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Where, oh where have the cheap tools gone?
Once upon a time, there were cheap tools to be found. Across the land at yard sales, estate auctions, antique shops, in old barns and basements, and even in that newfangled online auction, there were deals to be found on tools eagerly awaiting restoration to their former glory.
Long gone are the days of yore. Upon us now are offerings of almost worthless piles of quietly rusting iron lying hither, thither and yon. Grandma is passed on, Grandpa's tools too. Methinks there are no old tools to be had that can be bought with my meager pence.
Quietly, I retreated into the safety of my office where I quickened my browser from its restful repose. Fondly, I recalled the bygone days as I worked through the pages of that once-great online auction site. I recalled vivid memories of my purchases when my checks were valid tender from old friends like tools4U in the northwest US and bYmYTools4fun who no one ever seemed to be able to find. In their place are newcomers like chinEEEsegOOdsAREgreat and india4U offering millions of worthless rejects from their factories.
As I browsed on, I knew in my heart the days of cheap, wonderful old tools are gone.
I trod deeper into the worn paths of the online world. As I left the online slums of my youth, I entered into a new neighborhood. This neighborhood had new streetlamps, cable cars, wide sidewalks, paved streets, friendly people on every corner relaxing, chatting up the breeze. It was wonderfully different, and yet strangely reminiscent of my youth.
As I passed on, I found new retailers such as Tools for Working Wood, Lee Valley Tools, Lie-Nielsen Toolworks among dozens of others. Their tools were new, and yet old. Somehow, they seemed as though they were the tools of yesteryear, and yet they were different. Better somehow.
In this neighborhood, even the poor were making their own new tools. Tools that, in spite of their warts, fit them like a glove, and cut wood as though it were butter.
Sure, there were still some old tools being employed, but it was clear to see, I had entered the modern age of hand tool woodworking.
Things are different now. They are as they were.
Hi Luke,
I've never had much luck finding old tools at yard sales and flea markets. Occasionally I do find something worthwhile and usable but more often than not all that I come across are the runts of the litter.
In general I find that the more my skills improve the happier I am with fewer tools. I also increasingly appreciate the simplicity and design of some of the basic; scrapers, various Asian wooden planes, a few old Bailey style planes and a plethora of new and old chisels that can hold an edge and cut wood as well as any other.
It seems that the availability and pricing of vintage items always changes in any field as popularity grows. The same thing happened with vintage musical instruments. They used to be cheap because no one wanted them. Then they became popular with musicians and the price went up. After that they became collectible and the pricing went through the roof.
Luckily such trends usually lead to the production of new stuff and/or the discovery of alternatives that were always there but took a little hunting to find.
Doug B,
I never thought about how the vintage tool market compares to other markets such as instruments or what have you. That is an interesting point.
I think vintage tools are really neat, but I am not a tool collector and, at this point in my life, generally prefer to keep my tool collection at a reasonable size.
In general though, I prefer new tools to old if they are as good, so I am thrilled with the modern offerings that attempt to keep the best of the golden age of woodworking and make minor adaptations such as using steel that isn't as brittle for the plane bodies or what have you.
The good ones are always somewhere else.
I had the good fortune earlier this summer to spend some time in Maine, a good place for old tools. A kindly guide pointed out a number of old tool merchants within reasonable driving distance. I was on the hunt for a #7 or #8 jointer plane. I found 6 that day, all type 15 or 16 Stanley Baileys, and bought none of them. Each had some apology that made it not worth carrying home. Average price: $60. Along the way I did find some other good stuff at great prices and carried some home. BTW, none of these places have an online presence. You just have to BE THERE.
So, I turned to the old tool experts who DO have an online presence. Patrick Leach, Ron Zimmer, Sandy Moss, and several others have better connections than I do. They find the good stuff, filtering out the junk. One pays a hefty premium for their finding and filtering, and their experience. I find it worthwhile to pay that premium. After waiting a while, Ron Zimmer found the #7 I wanted, and it is now mine for $149.
