36 years ago...

[Onoff]

I made this at as an apprentice:

 

[weldequip]

Ahh... the old Thumb-Screw, happy days.

 

[cheb]

You kept the swarf too?

 

[Onoff]

You kept the swarf too?

Most of that swarf is st/st from drilling some plate recently. I keep a few old metal tins open for the little bit of waste I produce. Any small metal household items that bust go in there too. When it's full I empty it on a tip run. Keep using until the bottom falls out.

 

[Onoff]

Ahh... the old Thumb-Screw, happy days.

Got a full size knurling tool I made somewhere too. V blocks, scribing block, tap wrenches, drill drift etc.

 

[Wallace]

That's a really nice useful clamp.

 

[Onoff]

That's a really nice useful clamp.

I really must treat it to a citric acid bath!

From memory every single part was handmade down to the screw cutting and all the nuts and bolts.

 

[Wallace]

I really must treat it to a citric acid bath!

From memory every single part was handmade down to the screw cutting and all the nuts and bolts.

I can see that through the corrosion, very well made. I have a few phase tests and tools, sadly I look after the bought cheap tools better.

 

[Onoff]

Found some more bits I made as a lad:

Very basic tap wrench. Must have been made pretty early on. Still looking for one knurled screw and a handle!





Then this little clamp. Always liked it but never used it since I made it tbh:

 

[Wallace]

Toolmakers clamp, one of my favourites.

 

[Migmac]

We made the tool makers clamp at school. Still got it somewhere

 

[Onoff]

Bugger! Been searching for years for one of the vices, the knurling tool and surface gauge I made circa 1983. Well I found them...in a seized barn box I also made right down to the hinges. Time hasn't been kind!

All in the citric acid bath now. Fingers crossed.

 

[Onoff]

Seem to recall I hardened some of those parts...the surface gauge base maybe in cyanide salts. I recall the antidote being on the wall. Happy H&S free days!

 

[Onoff]

It would appear there's hope!

Wondering if I can clean all these old leather working tools like the one behind and flog them to Yuppies to hang over their AGAs?