Tools of the Trades, Oct 6, 2024, Pickering Ontario

[Canadium]

Nice!. There were a few good deals on mics there. More metalworking tools I think, but it could just be because I got there early this time.

Usually I leave with plenty of cash in my wallet and don't find much I want, or don't already have. Today I wish I brought more and probably could have spent another $200.

Dam!!! Wish I could have been there!!! You guys all Suck!!!

I'll get my own in by showing what I found last weekend. @trlvn kindly gave me a ride to The Rodmasters swap meet last Sunday at the Ancaster fair grounds. It was recommended as a place to find machinist tools so naturally we had to have a look. Turns out only 2 or 3 vendors with any machinist stuff. 99% antique car stuff. But I did find this Iscar MiniTang T490 E90LN coolant thru indexable end mill for just $3.33 CAD. I'm pretty happy with that.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

You'll love the Starrett tap holders! I've enjoyed my A/B/C for years.

Thanks. Used a few coworkers over the years and always coveted them. This 91b had a slight bend in the handle that made the action a bit tight and sticky. I clamped it between two peices of wood, and gave it a slight tweak back straight and it's as good as new now.



Tucked away with the other riff raff...

Sorting through the rest now. But the grinder arbor fits.




Only problem is that it's a rh thread..... oh well. It came with the diamond wheel for $20, and the other diamond wheel was $10. I'm sure with soft start and stop it would be just fine running one of those diamond wheels. Wouldnt trust it with a stone. I've never blown one up, but have been around for 3 (and hit with shrapnel from 2). I don't want to see another one go. Maybe a couple grub screws through the face ring might hold it from backing out?

 

[Susquatch]

I got an A and B.

Those are the two you will use most and they will make you the happiest.

If you tap tiny holes, you can just get the little 174 brand new and it won't break the bank. It's a tiny little beauty. I just used mine a few days ago to tap some little 3mm set screw holes.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

Those are the two you will use most and they will make you the happiest.

If you tap tiny holes, you can just get the little 174 brand new and it won't break the bank. It's a tiny little beauty. I just used mine a few days ago to tap some little 3mm set screw holes.

You must have a more robust bank than I...... I'll still keep an eye out for used quality ones to replace my mix matched beaters..... Or maybe make some nice Starrett clones.....

I did sort out the dies. Took a gamble and bought all he had, thinking they'd fill in some blanks I had. He made an offer, I countered much lower, he said yes too fast.....Damn it, I hate when that happens.... There are a few in there that are complete junk, maybe suitable for chasing really mangled threads, most likely garbage. But they were ones I already had anyway, so no big deal.

Here's the list of what I have. The red ticks are the big ones I bought today, and the blue, the smaller (vermont american). Did not go through the metric yet.

Also forgot about the estwing prospectors hammer that went straight into my welding bag for work as my new chipping hammer. Not stacked leather, std blue rubber, but still better than my current one.

 

[Stuart Samuel]

Those are the two you will use most and they will make you the happiest.

If you tap tiny holes, you can just get the little 174 brand new and it won't break the bank. It's a tiny little beauty. I just used mine a few days ago to tap some little 3mm set screw holes.

I was lucky, and picked up the 93 A, B and C, along with the 174, from an ex-Stellco machinist in Hamilton. He said they had a tool allowance, and as far as he was concerned they didn’t owe home anything. I don’t remember what I paid, but it was very much ‘Start the car!’ territory.

After a few years of watching closely, I gave up and bought myself the 93D. Something like $200, ITM often has good prices on them. No regrets there.

 

[Susquatch]

I was lucky, and picked up the 93 A, B and C, along with the 174, from an ex-Stellco machinist in Hamilton.

After a few years of watching closely, I gave up and bought myself the 93D. Something like $200, ITM often has good prices on them. No regrets there.

I think what most guys don't know about with the Starrett tap wrenches is the way they tighten onto a tap. I've used tap wrenches for the better part of 60 years. My previous wrenches worked for me, but not great. The way they ALL come loose while you are using them is SOOO ANNOYING!

