Colt Case Ingersoll Garden Tractors

Since we have a great topic for tools we can’t live without, and not wanting to muddy the waters of that thread, I was thinking just for fun about tools we used to use all time and now they just gather dust.

My first contribution is one I found while digging around the back of the tool box looking for my timing light, something else I don’t use much anymore.

Do you guys still have one of these?
Analog dwell meter with settings for RPM and volts!
I remember this was a must have to set point on the old Chevys with the weights over the points in the distributor.
That’s the last thing I used it for, a long time ago!
Been sitting in there for years and years. I thought about using it on Herbie the truck to see if it still work and if I remember how to use it, but it’s really not necessary. Much easier to get the distributor on a lobe and set the points with a fueler gauge.

Do you have a tool on the back of the shelf that used to be invaluable, but now gathers dust?

Yep got at least one dwell meter, has not been used since the mid 80's

I used to be into CB's, the meter for tuning the antenna has not been used in like forever.

The 3/4"socket set collects a lot of dust, but gets used every 2 to 4 years

With the speed of the flapper disks on the angle grinders, the old bench grinder collect a lot of dust too


Gordy

Nice topic Jeff! I wanted to reply last night but it got really late and I was soooo tired.

@JSinMO I've been looking into buying a timing light recently, to use on the tractor engines. If you were closer I'd be all over you to borrow yours!

I'm not going to talk about all the tools I have from the time I was into electronics and audio hi-fi. Signal generators, oscilloscopes, signal analyzers, lab power supplies, and more... all sitting unused. One day I will get back to it, if the house addition happens, and we will have enough room for the stereo system to be installed. Hint: I like vinyl and tube amplifiers, which I build.

As for mechanical type tools, I'm not doing this for as long as you guys, so none of my tools has been sitting unused for a long time. Maybe the set of needle files. That hasn't been used in years.

Most of the old tools I have that have become obsolete I have reporposed into something else or are in a box with some other antique tools I plan to put on display . I have some vehicle/engine specific "special tools " in the bottom of my one tool box . Like the timing belt tensioner tool for a 80's Chrylers 2.2 l 4cl. ect. lol

@Gordy My grinder is the same way. Couldn’t tell you the last time I plugged it in.

@Eugen You would be welcome to borrow what you need! The oscilloscope is a great one! Used to see them all the time, they just disappeared!

@DavidBarkey ”special tools” reminds me I have a front hub tool for a 1980 F150 4X4. Got to be close to 15 years since I owned that truck!

I just can’t stand to part with this stuff, because I know darn well the day after I get rid of it I’ll need it!

While cleaning out my Fathers workshop I came across a lot of tools. Some I have used and some I have never used. Here are a few I’ve never used. Harry

When you need one of those nail pullers, there's just no substitute.

That reminds me, somewhere around here I have a couple lead caulking irons for sealing hub fittings on cast iron drain pipes.

https://images.app.goo.gl/FwpyQ6JPxxy8S6Uc9

Just in case this whole "PVC drain pipes"thing doesn't catch on.

Harry wrote:While cleaning out my Fathers workshop I came across a lot of tools. Some I have used and some I have never used. Here are a few I’ve never used. Harry

Harry@, I'd use that 15/16 spud wrench twice a month at my work. I have adjustable spud wrench that has took a beating. I've thought about having that wrench but with a 12 pt closed end.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

Harry wrote: ↑Tue Feb 28, 2023 6:30 pm While cleaning out my Fathers workshop I came across a lot of tools. Some I have used and some I have never used. Here are a few I’ve never used. Harry

No drum brake vehicles, Harry? I might need to upgrade.......

Bob

thebuildist wrote: ↑Tue Feb 28, 2023 10:06 pm When you need one of those nail pullers, there's just no substitute.

That reminds me, somewhere around here I have a couple lead caulking irons for sealing hub fittings on cast iron drain pipes.

https://images.app.goo.gl/FwpyQ6JPxxy8S6Uc9

Just in case this whole "PVC drain pipes"thing doesn't catch on.

There are those out there that want us to stop using ALL plastics and petroleum products . But that's another discussion So you might want to hang on to that .

Jancoe wrote: ↑Tue Feb 28, 2023 10:30 pm

Harry wrote:While cleaning out my Fathers workshop I came across a lot of tools. Some I have used and some I have never used. Here are a few I’ve never used. Harry

Harry@, I'd use that 15/16 spud wrench twice a month at my work. I have adjustable spud wrench that has took a beating. I've thought about having that wrench but with a 12 pt closed end.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

Why do they call it a spud wrench?

All I know is when pipefitter’s I worked with would fit a pipeline together, they would use the tang end of the wrench to line up the flanges. They would call it spudding the flanges together. Harry

I'll agree that when you need that nail puller, it simply can't be beat. They're still sold new incidently.
I don't use them often enough to justify buying a second, or third, but as a result, the one I have is most likely to be in a location I am not...

