Which 'old' hand tools are indispensable in your shop?

[William Adams]

Not vintage, but I thought that there were some interesting suggestions when I asked this question starting from mult-function tools: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...Bonsa-Tool-Kit

[John Schtrumpf]

Not vintage, but I thought that there were some interesting suggestions when I asked this question starting from mult-function tools: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...Bonsa-Tool-Kit

That made me realize what my two indispensable hand tools are. My ratcheting screw driver and my needle nose pliers (Fluke Ethernet cable pliers: needle nose, wire cutter, wire stripper, clamper).

[Jim Koepke]

If the tool is adjustable, make the indicated adjustment and repeat. If the tool is not adjustable, you may be out of luck and out the price you paid, but many old try squares can be adjusted.

I am not aware of any adjustable vintage try squares. I know about adjusting a framing square or a combination square.

For my try squares I have used the method you described. I inspect my knife lines with an inspectors loop with a reticle similar to this one:

1728a.jpg

http://www.edmundoptics.com/microsco...mparator/1600/

If the blade is measurably out on a fixed try square I work it carefully with a file to correct it.

jtk

[Andy McKenzie]

Of my old tools, my grandfather's Stanley #3 is indispensable. It gets used on just about every piece of wood that comes off my bench. I also use the #4 and #5 fairly regularly, but the #3 is used on almost everything.

Other than that? Well, almost all my tools are old, so I could just show you a picture of my tool chest. There are some I'd love to replace, some I dread replacing, and some that have already been moved to the "display cabinet" shelf.