Hi All,
For Jims post, the various posts made me realize that not everyone defines a "Beater Tool" like I do.
For me this is just a question about how we look at things, it is only about one's opinion, so there is no absolute "true" answer on this, only opinions and how we view things.
To me a beater tool is one that doesn't look very nice anymore, may have broken and repaired parts that look really poorly done, may be very badly pitted, a saw plate may be bent a bit, it may be hard to adjust, a wooden handled hammer may have a badly damaged handle, etc., etc.
It is all about appearance or being easy to adjust. It has too work well, or have the potential to work well otherwise it is trash or broken down for parts. It may be one that still works OK, but may be nearly worn out. It may be one that works OK for the task it is relegated to, but of only fair quality at best, for example my old Dunlap (maybe a #3) plane that will eventually be a scrub plane....it will be OK for that, but won't ever be used as a smoother.
A beater is not new cheap junker tool, that tool for me is just trash.
What is a beater in your mind?
Stew