What to do with a huge set of shipwirght irons

[Tom Tovar]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post. I grew up a carpenter, taught to use hand tools, keep them clean and sharp, build all sorts of things, etc. I've never built a boat.

A friend gave me a set of shipwright tools - look old. It includes:

1. One large mallet (metal rings and end braces).
2. One smaller mallet (metal rings and end braces).
3. 5-6, 9"-10" mortise chisels/irons (?) - Cahill
4. 5-6, 4"-5" caulking (?) chisels/irons - Cahill
5. 5-6, mixed lot irons - U.Reed, C. Drew, Buffum Tool Co., etc.
6. 3 "reef hooks" (?), one stamped "PJ" on the brass handle.
7. All came together in a heavy canvas/leather seamed bag with "PJ" stitched on the flap.

Everything is in great condition - no rust - even have one newer looking iron from C. Drew (saying newer because it is chrome looking, shiny). I checked on fleabay and these things seem....well, valuable. The mallets sell for $150-$200 a piece. The irons, about the same for a mixed lot or 4 or 5 in poor condition.

What do these things do? Is this for a collector or a "user"? I don't know the first thing about boat building - looking for insight and suggestions.

Thanks everyone!

Tom

[Sam Murdoch]

You should see all your tools here - http://www.boat-building.org/learn-skills/index.php/en/wood/caulking-calking/ Well worth a look.

[Lud martinson]

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As I have not figured out how to prevent this - I will try a pm

[Lud martinson]

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[John Owles]

They are all for caulking plank seems in hull or deck
The mallets or mauls kind of speak for themselves - for working the caulking, either oakum (tarred spun hemp) used on heavily planked vessels or cotton in yachts.
Caulking irons come in many shapes and sizes from gert thick ones to very thin ones and bent ones for awkward places. There are also long irons with a dogleg in them, called horsing irons, which are for caulking the deck under obstructions such as a large mainsheet horse.

A Reef Hook is for clearing out old caulking from a seem, prior to re-caulking.

Hope this helps

Oh, and yes they are valuable but mostly they go to collectors to put in a glass case. A shame really as most shipwrights, especially youngsters starting out can't afford them. Some of mine are over 150 years old and they are still going strong.

John