The old age is still working for me.
From what I read the cheapest tools are the ones that the bloggers get for review (universally positive - can't imagine why.)
So much product placement, so little time.
And honest reviews - maybe, but I would believe it more if they bought the tools or we all got them to make our minds up about.
I won't pretend that a blogger's review can't be colored.
However, most of the reviews that I see coming out whether product placement or not are by companies that are confident in their products because they are offering top of the line stuff.
Also, bloggers and podcasters are voluntarily reviewing a lot of stuff just because they like it. Hand tool blogging is largely a labor of love or a way to build a reputation. It is not a paying proposition in and of itself.
As a blogger, I wish there was more product placement going on, but the reality is that there isn't much in the blogosphere of hand tools.
Of the blogs I track on my site, I would guess that my site is roughly about the fifth largest in traffic - possibly as low as #8 or even 10. I have never been approached about product placement, and my site has not made me a single penny although my Adroll, Google adsense, and Amazon associate accounts are slowly approaching the $10 level. I fully expect to earn enough in the coming year to pay for my domain name, but certainly not the hosting.
Basically, the question for a lot of hand tool reviews and book reviews isn't whether or not one is holding a fantastic tool or book. It is more a question of who should buy it and what they can expect to do with it.
Bob,
That is indeed still a viable option for some, and definitely more reliable than a crummy online auction site.
However, when the price of an old tool starts to approach the cost of a new one that is guaranteed and in some ways arguable better (particularly when you must buy it sight unseen), the only real reason to buy the old one is because you like old tools.
We're excited to announce that we will be taking a little bit of the "One Old Sorehead & One Nice Guy" Vintage & Antique Tool Sale on the road in June, 2010!
AUSTIN & SAN ANTONIO - HERE WE COME!
We will be in Austin at the Ginger Man Pub on Saturday, June 12th and in San Antonio at the new Woodcraft store on Sunday, June 13th.
As always, we will be loading up our tool boxes with a variety of good user and collectible hand tools for woodworking and other crafts and trades plus a respectable amount of interesting and unusual items you just don't see everyday.
For your convenience, we will be equipped to accept Mastercard & Visa at both of these events.
If you are in the area or know anyone who is we would appreciate the word of mouth!
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Dowd’s Vintage & Antique Tools is coming to the Ginger Man!
THE GINGER MAN PUB
301 LAVACA
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN
http://aus.gingermanpub.com
SATURDAY, JUNE 12TH
1:00 - 6:00 P.M.
Join us in the back yard of one of our favorite places in Austin, the Ginger Man Pub, and spend some time handling some great old tools from times gone by. Some are more collectible than others, but in the right hands still just as useful as they were when Grandpa owned them.
We'll be bringing some real treats for the woodworkers down there as well as anyone with an appreciation for old hand tools.
Copies of the new softcover children's book DADDY, CAN WE PLAY IN THE WORKSHOP? by Austin's own Mark Lovett Wells will be available for purchase. Mark will be at the Ginger Man from 3:00-5:00 to sign copies of his book for you.
We're excited to be coming back to the Ginger Man and we welcome any special requests for items you would be interested in seeing.
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WOODCRAFT
13719 SAN PEDRO
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78232
http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=319
SUNDAY, JUNE 13TH
11:00 - 4:00 P.M.
Woodcraft has graciously invited us to their brand new store in San Antonio and we are really looking forward to the trip! This is will be our first Tool Sale in San Antonio and we hope to see some familiar faces and a ton of new ones. We'll be set up on their "front porch" so you can't miss us as you head inside to check out their new digs.
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If you have any questions or special requests for either of these two events please email us at dowdstools@tx.rr.com or give us a call at 972-271-8665.
We're always happy to hear from you.
Lynn & Tracy Dowd
Dowd's Vintage & Antique Tools
972-271-TOOL
http://www.dowdstools.com
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