My Dad's Tools

[rlkillion]

As mention in "You all have gotten me addicted" thread. This board and finding some tools at an estate sale really got me working on getting my dad's tools from my mother. My dad died 33 years ago when I was 9. He had been a Ford Mechanic, worked at CAT and owned a Phillips 66 Station and garage. I have been the only one to use the tools at all in all this time but my mother(who is not quite up to the level of the TV hoarders...but its not a long leap)always had excuses why she would not give them up. I had not touched them(nor had she), except for a few that she had in the house since I moved out when I was 19. She has had so much junk packed in, around, and, on the old craftsman box it was not practical. This weekend me and my sons and my brother(he has never used a tool in his life so he has been pushing her to give them to me too) and his family were helping her get rid of some of her junk at the coomunity garage sale and I took the oportunity to ask her for the millionth time if she was ready for me to get the tools and tool box out of her way...and to my surprise she said I could take the tools... but not the box...as she was using it(as a shelf..but whatever...on step at a time) I did not give her time to change her mind and started loading things up. After I had loaded up the sockets, ratchets, speeders, specialty tools, and wrenches she started balking so I did not take any screwdrivers and only the specialty pliers. I then went home and got a Black and Decker home kit for her(even though I will be the only one to use it!). The tools where all unbelievably dirty. Rust was not to bad EXCEPT something had been spilled in the top of the box where the Snap On and Wright impact sockets and swivels were...they were horribly rusted where they sat in whatever it was...pitted, metal loss etc. I have been working on them and I think they are usable but I won't be able to warranty one if it broke...and some are certianly much weaker.(Not to mention the sizes seemed to be sitting in whatever made them rust...so using them will be by feel)So here are pictures after I had cleaned the grime and was derusting things.














Lots of Craftsman, Mac, SK, Wright, a few Snap on, a scattering of other brands like Herbrand, Bonney, Blue point, Cornwell, Proto,Williams, New Britian, Walden Worcester, Thorsen, Crescent, Indestro, Armstrong, Blackhawk. A small quantity of no name Japan stuff(I'm sure thrown in ther by someone else not my dads)Some broken, some odd stuff like hex drive and the spanner for a fire hose. Some of the stuff was pretty old and I can't have seen him having it in his tool box at the dealeship but maybe he got them with the station when he bought it.

 

[rlkillion]

The 5 ratchets were all broke. The 2 sk are locked up and when I took them apart the selector broke on one. They are soaking in penetrating oil to see if they will free up. The 1/2 drive craftsman works but the quick release button and the detent ball are gone. The Japan ratchet was not working. I took it apart, cleaned and greased it and it started working. I gave it to my son. The flex head has no markings at all and is just the body...I would like to rebuild these if I can as they were my dads. Any ideas on if I can get the parts?






The Williams ratcheting wrenches and the adjustable wrench are also soaking as the wrench is seized and the ratchets are not working on the Williams.

It was VERY interesting cleaning the tools and then putting them away with my tools. I thought of my dad more than I had in years. I could almost feel him and thinking back I could see his face and hear his voice(and being 9 when he died I had forgotten what he sounded like) I think he would be very happy to see them being taken care of and for them to be used. I think he would be glad to know I have become a good shadetree mechanic and halfway decent around the house(and that I'm driving Fords!) I also found one loan tappet wrench with the intials and last name of the guy who was basically my grandfather(my grandfather died when my dad was little...this guy was my dad's mother's boyfriend) who died a short while after my father did...I have no idea how it ended up in that box but it was nice to think about him as well. I put those tools where I will see and use them all the time and I will think about these two men everytime I use them...

 

[jhn9840]

Glad you were able to salvage these tools, looks like a real good assortment. Maybe an electrolysis tank would be worth the effort to try and salvage the impacts and swivels. Good luck with your project it surely will be special to be able to use your dad's tools again.

jhn9840
John

 

[fourfeathers]

awesome. Congrats on the collection.

 

[mrholeshot]

It's good to see you giving them a second life. Buy mom a shelf and get the toolbox. When my Dad died in 1994 I was his only natural born son. He left me all his tools. Much of his stuff ranged fron the late 40's to late 70's. At the time I had my *** on my shoulders and thought I was too good for all that old stuff so I gave it all to my stepbrother who worshiped the ground my dad walked on. I wish I would have kept at least one of his catilever boxes full of tools. He had a truck full of them.

