Old tools that are still your go-to

[HanShotFirst]

By old I mean AT LEAST 25 years old.



So I have a number of old SK & Craftsman tools that are still my go-to tools…

Sockets – My old 6 point SK’s are all at least 30 if not 60-70 years old. My 3/8” and ¼” are all 30 years old, my ½” inch were my grandfathers, and those are at least 60 years old, perhaps 70. Those are still my go to sockets for every day use. They have never let me down, and I love them.
I also have some VV series Craftsman sockets that are still front line…many of them are even 12 point; still getting the job done just as well as they did on day one.

Ratchets – I have several SK’s in all 3 sizes. The ¼” is still my favorite ¼” ratchet (even over my SnapOn). For 3/8” I only use my SK’s if something is really tough, because they’re darned near indestructible. For ½” my SK is the first ratchet I reach for, because often I only reach for ½” when I have a tough fastener.

Wrenches – For SAE, I have a 25 year old set of Craftsman Professional (SK Long Pattern) wrenches that I’m still very much in love with; and they’re still my first grab. I also have VV series raised panel SAE’s that back those up.
My metric VV series raised panels are my backup to my Proto’s.

Pliers – I have some Channellocks that are at least 25 years old, and they’re still very much in service.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Too many to list. Most of the basic tools I bought when I was young still get used regularly.

 

[ChaseDE]

Most all of the SAE and snap-on tools are older or a lot older then me at 35, made from 1950-1980. I have quite a few c-clamps that are old as dirt as well.

 

[engineer2]

I still use my 40 year old Craftsman needle-nose pliers and diagonal cutters.
One of my faves is a stuby 1/2 x 9/16 Vlchek WBC2022 box wrench I got from my dad. It's probably 70 years old.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

Great grandfathers plomb ratchet that was a factory second so no name on it. Use it all the time, smoothest ratchet I've felt. Almost no resistance. My lathe is from the 40s. All my c clamps and our vise and drill press lots of my pliers and some wrenches and all files and half inch drive stuff is all older

Sent from my P027 using Tapatalk

 

[IndyGarage]

I have a craftsman ratchet set that I got from my uncle when I was 6 years old. That was way more than 25 years ago.

My Monarch 10EE lathe was made in 1942. Sitting next to it is my Milwaukee Mill from 1943.

My three most used Bench vises are a Columbian, Parker and Reed - probably all are over 50 years old.

 

[larry_g]

A majority of my tools predate 1980 and I have machine tools that are near 100 years old still in use today.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[HanShotFirst]

Well if we're bringing in machine tools and such...

I have two Atlas 10" lathes from the 1940's. My Rockwell mill is 1961. My Jet drill press is 1971.

The tools in my Kennedy boxes are all AT LEAST 30 years old, some 70-80 years old. In fact, when it comes to machine equipment and such, 30 years is pretty new for me.

 

[Tynee]

I've got an early 70's 3/8's Snap-on ratchet I still grab before my late-90's F936, but that's probably because I can't bring myself to fork over the dough for a Dual 80 replacement.

I've also been slowly filling up my box with vintage Craftsman deep 1/2" Drive sockets. I like them the best because they appear to be the only high quality American made sockets that are broached full depth, which is how I prefer my deep sockets.

 

[davethorik]

I've got an early 70's 3/8's Snap-on ratchet I still grab before my late-90's F936, but that's probably because I can't bring myself to fork over the dough for a Dual 80 replacement.

I've also been slowly filling up my box with vintage Craftsman deep 1/2" Drive sockets. I like them the best because they appear to be the only high quality American made sockets that are broached full depth, which is how I prefer my deep sockets.

Wright deep well sockets are also broached full depth.

 

[dutchgray]

Still using quite a lot of my dads power tools, most are from the 80's some early 90's, loads of old G clapms, vices, my carpenters pincers are probably 50 years old, pretty much all my fixed machines are old, loads of mechanics tools picked up used for next to nothing.
The best stuff today in many cases is no better than the best stuff from the past, while other things are miles better today.

 

[Pontiac787]

It says something when a tool that's been around a mere 25 years is concosered old. I've got a mess of stuff that was more then 25 years old 25 years ago!

 

[woody 73]

Han shot first

 

[JerryB]

My father died in 1958 when I was 16 years old. I still have and use lots of his tools, too numerous to list! Everything from calipers and micrometers to wrenches and a bandsaw. That also includes a couple of his tool boxes. My primary precision tool box is his Kennedy box, and my favorite 'go box' is his flat mechanics box with a lift out tray.

He built what is now my primary heavy (all steel) worktable with a vice a couple of years before he passed. He taught me to weld and pipe fit on that table. Just finished fabricating some subassemblies for our local water system on that table, using the vice he put on it!

Thanks for asking: It is really good to remember where my skills and lots of my tools and equipment came from!!

 

[Packard V8]

By old I mean AT LEAST 25 years old.

Twenty-five years old is a new tool in my shop. My basement set are Blue Point wrenches seventy-seven years old and aren't well-broken-in yet.

Many of the woodworking planes I use are a hundred years old.

jack vines

 

[Al Borland]

Bestest Ratchets ever made - New Britain Kilness patent ratchets.
Bombproof. Bulletproof. ME-proof.
My grandfather's hammer. it's a (too light) carpenter hammer with the useless curved claws, but...
Grandpa's hammer.
Probably 100 years old.