Have a couple dwell meters I've never used. Supposedly used last time on our '48 Diamond T. That thing runs like a Swiss watch, so I'm not messing with it. Perhaps it will help when I get around to the F750, and Ford 240 in the Crane upper.

I've got a very nice hand miter box... That will likely never get used again.

3 Sets of slate roofing tools. Just got rid of the last slate roof, so they're just around for display. Glad I learned how to do slate, but can't say I miss it.

Lots of hand braces, and manual eggbeater style drills.

Folding wood rules... Still handy every once in a while.

Optical transit. Still have 3, and I love them, but generally I'll use my laser level for most things. Plenty of times there's no substitute for me though. At least not without investing in more modern, or fancy gear, and I sure can't justify that for the odd project.

Sheet metal shears... The old style monster scissor type. I keep trying to like them, but they always suck, so I use the Wiss compound style for everything now.

I think I could go on forever...

Have a few of the drum brake pliers... Still need them though. Even had to buy a really big set a few years ago for the Diamond T...

I sometime s use the old brake spring tool for deck spring ect. Sometimes use them for the intended purpose when survicing the rear "drum brakes " of my old truck .

thebuildist wrote: ↑Tue Feb 28, 2023 10:06 pm When you need one of those nail pullers, there's just no substitute.

That reminds me, somewhere around here I have a couple lead caulking irons for sealing hub fittings on cast iron drain pipes.

https://images.app.goo.gl/FwpyQ6JPxxy8S6Uc9

Just in case this whole "PVC drain pipes"thing doesn't catch on.

I got one of those, and I thought it was some kind of offset chisel
Might as well add the old blow torches to the list, I probably have 20 of them with soldering iron for most of them.

Gordy

Gordy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 12:27 pm Might as well add the old blow torches to the list, I probably have 20 of them with soldering iron for most of them.


Gordy

You can have the three I got too, don't know what I was thinking getting them ...

How about the mathematical brain? how many of us now dive for the calculator or phone to do even some of the basic math things like adding a tip to the bill, etc?

Toolslinger wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 8:02 am I'll agree that when you need that nail puller, it simply can't be beat. They're still sold new incidently.
I don't use them often enough to justify buying a second, or third, but as a result, the one I have is most likely to be in a location I am not...

Have a couple dwell meters I've never used. Supposedly used last time on our '48 Diamond T. That thing runs like a Swiss watch, so I'm not messing with it. Perhaps it will help when I get around to the F750, and Ford 240 in the Crane upper.

I've got a very nice hand miter box... That will likely never get used again.

3 Sets of slate roofing tools. Just got rid of the last slate roof, so they're just around for display. Glad I learned how to do slate, but can't say I miss it.

Lots of hand braces, and manual eggbeater style drills.

Folding wood rules... Still handy every once in a while.

Optical transit. Still have 3, and I love them, but generally I'll use my laser level for most things. Plenty of times there's no substitute for me though. At least not without investing in more modern, or fancy gear, and I sure can't justify that for the odd project.

Sheet metal shears... The old style monster scissor type. I keep trying to like them, but they always suck, so I use the Wiss compound style for everything now.

I think I could go on forever...

Have a few of the drum brake pliers... Still need them though. Even had to buy a really big set a few years ago for the Diamond T...

I while back I built a fancy-ish toolbox out of oak and mystery hardwood pallet lumber. It's the old-school type that's like a giant open topped tray and a "broomstick" carrying handle. But for mine I put a 3" high drawer under the tray part and custom fitted my two nicest jack planes and a block plane and an eggbeater drill and a nicely sharpened/maintained set of wood chisels and a couple of spoke shaves. In the open top are my 4 or 5 nice hand saws, a bit brace, a breast drill, a set of brace bits, and a couple folding rules.

It serves as my "nice woodworking" box, which I do very little of these days. But it's also just a shade of "prepping". Every tool in that box is really useful (on wood) and works without electricity. Skilled people have built full houses with less. If the dreaded apocalypse happens, that box will be very handy, either to me or somebody else.

So I just can't get bring myself to get rid of it, even though I hardly ever reach in there. Except for the block plane. I use that pretty often. There is no substitute for a block plane, electric or not. You can easily remove up to about 1/4" of wood, leaving behind a perfect, smooth, square result.

Sticking door or cabinet door? Don't make a mess with a skilsaw or a belt sander. A sharp block plane will make a clean job in no time at all.

I have aviation snips, which I like ok, particularly the offset aviation snips. Fun fact about aviation snips: Ron Covell, who's a master sheet metal worker on YouTube, always uses aviation snips "upside down": with the body of the snips down underneath the plate, where all see when you look down is what I'd call the "lower" blade. But he says you can control the cut better and get a smoother, more accurate cut that way. He should know.

