Death of a tool??

PeteVS

PeteVS

Well-known member
I've stopped into a couple of big box stores as well as our local parts purveyor looking for the ever popular 1/2" x 9/16" open end wrench. All they stock are combination wrenches. If you have to separate two parts held together with a 5/16" bolt and nut, you'd need two 1/2" combination wrenches. If you have those pieces held by 3/8" fasteners, you'd need two 9/16" combination wrenches. Fortunately, I started buying tools in 1957.
 
When ever I'm in a Pawn Shop, consignment store, or secondhand store, I always check the box of miscellaneous wrenches for the ever popular 1/2" X 9/16" open end. They are usually priced at $.25 or less, and if not obvious imported junk, I buy them. You can never have enough.
 
I have boxes of my father's and grandfather's high quality American made old wrenches that only us "older" guys are interested in.

Modern stuff is metric or some special socket head.

I use what I need and can't bring myself to scrap the rest. Buyers had ZERO interest for it in past yard sales.
 
I have my trusty vintage Craftsman wrenches at the ready when I'm working on old Fords

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We have a great salvage yard here in S.E. Michigan. Taylor Salvage. In the office there are two boxes of tools--$1 each, that they find in old cars they take in. I've bought good books, there's gas cans, good batteries etc.
 
I’ve pick up a hip top toolbox full of old craftsman wrenches for a couple of bucks from a family that was moving.
 
NealinCA said:
I have my trusty vintage Craftsman wrenches at the ready when I'm working on old Fords

576915
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Hey Neal, that shop is my vision of what Heaven must be!!! I had a friend that was not too tidy and he said, "This garage ain't no flower shop"
 
Concerning old tools, I had an original 8" crescent wrench made at the Crescent Tool Company in Jamestown, NY. It went bad (roller was stripped) so I took it to a hardware store to look for the part. Owner said these wrenches are guaranteed for life! This wrench was probably made in the 1940's or 50's. Sure enough, i had a new crescent wrench after a 2 week wait. This happened to me sbout 15 years ago. Is this still possible with today's tools? terry
 
I often have to stop a project to get the right tool. My wife thinks that is so funny. She came from Vietnam. She also working in US manufacturing in her 20s so she knows the benefit of having the right tool. Back in Vietnam, the right tools were not available for most tasks. Pliers were used for many things. Her Father worked with the French so he was a little more sophisticated. He had an axe that the whole village borrowed. They also had one of the only TVs and all the men of the village would congregate to watch world cup soccer at their home (bamboo with coconut leaf roof) probably built without the right tools.
 
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