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Cool Tools in your home shop that you'd not likely not see in someone else's?

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Elektrishun

Member
Anyone have a unique tool, from any trade, that is not likely to be found in too many home shops? Antique, homemade, brought home from work after retiring as a Soviet cosmonaut?

I like handing this framing square over to people, especially carpenters or woodworkers, and then ask them what is unique about it. Even after some intense study, no one has ever said anything much more than, "It's kinda heavy."

Square1.jpg


My father-in-law found it at an auction and gave it to me without realizing what was special about it. I picked it up numerous times and looked it over without noticing anything other than the thickness of the metal which gave it that unusual weight for a framing square, even though it was an old one. One day, while looking at the maker's details stamped in the metal under a magnifying lamp, I noticed a curious little line where the body and tongue intersect that looked machine made...







Square2.jpg


1910 Jennings 100 C.E.J. & Co. Take Down Framing Square

There were many variations by many tool companies of these "take down" framing squares. Does not pull apart. Well, I can't pull it apart. A couple taps on the body with a wooden or rubber mallet gets it started. It is the only one I have seen in person and I have yet to meet someone who has seen one like it. Just about missed it altogether.

BTW, I am not a tool collector, more of a tool enthusiast.:)
 
I have a master machine builder square/level that most haven't seen. Accurate to 0.1mm/meter, which is 1.2 thou/ft. My Starret 12" master level is 5 thou/ft so it's a lot finer of a resolution. It's also dead square, and heavy, so handy for checking machine axis for square with indicators. It's from USSR.

20241127_012700.jpg
20241127_012717.jpg
 
Elektrishun said:
My father-in-law found it at an auction and gave it to me without realizing what was special about it. I picked it up numerous times and looked it over without noticing anything other than the thickness of the metal which gave it that unusual weight for a framing square, even though it was an old one. One day, while looking at the maker's details stamped in the metal under a magnifying lamp, I noticed a curious little line where the body and tongue int:)
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Could you post a close up photo of the tongue please, is there a flat spring holding it in place or is it just friction?
 
I have some metrology that I picked up mainly because they are "unusual," but they are fully functional and other than the first & last examples I have used them all:

Central Main Journal Micrometer
Main Journal Mic.jpeg



Starrett 224 AA 0–4" Set
Starrett 224AA rfs.jpg



Starrett No. 2 with 212 Anvil (making it a 0–2")
Starrett No 2 n 212.jpeg



A couple of 0–1/2" Micrometers
2024112701_2in Mics.jpeg

Can't help myself, they're just so darn cute!


Center-Mike (repurposed case)
20241127 Center-Mike.jpeg



BZG POLYPLAN Round-Body Vernier Caliper
20241127 BZG POLYPLAN Vernier front.jpeg


20241127 BZG POLYPLAN Vernier back.jpeg

OK, this one I just had to have!
 
I have a few big tools still around from the "Cat" days in my life. I dont have any photos and dont ever plan on having to use that stuff again...Iv had enough pulling & straining to last a life time.
Some "open end-box end wrenches up to 21/2", A hand full of 1" drive sockets up to 4", Tap & die handles prob close to 30" long and a few taps up to 1 3/4" and dies up to 2 1/2", 3/4 drive torque ratchet up to 800 lbs ( at one time I could make it "snap" over 700 lbs but now, 200 would be a stretch I think LOL). Ohh ya, and a 40 ton hyd bottle jack that I have lifted a D7 sized cat off the ground on time.
 
Father in law had a lot of large sockets. Unfortunately they were stored in the garage at his house. After he died some arsonists set the garage a light. Fortunately I had a good majority moved to my place.

That wrench is no joke. If I wanted to, it could become gym equipment. I completely understand why you're no longer interested in swinging those things.
 
Jayham said:
After my father in law passed away, I inherited most of his tools.

Kept a wrench set of his. This is the biggest one. Hangs above the man door to the garage. I have no practical reason to keep it.

But it's just too awesome not too keep.

View attachment 55056
Click to expand...
Like having a firearm above the door in case someone says "Put your hands up."
 
historicalarms said:
I have a few big tools still around from the "Cat" days in my life. I dont have any photos and dont ever plan on having to use that stuff again...Iv had enough pulling & straining to last a life time.
Some "open end-box end wrenches up to 21/2", A hand full of 1" drive sockets up to 4", Tap & die handles prob close to 30" long and a few taps up to 1 3/4" and dies up to 2 1/2", 3/4 drive torque ratchet up to 800 lbs ( at one time I could make it "snap" over 700 lbs but now, 200 would be a stretch I think LOL). Ohh ya, and a 40 ton hyd bottle jack that I have lifted a D7 sized cat off the ground on time.
Click to expand...

I have some big tools like that too. Only difference is that I still use them. Tractor wheel nuts are 800ft lbs. Disk Gang Nuts are 1200. Helps to be big and heavy. But I routinely use an 8ft pipe on a 3ft Johnson Bar to anti-up the leverage.
 
I brought this in to work recently, but it generally lives at home. Came in the first toolbox I bought, owned by one Gerard McGeachy.

Maybe everyone else knows about them? Called a Line of Chords ruler. This one’s a Chesterman.

IMG_5378.jpeg
Folding 24” ruler…
IMG_5379.jpeg
that has an angle scale along one edge, as well as two (I think hardened insert) punch marks, one on each blade.
IMG_5380.jpeg
Open ruler to match an angle, and span the two punch marks with a pair of dividers
IMG_5382.jpeg
Then put one legs of the dividers at zero. (Obviously can be used the other way around, using dividers to set an angle.

I like that you could throw the two of those in a toolbox and have a pretty accurate way to measure or set angles at a job site, etc.
 
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