My great grandfather's tools

A couple of weeks ago, I got an unexpected Christmas gift. I found a wooden box of tools my grandfather had tucked away for me 30 years ago. It contained my great grandfather, and perhaps some of my great-great grandfather’s hand tool! Among them was a draw knife with my great grandfathers initials etch into it (I’ll show you that next time), hand made white oak planes, auger bits and an auger, chisels, gouges, saws, rasps, etc. One of the most interesting tools was a very old cooper’s adze. After 2 hours of sharpening with a file and a honing stone, I have almost… almost put an edge on it. 150 yr old or so cast iron is definitely MUCH harder than modern, steel tools!

Howdy,  

You sir, have "found". "discovered" a treasure chest of ...history?

I have a collection of old tools, adze, I traded for when I saw a friend using as a hoe in their garden! Various axe, hatchet, hammer heads in junk piles needing new handles. When I have "cleaned" these up I have been able to see forge marks, names etc, and looking on the internet some are valued as "antiques" into the 1000's of dollars. I like working with old handtools. I learned how to sharpen those old 2 man saws. Being on a wildland fire crew, we weren't "allowed" to use power tools inside some wilderness and Nat. Park boundaries. I also have sharpened old wood augers,chisels and bits.

My grandfather was a well known baker and I have and use some of his outdated utensils. Using ancestors things brings back some close "feelings" like they are looking over my shoulder, making sure I'm "taking care, and doing it right"

Good luck, Great Find!

randal cranor wrote:Howdy,  

You sir, have "found". "discovered" a treasure chest of ...history?

I have a collection of old tools, adze, I traded for when I saw a friend using as a hoe in their garden! Various axe, hatchet, hammer heads in junk piles needing new handles. When I have "cleaned" these up I have been able to see forge marks, names etc, and looking on the internet some are valued as "antiques" into the 1000's of dollars. I like working with old handtools. I learned how to sharpen those old 2 man saws. Being on a wildland fire crew, we weren't "allowed" to use power tools inside some wilderness and Nat. Park boundaries. I also have sharpened old wood augers,chisels and bits.

My grandfather was a well known baker and I have and use some of his outdated utensils. Using ancestors things brings back some close "feelings" like they are looking over my shoulder, making sure I'm "taking care, and doing it right"

Good luck, Great Find!

That is really awesome!  I have found that I was mistaken about it being cast iron - seems to be vanadium steel, like old railroad spikes.  My grandmother was a great cook, so I am pleased to have inherited a lot of her cast iron and other kitchen utensiles.