Happy Hallowe'en

   

  At this moment I sitting at our kitchen table awaiting the annual attack of the ghouls,goblins and ghosts.  We moved into this neighbourhood five years ago and as the sub-division has filled in there have come to be more and more little Trick or Treat people. (which I think is great) I have a personal policy of good treats for little kids and not so much for teenagers.  It is my feeling that you should have out grown Trick or Treat by middle school age.

  Anyway, I thought I would look through thetoolstore.ca's website and see what I thought would be a treat.  

   In no particular order:
    Bessey Utility Knife kit;

  I've talked about this kit before, but I still believe it to be a great value.

   A Bosch Jig Saw, you'll only ever have to buy one.

    I sold lots of them and I don't think they ever worn out, they just got abused to death on job sites.  And, the prices have come down in the last few years.

   The weather is turning against us, right now it is raining hard and the wind is blowing a gale.  Good gloves are a must if you are going to work for any length of time out doors from now until March.

and if you have to work in the wet

I have had my Estwing for 30 years
and it was 25 years old when I got it

  Cheers,

   Have a nice evening with your kids.

Estwing Hammer

 The Beauty

the Beast

  The photo of the beast is oddly out of perspective, but that doesn't really matter, the photo is just proof that I have my own Estwing leather handled hammer.  That hammer had already completed a lifetime's work when I bought it second hand.  That hammer belonged to a friend of my Uncle's who was down sizing as part of his retirement plan.  I have a couple of other tools of his but that is the one that is closest at hand.  I hope that one day I will down size and one of my grandchildren will take that hammer into their shop and get another lifetimes work from it.

   The attached video shows Estwing making their hammers, I really believe that they should be proud of their work.

Traveling Tool Box - part 1

Traveling tool box

 Sitting on my rolling work bench is my traveling tool kit.  This last weekend I was into Toronto to see the kids and do a little job.  Since it is always easier to have your own tools I took this box and its contents with me.  What you can't see in the bottom is a couple of containers of various sized wood screws and a home made wrecking/pry bar made from a leaf spring years ago by my Grandfather.  

    Typically, I have a really nice little Stabila level and usually take  my drill with a fully charged battery and a few clamps. ( you can never have enough clamps).  Of course there is a hammer, a middle weight Estwing that is at least 35 years old.  Good tools cost, but they really last.  My Grandson will inherit the Estwing someday, and probably the Stabila level too.  There are a bunch a pencils and a couple of screw drivers and screwdriver bits for the drill.  I know my kids have a complete set of drill bits so I didn't take mine and I also know that they have a really good jig saw so I didn't take that either.
   
   My usual practice for a big job is to take this tool box with hand tools and fasteners and another bag with power tools that I have matched to the job.  I really, really try to limit myself to two hands  of tools.  Once the job needs more tools than that  it is usually big enough that I would rather do it in my shop where I have all the advantages and much less supervision.


   In the fore ground are four tools that I take with me most of the time,   and next entry will fill you in on them.  Two of the tools are fairly unique in North America, one French and the other Swedish and one is home made.  Look in on Friday or Saturday and get the rest of the story. 


cheers, Ian