 

[Tynee]

Wright deep well sockets are also broached full depth.

Good point. They don’t seem to be as widely available second hand and affordable, but I need to remember to keep an eye out for them.

 

[txvwnut]

Just about all the ones in my box plus 3/4 of all my machine tools fit this category, with the majority of it I bought new.

 

[Mikeske]

My Bonney mechanics toolset that I bought in 1983. Used it my entire career and it now sits retired from airplanes but I still use them daily in my hobbies.

 

[HanShotFirst]

My father died in 1958 when I was 16 years old. I still have and use lots of his tools, too numerous to list! Everything from calipers and micrometers to wrenches and a bandsaw. That also includes a couple of his tool boxes. My primary precision tool box is his Kennedy box, and my favorite 'go box' is his flat mechanics box with a lift out tray.

He built what is now my primary heavy (all steel) worktable with a vice a couple of years before he passed. He taught me to weld and pipe fit on that table. Just finished fabricating some subassemblies for our local water system on that table, using the vice he put on it!

Thanks for asking: It is really good to remember where my skills and lots of my tools and equipment came from!!

When it comes to portable tool boxes, those old steel boxes are just awfully hard to beat. Then add in just how cool they are

 

[928'er]

A set of Thorsen satin finish metric combo wrenches I bought in '72 when I got out of the Air Force.

 

[WittHay]

Use a P & C 1 1/2" combination wrench thats at least 50 years old and a Vulcan 1 1/4" that is a bit newer. Favorite old Craftsman tool is a 12" chain wrench

Have a Weaver jack from the late 50's or early 60's, that is still being used for splitting tractors and a old OTC ball joint press that is used for removing pins on pintle apron chains.

 

[Provincial]

I'm still using wrenches, sockets, and pliers that I received for my birthday in 1964. My brother and I bought a Model A Ford and a family friend went to pawn shops and second-hand stores to pick up Plomb, P&C, Wards, Crescent, and Proto tools for a gift.

 

[MushCreek]

I bought my SK SAE combination wrench set in the mid-70's. I don't know how I lost so many of them, but I recently shopped ebay to fill out the set again.

I also bought a Makita belt sander in the 70's that's still on the job.

My old Craftsman ratchets recently got replaced, though. They were never very smooth, and I just bought some GearWrench stuff that's like butter. Never knew a ratchet could feel that good. In 25 years, I'll be going on 90, and I'll let you know how they've held up.

 

[crewchief888]

nearly all my tools are 25 years old..

my last tool buying binge was in '95

 

[theoldwizard1]

Craftsman 3/8" ratchet and standard depth sockets. About 50 years old ! Still used, a lot !!

 

[Jim C.]

I got my first set of Craftsman tools from my dad right around 1983 or so, and I still use just about every one of them as a “go to,” particularly the ratchets and sockets. I’d have to say that just about all of my original tools from that time period are still my most used tools. They worked well, and I got things done with them without any real hassles that I can recall. I guess I just got into the habit of using them. Subconsciously those same tools also seem to have found the most convenient places in my boxes making them easily accessible, further contributing to their continued use.

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

Craftsman 3/8" ratchet and standard depth sockets. About 50 years old ! Still used, a lot !!

I’m right there with you. Although mine are more like 25 to 30 years old, this 3/8” drive ratchet and these 6 point SAE sockets get used the MOST without a doubt.

Jim C.

 

[Gmonkee]

I have an extensive collection of antique cenyury old to ww2 era tools but cannot use them at work.

Not many cars call for USS nor SAE in the shop as the world went metric.
So I opted for modern tools in the older styles at work. At home not much wrenching so not much call for anything.

I have a wish I could play here but alas, mine set in a glass display case.

 

[928'er]

... as the world went metric.

Except for the USA, Liberia, and Burma - so, at least we're in good company....

 

[Gmonkee]

And some little country just west of the south coast of India. Lol!

 

[johninct]

Twenty-five years old is a new tool in my shop. My basement set are Blue Point wrenches seventy-seven years old and aren't well-broken-in yet.

Many of the woodworking planes I use are a hundred years old.

jack vines

Those BLUE-POINT'S feel just right in my hand too!!

 

[theoldwizard1]

I’m right there with you. Although mine are more like 25 to 30 years old, this 3/8” drive ratchet and these 6 point SAE sockets get used the MOST without a doubt.

Most of my Craftsman SAE combination wrenches are only 40 years ago. I added a few big ones probably 30 years ago.

Somewhere in there I add metric.



I sure hope my son will appreciate them or at least have some fond memories when I kick the bucket !

 

[davethorik]

After I broke my Proto 5250XL doing brakes on my Accord, I still had to finish the job...my only other long 3/8 ratchet was my trusty SK 3870 which got it done. The guy I bought it from said he bought it in the early 60s new.

 

[johnyg]

i have a 1958 dewalt radial arm saw thats built like a brick **** house. i think its like a 8 inch blade but it has a dado,router and planing attachments. built alot of stuff with it but not so much anymore.its a great machine, weighs a ton and takes up space but i cant part with it. even the manual has the 50"s guys with the baggy pants and plaid shirts.....they dont build em like this anymore !!!!!

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Table saw, carpenters squares, a bunch of sockets and wrenches, jack stands are well over 25. Most of my other tools are not too far behind that age.