I know what you mean about the hoarding thing as my mother is a hoarder herself. No garbage but just stuff. Back when I had some money I bought a camper and put it down in a camp ground on the ocean. I put her in it for a week and me and my kids and my sister when and cleared her house out. It broke her heart and she wouldn't talk to me for a year. People get an emotional attachment to that stuff. I have to keep myself in check because I get I get like that a litttle but having seen the road to destruction that it took my mother down I just sell before it gets me. She's 79 now and still hoarding. It makes her happy I just deal with it.

 

[alamerang]

I feel the same way when I bust out an old tool that my dad used to use back in the day. My dad passed away when I was 14 and he had a whole lifetime of tools he collected. My mom never had a problem giving them to me because it was up to me to fix the family car when I was about 16 because we had no money and if I didn't fix it, we were gonna be walking everywhere. I had to learn the hard way on how to fix cars so she never hesitated getting me subscriptions to Hot Rod and Car Craft Magazines. Back then there was no internet to help with this stuff. Just books and an occasional TV show on TNN.

I agree though, working with his tools is really the only times that I can feel that I hear my dads voice talking to me too.

 

[griff99]

I have lost detent balls on ratchets before and Sears was willing to rebuild them right there in the store, but mine aren't 33+ years old.

That's a great present your mom gave you by letting you take those tools, I am sure you will think of him every time you use one. I have my grandfather's Wilton vise in my garage, I thought about restoring it and repainting it, but after I gave it a good cleaning I realized that all the nicks and chips in the paint were put there by him, so I am leaving it alone and continuing to add my own to it. Enjoy them all.

 

[Boiler]

I assume you showed your mom what was happening to the tools in the box. If let go more of them could be irreversibly damaged.

 

[eborcim]

Congrats on getting your mom to let some stuff go. My folks want us to take our stuff we had as kids.
I did feel bad yesterday talking with my dad. I told him that I'm collecting vintage ratchets and if he sees some at a garage sale pick them up for me. He said he didn't even know where his ratchet(s) were. He's had some help getting them scattered and planted over the years (He's 87) and now just has a smattering of cheap imported tools. I think I'm going to put him together a little set to keep around. Plus I've go two or three boxes that I could load up and give to him. I'll get them back eventually.

 

[HandyManny]

It's always a joy discovering old well used tool. Especially when you know they were your dads and that he used them for years.

 

[Lump]

Good for you.

I too have my dad's tools, and one grandfather's tools, and one great-grandfather's tools. I lost my dad in a tragic auto accident when he was 44, and I was 24. There was no one to compete with me for his tools. I got them all. He had some Mac, Bonney, New Britain, etc. I cherish his tools, and wouldn't sell them for any amount.

Like you, I'm a shadetree mechanic now...working only on vintage vehicles and various home projects. I have a large assortment of my own tools, but I always get a little thrill when I use my dad's or grandfathers' tools.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

My Dad died early too, and I've got his stuff. I've also got my Granddad's, and I'm restoring a lot of them now. Before joining GJ, I thought they were all "off brand" as all I knew was Craftsman or the truck brands. I'm now finding out that he had a lot of cool vintage stuff in there.

I also endorse the electrolosis method. I've been having great results bringing back some really goofed up tools. It's great for things that are locked up/stuck. It's super easy.

I have 1/2" ratchet just like you've got. It's broken, and I waiting for SK to get on it's feet before trying to get it warrantied.

 

[rlkillion]

Glad you were able to salvage these tools, looks like a real good assortment. Maybe an electrolysis tank would be worth the effort to try and salvage the impacts and swivels. Good luck with your project it surely will be special to be able to use your dad's tools again.

jhn9840
John

I have never used the electrolysis method but if necessary I will give it a try. I used a wire wheel on a bench grinder(had to go buy one don't you know!) to knock the scale off and then they are soaking in evaporust. The swivels all broke free and mainly it is just getting the last rust out of the pits and down in the sockets...luckily the insides of the sockets don't look like they were damaged just surface rust just the outside where they were sitting in whatever and touching the top of the tool box...I just hope it did not eat through the box...didn't feel like it but so much junk on top right now hard to see how bad it is.
I probaly should get the elctrolysis stuff...I'm sure I will find something to use it on. The adjustible wrench actually does not look to have anything but surface rust on it but the adjuster won't turn. I will see what the penetrating oil did overnight and go from there.

