I was born in 1968 (makes me 52). When I was about four years old, my dad purchased me a tool chest designed for kids. It was a very common item during that time and I have seen similar ones on eBay. My is special because it was, well, mine. They can easily be purchased even to this day though. I hadn't seen it in 15 years as it was still in a moving box I hadn't unpacked. Recently, I was going through a moving box (more free time due to Covid-19 so like many I'm cleaning up and organizing more) and found it. I was very excited. Even as an adult in the early 2000s I was still using this kit from time to time.
Now that I have 4+ years of experience with hand tool woodworking, I can look at this kit with a different eye. It has a lot of useful tools with it. The current project and the one in the batter's box are fixed. What I would like to do in about six months time is to make a project of decent complexity using just the tools from this tool kit. To help me make this kit more flexible, I will use the tools in this tool kit to make a poor man's router and poor man's plough plane like Paul Seller's teaches.
I don't plan to tell my dad about this. I plan to show up one day with this tool kit was well as the project I made from it. I know that will make his day seeing this old kit and what I can do with it.
I have absolutely no objects if folks want to use machine tools. A big problem we have as a society is getting off the couch where we watch tv and doing any sort of hobby. I am happy when I see anyone do a hobby. What I do like about hand tools is that the skills I am learning and within my body. I should be able to use these tools and do a good job. We shall see.
Much fancier than the kit I had when I was a kid and I am six years older than you! Only a handful of tools survived from my kit, most of the other tools got used around the outbuildings by my parents or I lost them in the fields.
ReplyDeleteI was pretty lucky as a kid no doubt. Of course, my daughters tool kit will be even nicer. Just had a talk with my wife and for her upcoming birthday and Christmas, I plan to elaborate the basic kit. She will be getting a No 3 hand plane, 1/2" chisel, mallet, and a spokeshave.
DeleteWhat she doesn't know is that I've a a bb gun in the closet for close to three years now. Every time I ask her if she wants to shoot mine, she is uninterested. Sigh. What I would have done to have had a BB gun at her age.