The Starrett handles tighten up and stay tight. If you want them even tighter, they all have a hole in them for a Tommy bar. They never come loose in use.

I did get one Bosche handle that wasn't bad, but still not nearly as nice as the Starretts.

I don't remember being able to buy used stuff the way you can today. There was no internet just catalogs and magazines. Even places like Canadian Tire didn't exist back then that I know of. The best source for good hardware was the Sheenee man (sort of like the Snap-on or Mac Trucks today) or a catalog. If I had known about Starretts back then and had my life to live over, I'd have taken out a mortgage to buy new Starretts to have enjoyed for the last 60 years. I think I'd put them at the very top of the list of my favorite small tools.

 

[Stuart Samuel]

I think what most guys don't know about with the Starrett tap wrenches is the way they tighten onto a tap. I've used tap wrenches for the better part of 60 years. My previous wrenches worked for me, but not great. The way they ALL come loose while you are using them is SOOO ANNOYING!

The Starrett handles tighten up and stay tight. If you want them even tighter, they all have a hole in them for a Tommy bar. They never come loose in use.

Yes. I use my tap wrenches almost daily, five days a week. No fiddling with them as they loosen up goes a long way.

 

[Susquatch]

No fiddling with them as they loosen up goes a long way.

Normally I'd fix that for you but I have no idea what you meant to say.......

 

[TonyK]

Heres the haul



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Got the above for 25 and he tossed the scale in for free.

I found everybody was very willing to haggle.....hoping that grinder arbor fits mine. Will check after dinner.

Seeing your pictures and what you purchased, could you please tell me what this item is?

The reason that I am asking is because a neighbour now retired machinist gave me a lot of his measuring tools, taps, tap handles and other set up tools and I cannot figure out what this tool is. I suspect it is for lay out of heights, but I need some enlightenment.

A few other items.

Thanks for your time.

TonyK.

Grimsby Ontario Canada.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

It's called a Planer gauge. Primarily used for setting and comparing tool heights on planers/shapers. Pretty much an obsolete tool, but one of those I've always wanted to pickup. Not that I have a big use for one, I just like them. This one is a shop made one, and is actually pretty well made IMO. Uses now depend on how creative you are. It's just an accurate settable gauge that might be handy for various setup operations. This one will probably be a drawer warmer though.

I also picked up a small adjustable parrallel too (Starrett as well). Yet another tool that has eluded me through multiple toolbox buys over the years.

 

[Stuart Samuel]

Normally I'd fix that for you but I have no idea what you meant to say.......

I stand by my words.

(I just meant, not having to tighten crappy tap wrenches every five minutes saves time, and is a delight)

 

[140mower]

I stand by my words.

(I just meant, not having to tighten crappy tap wrenches every five minutes saves time, and is a delight)

It made sense to me, I think ol' @Susquatch was using the wrong eye again. Apparently that's a problem when you get old, you can't remember which eye is blind.....

 

[Susquatch]

I stand by my words.

(I just meant, not having to tighten crappy tap wrenches every five minutes saves time, and is a delight)

I think @140mower nailed it. It reads just fine to me now too.

But I can assure both of you that I don't read anything with my bad eye whether or not I forget which one it is. I have some peripheral vision in it but not enough to read with. If you see me go cross-eyed or wall-eyed it just means I'm trying to gauge distance not trying to read anything. I've got deadly paws but not if I can't connect.

 

[TonyK]

It's called a Planer gauge. Primarily used for setting and comparing tool heights on planers/shapers. Pretty much an obsolete tool, but one of those I've always wanted to pickup. Not that I have a big use for one, I just like them. This one is a shop made one, and is actually pretty well made IMO. Uses now depend on how creative you are. It's just an accurate settable gauge that might be handy for various setup operations. This one will probably be a drawer warmer though.

I also picked up a small adjustable parrallel too (Starrett as well). Yet another tool that has eluded me through multiple toolbox buys over the years.

Thanks for the explanation. Never seen one in use or anywhere except in my tool box.

TonyK.

Grimsby Ontario Canada.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

No prob. I've never seen one in use either, just on the internet.