 

[rlkillion]

It's good to see you giving them a second life. Buy mom a shelf and get the toolbox. When my Dad died in 1994 I was his only natural born son. He left me all his tools. Much of his stuff ranged fron the late 40's to late 70's. At the time I had my *** on my shoulders and thought I was too good for all that old stuff so I gave it all to my stepbrother who worshiped the ground my dad walked on. I wish I would have kept at least one of his catilever boxes full of tools. He had a truck full of them.

I know what you mean about the hoarding thing as my mother is a hoarder herself. No garbage but just stuff. Back when I had some money I bought a camper and put it down in a camp ground on the ocean. I put her in it for a week and me and my kids and my sister when and cleared her house out. It broke her heart and she wouldn't talk to me for a year. People get an emotional attachment to that stuff. I have to keep myself in check because I get I get like that a litttle but having seen the road to destruction that it took my mother down I just sell before it gets me. She's 79 now and still hoarding. It makes her happy I just deal with it.

Yeah I think that will be the plan. I will find something to "trade" her for the toolbox. She hoards her money too so she likes to think she is getting something...though mind you if I offered her money for it she would think I was offering her to little...all the way she thinks to hold onto things! There is a 1950's Honda dream in pieces in the garage. My dad bought it, tore it apart and died before he ever made in progress in getting it going. Numerous people have offered her cash over the years for that bike and she always turned them down as it slowly decays. Now my youngest son(17) is after it...lets see if he has anymore luck.
Yeah we loaded up everything that did not sell in the garage sale and took it to Goodwill. Told her we would do that but not move it back in the house or garage...she was not real happy but it is a start...though just a drop in the bucket on what needs to be done.
Oh I know I have it a little but I collect things with value: guns, now tools, and a large collection of books. I also regularly go through the house and we donate things...not even a sale load it up and donate them, give them to someone, or toss them as the things that accumulate are not worth the effort. It helped when I lost my 10 year job at Mitsubishi. When first unemployed I did sell off anything extra I had that was worth the trouble and then I went through the house room by room, drawer by drawer and cleaned out the accumulation. Then my wife joined the Navy as a nurse for 6 years and we moved 5 times and twice since we have been back...everytime was a chance to evaluate what we needed and what had to go. I am happy to say that here in the new house except for a couple of bags of linens I need the wife to go through we have pretty much gotten rid of all the excess.
I did not realize the emotion and memories I would have cleaning up his old tools. I know she will give me some grief over taking them(even though she said I could) but it was worth it.

 

[rlkillion]

I feel the same way when I bust out an old tool that my dad used to use back in the day. My dad passed away when I was 14 and he had a whole lifetime of tools he collected. My mom never had a problem giving them to me because it was up to me to fix the family car when I was about 16 because we had no money and if I didn't fix it, we were gonna be walking everywhere. I had to learn the hard way on how to fix cars so she never hesitated getting me subscriptions to Hot Rod and Car Craft Magazines. Back then there was no internet to help with this stuff. Just books and an occasional TV show on TNN.

I agree though, working with his tools is really the only times that I can feel that I hear my dads voice talking to me too.

Thats the thing I am pretty much the only one that has/or will use these tools and she knows it but she still can't let go.

It really was uncanny and very emotional...and I'm not emotional guy.

 

[rlkillion]

I have lost detent balls on ratchets before and Sears was willing to rebuild them right there in the store, but mine aren't 33+ years old.

That's a great present your mom gave you by letting you take those tools, I am sure you will think of him every time you use one. I have my grandfather's Wilton vise in my garage, I thought about restoring it and repainting it, but after I gave it a good cleaning I realized that all the nicks and chips in the paint were put there by him, so I am leaving it alone and continuing to add my own to it. Enjoy them all.

I will take it out to Sears and ask if they can rebuild it...or give me the rebuild kit. Thanks.

Yeah it was and I know it was hard for her. If I can get her to let go of his old box I will try to just clean it up and stop the rust...it has stickers he put on it and with the cork drawer liners it has a smell that I associate with him.