But I still keep handy an aluminum set of Malco snips, because they have a much longer cutting stroke without resetting/repeating, which gives a smoother cut on anything over 3 or 4 linear inches. And I have a steel set of Wiss traditional snips that are about 20 inches long. Their extended leverage means you can cut really heavy gauge sheet, like steel up to a 1/16th" or aluminum up to about an 1/8". So those aren't going away any time soon, either.

Bob

Eugen wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 12:32 pm

Gordy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 12:27 pm Might as well add the old blow torches to the list, I probably have 20 of them with soldering iron for most of them.


Gordy

You can have the three I got too, don't know what I was thinking getting them ...

Yah started collecting them because as a youngster (5 or 6 yo) Grandpa showed me how to use one to melt lead and pour sinkers and jig heads. I think I have enough of them BUT still fighting the temptation to say send them on down and I'd cover shipping

Just out of curiosity, I know you guys get raped $$ on shipping north of the border, how bad is it $$ going south of the border?


Gordy

thebuildist wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 1:52 pm It serves as my "nice woodworking" box, which I do very little of these days. But it's also just a shade of "prepping". Every tool in that box is really useful (on wood) and works without electricity. Skilled people have built full houses with less. If the dreaded apocalypse happens, that box will be very handy, either to me or somebody else.

So I just can't get bring myself to get rid of it, even though I hardly ever reach in there. Except for the block plane. I use that pretty often. There is no substitute for a block plane, electric or not. You can easily remove up to about 1/4" of wood, leaving behind a perfect, smooth, square result.

Indeed there is no substitue for a good plane. In the last few years I picked up a #7, and #8. I just dont have the machinery down in Baltimore, so the house work gets done the old fashioned way there, so the #7 and selection of smaller planes went there. The #8 is out in PA. As I work on my 250 (almost) year old grist mill, I will be doing some of it by hand. Having that monster plane makes quick work of tweaking a beam after it gets close with the power tools.

My chisels were always kept in great shape when I was a freelance carpenter... They got kinda neglected for a number of years since... Those too will be getting cleaned up, and put back in service.

Gordy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 2:05 pm

Yah started collecting them because as a youngster (5 or 6 yo) Grandpa showed me how to use one to melt lead and pour sinkers and jig heads. I think I have enough of them BUT still fighting the temptation to say send them on down and I'd cover shipping

Just out of curiosity, I know you guys get raped $$ on shipping north of the border, how bad is it $$ going south of the border?


Gordy

No idea, but canadapost.ca can show an estimate if you give sizes and weight for the box. On ebay there's that global shipping thing, and vendors from the US who do that give really cheap shipping prices to Canada, including brokerage. I was amazed. Don't know if it works the other way around, but if it did, you could buy them for 1 cent from me and cheaper shipping with the global shipping thing. No idea though if that's something that works from here. Will find out soon I hope, as I have some vacuum tubes that I'm going to sale on ebay.

JSinMO wrote: ↑Mon Feb 27, 2023 7:50 pm @Gordy My grinder is the same way. Couldn’t tell you the last time I plugged it in.

@Eugen You would be welcome to borrow what you need! The oscilloscope is a great one! Used to see them all the time, they just disappeared!

@DavidBarkey ”special tools” reminds me I have a front hub tool for a 1980 F150 4X4. Got to be close to 15 years since I owned that truck!

I just can’t stand to part with this stuff, because I know darn well the day after I get rid of it I’ll need it!

I guess your post made me feel really, really, old... well I am 75! I use my oscilloscope a lot! but I am an Electronics major! one of the first things I go to ...

Here's a tool I don't use anymore, a Yankee no.131/A screwdriver.

keith wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 5:47 pm Here's a tool I don't use anymore, a Yankee no.131/A screwdriver.DSCF0695.JPGDSCF0696.JPG

Back in the day, those were the closest thing to a cordless drill. I remember them fondly.

Bob

@ras101 didn’t mean to make you feel old. I thought of this post as more of a happy reminisce of the way we used to do things and the tools we used to do it!

@keith I forgot all about those! I think I have a couple of the Yankee drills with the bits in the handle around here somewhere! That also reminds me I have at least 1 bit and brace drill in a drawer too! Now I have to go look!

I must still have some organization skills left, they’re right where I thought they should be!

Braise and bit . I remember using one of them to tap maple trees back in the day .

speed handle . Back when we were racing , we used these a lot at the track . Pre-cordless days .

I learned about those in the air force. I still like mine.

But admittedly I don't reach for it very often.

I work with a guy that's getting his retirement home finished... He's got Amish folks doing most of it. Apparently they just sheetrocked the place, and it was all done with the Yankee screwdrivers... He tells me every screw was set perfectly, and didn't notice and where they had slipped off and gouged the rock.

OMG!!! The original cordless drywall screw gun. I would like to see that in action.