com/product/scribers/engineers-scriber

Russell.

Edited By Russell Eberhardt on 04/01/2017 15:32:13

Check out my scriber and just see if you don't lust after this baby! My picture does not do it justice either...

Details: Tungsten tips brazed onto shafts treated with Duranickle and central digit indexing area (body/handle) in CuSn8

Mark

That's proper nice that is....we've got some competition...

I agree with Clive Hartland about Stahlwille Exceptional quality and not just for sockets/spanners/ ratchets and torque wrenches, even their screw drivers. Stahlwille tools are used heavily in the Aviation / Oil and Gas sectors, although they will pop up in a lot of "well heeled " car/ lorry mechanics toolchest.

Carl , I suppose it comes down to what companies you have worked for. Certainly the Helicopters firms round here, Bristow and Bond are predominantly Stahlwille. as are Boeing, Drill Quip , Wetherford, Siemens , GE ect. Just depends on the company I feel. Certainly wonderful tools, pleasure to use.

My father used to deal with westland helicopters, don't think he ever had an interest in tools though!

True. I was in the Royal Air Force so it was nearly all Britool with some of the more specialist aircraft engineering tools being made by various exotic manufacturers. Now if you want tools to drool over...

My time in the oil and gas industry has proven to me without shadow of doubt that most that work within it wouldn't know a good tool if it smacked them in the mouth and knocked all their teeth out.

Fight! Fight!..........

Most in the oil and gas probably would not bother about who make the tools, but then again they are not the ones buying them ! It's the firm that buys them. When one of the Cousins who worked at Boeing in Seattle was over visiting [ a few years back ] noticed I had a few Stahlwille Sockets he mentioned that they are the only Torque wrench / Socket supplier to Boeing. I certainly don't drool over them, or any other tool. but there is something about a high quality tool that just feels right. . Even the wood butchers on site have had arguments about "hammers " Estwing v Vaughan

My steplad got a new hammer and for weeks afterwards he would randomly say 'Estwing' when he thought no-one could hear

Each of the 'gangers' had their own favourite brand for power tools (he's into Makita, the gaffer Hitachi, Festool is also rated...)

Neil

If 'gangers' are the tradesmen that fit out houses etc I doubt they would kit themselves out with Festool, being far too expensive and I dont think its a trade where tools are cherished and looked after.

The few Festool tools I have seen and used are in a completely different league to the Makita, DeWalt and Hitachi offerings.

Ian P

Neil, There are of coarse 'gangers' in defferent leagues.

Edited By Ian Phillips on 05/01/2017 17:14:59