 

[DavidB]

I'm glad you're working on restoring your dads old tools. They'll be great to have when you're finished cleaning them. If the impacts have a black oxide coating (like they all do these days) evaporust will remove it. Electrolysis may but I'm unsure. If the coating was shot though it might be best to remove it all anyways.

 

[rlkillion]

I assume you showed your mom what was happening to the tools in the box. If let go more of them could be irreversibly damaged.

I did show her as she was hemmming and hawing and hovering while I was loading things up...she knew there were some problems but not as bad as it was...I'm sure she had no idea anything had been spilt in the box.

I plan on letting her know how it made me feel while cleaning them up and how thankful I am to finally have them...and maybe she will let go of the box and the rest of them.

 

[rlkillion]

Congrats on getting your mom to let some stuff go. My folks want us to take our stuff we had as kids. They

I did feel bad yesterday talking with my dad. I told him that I'm collecting vintage ratchets and if he sees some at a garage sale pick them up for me. He said he didn't even know where his ratchet(s) were. He's had some help getting them scattered and planted over the years (He's 87) and now just has a smattering of cheap imported tools. I think I'm going to put him together a little set to keep around. Plus I've go two or three boxes that I could load up and give to him. I'll get them back eventually.

Funnily enough she does not have a much of my brothers and I's stuff around. She became the hoarder slowly overtime and had sold most of our toys or we had taken it when we moved out.
Thats my plan I will continue to add to the little kit I gave her...tools that she can actually find and use if needed(unlikely as she will call me!)...like she even knew what the cylinder head spring compressor was for!

 

[rlkillion]

It's always a joy discovering old well used tool. Especially when you know they were your dads and that he used them for years.

It really is. My dad died at 28 years old(kind of wierd to think I am 14 years older than he was when he died) and he was in Ford mechanic school when I was born so he used them for about 9 years. I know they were well used during that time.

 

[rlkillion]

Good for you.

I too have my dad's tools, and one grandfather's tools, and one great-grandfather's tools. I lost my dad in a tragic auto accident when he was 44, and I was 24. There was no one to compete with me for his tools. I got them all. He had some Mac, Bonney, New Britain, etc. I cherish his tools, and wouldn't sell them for any amount.

Like you, I'm a shadetree mechanic now...working only on vintage vehicles and various home projects. I have a large assortment of my own tools, but I always get a little thrill when I use my dad's or grandfathers' tools.

Thanks. If I would have truly known how special it would be I would have pushed harder over the years...or if I would have know they were being so damaged. I thought they were relatively safe in the toolbox in the garage...
I mainly work on my bronco that I have had since new in 95. 209,000 miles. My kids cars and friends and family. I have not had a vintage car or truck in quite awhile but it is in the plans.

 

[rlkillion]

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

My Dad died early too, and I've got his stuff. I've also got my Granddad's, and I'm restoring a lot of them now. Before joining GJ, I thought they were all "off brand" as all I knew was Craftsman or the truck brands. I'm now finding out that he had a lot of cool vintage stuff in there.

I also endorse the electrolosis method. I've been having great results bringing back some really goofed up tools. It's great for things that are locked up/stuck. It's super easy.

I have 1/2" ratchet just like you've got. It's broken, and I waiting for SK to get on it's feet before trying to get it warrantied.

Yeah I had no idea about the older brands before joining here. I knew Mac, Snap-on, Craftsman, Cornwell and thats about it.
The electolosis will be soemthing I will have to put together.
I hope I can get the ratchets going and find the innards for the one.

 

[rlkillion]

I'm glad you're working on restoring your dads old tools. They'll be great to have when you're finished cleaning them. If the impacts have a black oxide coating (like they all do these days) evaporust will remove it. Electrolysis may but I'm unsure. If the coating was shot though it might be best to remove it all anyways.

They did but they were so covered in rust I was not to worried about it. The wire wheel was taking it off too. They are a little less black after being cleaned up but after oiling them a little they don't look bad...except for the pits!

 

[krj]

I thought it to be such a coincidence to run across this thread today. Yesterday I spent the day cleaning out my father's garage. He died suddenly at 53 just over a year and a half ago. It was therapeutic for me. I was happy to add his tools to mine... the little bit of rust just added life to my more modern collection!