My old handmade tools

[Beehive]

Round edgers, creaser and stitch groover. The edgers and creaser were recycled spring steel from a vintage couch. Tempered. The best metal I could find at the time of having zero money. The groover is drill stock. 

I made these in 2006. I've since updated to Ron's tools.  But to tell the truth, I still reach for these. They give the Ron's a run for the money. The creaser is still in use. The groover is retired. 

 

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Edited January 30 by Beehive

[DieselTech]

Nice fabrication work. They look like quality to me. What is the handles made of? Looks like a couple different woods. 

[Beehive]

The handles are short legs for something(Ash?). Bought at Lowe's. The big end was put towards the blades because of the hole the mounting screw was in. 

The spring steel was flat stock. I'd date the couch to the 50's or 60's. It had real cotton padding. Red oak for wood. But it was worn out and tossed. That's when I stripped it of every piece of metal. 

The blades are held in with two part epoxy. I don't remember the brand of glue but it's still going solid. 

Edited January 30 by Beehive

[Beehive]

Closer Pic of the ends. Lot's of dremel work. I have no idea when, "Round edgers" first came out but I was making and using them before I knew you could buy them. 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 30 by Beehive

[Beehive]

My stitch hammer for pounding a stitch line. I can't remember what kind of hammer it was but it had the face I needed. Polished and cold blue.

Shingle hammer? (It wasn't a body hammer). 

 

 

Edited January 30 by Beehive

[chuck123wapati]

sweet !! making your tools is half the fun.

[Beehive]

The only store bought tool I used was the needles that come in the handy stitcher. The awl with a bobbin in the handle. I never used it like it was. The needle was stuck in a drill press. Stitching wheel to mark the holes and a 12" drill press to push the needle through. 

I stitched leather, using a drill press, for decades. Up until I bought pricking irons. 

Edited January 30 by Beehive

[SUP]

I have a lot of store bought tools  but recently I bought some hand made ones - stamps - and I see the difference. The hand made ones are so much better. The images are cleaner and so much more sharp. The sad thing is that I paid a pittance for them - about a twentieth of the price of 'good' tools sold in stores.  I feel sad about the loss of such handmade tools that are not bought by people who will value and treasure them. Many don't look as bright and shining as branded tools - mine are made from large nails - and they probably get junked. Tsk. They should be treasured!

[Beehive]

I've found out that all my stamps are of Tandy vintage. Bought in person in Austin. Craftool and US Stamp brand. I don't have a huge collection but I do have everything I need. I'd say something like ~25 total stamps. 

I'm kinda impressed with myself. My leather tools have survived my rough life. I've never lost anything. I still have them all. 

 

I have a can of saddle lac. 32oz. The can is dated 2008. The label has turned black. It's still good. Now you can't buy saddle lac unless you get a spray can.