Inherited tools. Anything I should keep?

[Jim1932]

These were my Father-in-Law's and the good stuff went to other's. Good for me because I like old tools. Problem is I work in metal not wood. Last time I used a wood lathe was in the 70's in high school shop. I got these because I live close and no one wanted to deal with moving them.

So what have I got? Both fire right up. Were in the basement of a house in Maryland since new.

 

[givemethewillys]

Those look like some pretty decent tools, the jointer looks like a 4"? That's a bit smaller than most people want, but it has a nice long table, which will help make straight boards.

Rockwell is a good brand. Depending on the taper of the collet? on the lathe, it might be able to take modern chucks, or it might be really difficult to find parts that fit. It looks like you have a great selection of chisels and jaws though to do any turning projects. Either way, both those units appear to be quality machines. I'd love to own some similar one day.

 

[lilredex]

I'd keep it all! Especially if you are young. Put that stuff in the corner for changing interests. I am both a metal and woodworker.

That's a desirable jointer (6") with those front controls and the same lathe I have. It has a MT 2 taper on the headstock and all tooling is readily available.

Be a mistake to get rid of it.

 

[Roberts210]

Ditto on keeping it all. I agree the jointer looks like a 6". Lots of good tools there.
The lathe is a good one.

 

[captain14]

Do you have someplace to set it up and use it? Hopefully you do and you can do some projects with them.

 

[toolmiser]

Yes, all of them. Looks like the tools are well optioned for tooling.

 

[woody 73]

Yes indeed you keep everything, that lathe has all the drive spurs, faceplates , steady rests and a ton of lathe chisels, enough to keep you turning wood for years to come.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

If you have the room you should keep them all. I don't have room for a lathe but if I inherited that one I'd make room. All my woodworking machines are 1940s vintage Delta. Good quality machines. Those look in FABULOUS condition. I'd say you done good. That Wilton vise looks almost new as well. Congrats!

 

[TheWayitWasRsestorations]

Get down on your knee’s and kiss your wife’s feet for letting you keep these beauties. They are definitely keepers. The joiner looks like it has some very minor surface rust but other than that these don’t get any better. Take some time and get re-acquainted with the lathe, it will come back to quickly enough and before you know it you will be cranking out things that make you remember your father-in-law.

 

[Farmer J.]

....

 

[Jim1932]

I am interested in them. I also know that sometimes these older tools are better quality then model, and sometimes they aren't. I am going to rebuild a 30x30 shop that my dad built so I will have room to keep them. I just wanted to be sure what they were before I take them out of the basement shop they are in and haul them from Maryland to Massachusetts.

 

[subroc]

Sorry for your family loss.

I would keep them.

They don't appear to be the smallest of small bench top tools but a bit more substantial. So, you have something there that is worth considering. I agree that the jointer is likely a 6".

That said, you should know if you want them. Depending on what your new shop ends up being, mostly auto repair, as you said above mostly metal, some woodworking and carpentry or a real DIY shop. In the end, there is only so much space in a shop. That space gets taken up by tables saws and jointers or welders and a grinding station. Decide if it fits your needs and then keep it or sell it based on that.

Good luck

 

[cchamelin]

I’d consider keeping them if you have the space, but then again, if there were some metal fabbing tools I had my eye on, I’d sell these in a heartbeat for the cash to buy something like a surface grinder or bigger milling machine.

 

[Jim1932]

I could see the wood Lathe going for a metal Lathe... but for now, it stays.