My father’s tools

[DGersic]

My father died a little while ago. Before, I didn’t want to take any of his tools. It seemed unlikely that he’d ever use them again, as his health failed and he lost more and more mobility. The basement shop was out of reach. The garage was difficult, not impossible. But it just seemed wrong to remove tools from someone who had spent his whole life building, fixing, tinkering with things. It felt like removing hope.

Now we’re starting to empty the house, so I’m picking some of them. They’ll join in, getting used for a few more decades of fixing, building, and tinkering.

 

[DGersic]

I don’t know where he got this little anvil. Says “Japan” on one side. Probably came from a garage sale, and was on his workbench for about as long as I can remember.



Now it’s on mine.

 

[DGersic]

Crescent 1/4” drive socket set, augmented with Craftsman breaker bar and some other stuff.



Ratchet has a lot of back drag. May need to see if that can be improved.

 

[cgrutt]

Sorry about your dad but its great that you'll be using his tools. I just had my son try on my dad's Fedora doesn't fit me but I've held onto it past 40 years since he passed. Its good to have some things to keep memories alive. RiP.

 

[DGersic]

He always called this a monkey wrench.



I used this quite a bit in the last few weeks that he was in the house. He had a lot of trouble getting up and down, chairs, etc., so wanted a bunch of Vevor “transfer poles” put up. This fit the nut used to lock the pole in place well.

 

[DGersic]

No idea where he got Utica pliers. The needle nose are nice. I already have a couple of the lab pliers in two sizes, but they’re nice pliers and you can never have too many pliers around.

 

[DGersic]

Finally got a Snap On box!



I think this steel box originally contained a knife / multitool gift set from Costco.

 

[micromind]

My father died a little while ago. Before, I didn’t want to take any of his tools. It seemed unlikely that he’d ever use them again, as his health failed and he lost more and more mobility. The basement shop was out of reach. The garage was difficult, not impossible. But it just seemed wrong to remove tools from someone who had spent his whole life building, fixing, tinkering with things. It felt like removing hope.

Now we’re starting to empty the house, so I’m picking some of them. They’ll join in, getting used for a few more decades of fixing, building, and tinkering.

Pretty much same here.

My Dad passed on about 5 years ago, the last few years of his life he could not have possible used any tools at all but I always felt they were part of him so I waited until was gone to get any of them.

 

[kams1973]

My sincere condolences for your loss. I was in the same situation as my father passed about a year ago. I’ve since collected everything, sorted, and cleaned. I’ve passed the majority on to my oldest son. The rest will be waiting for my grandson when he’s old enough.

 

[SRU1436]

I’m sorry about your dad’s passing. Glad you’re able to hold onto his tools.

 

[woody 73]

Sorry about your loss, I have tried giving my both my son's tools to no avail, now I sneak small toolboxes into their homes filled with tools,lol. I'm afraid when I leave this good earth my tools will go for pennies on the dollar as my two boys are not into tools. My own Father had so few tools you could count them with 10 fingers, interesting because he was fantastic using them, but they were not what he wanted.

Funny story but just 3 days ago, I answered a CL Ad for a very nice snap-on toolbox that was not a lot of money, but I told the man I would give him his asking price with no haggling, and I would leave his space all cleaned up, he agreed and the next day of the pick-up he called that morning and told me his son wanted the box. No worries I said, I am just glad someone in his family wanted it; unlike my 2 boys.

 

[Hakeem]

Crescent 1/4” drive socket set, augmented with Craftsman breaker bar and some other stuff.



Ratchet has a lot of back drag. May need to see if that can be improved.

That box/logo is great. I’m surprised to see the 8 point sockets. Were those included in the original kit? Were square fasteners common enough “back in the day” to warrant the inclusion of the 8 pointers?

 

[RoninB4]

-My sincere condolences for the loss to you and your family. Your reluctance to remove his tools was well worded. Using his tools will keep him with you.

 

[MushCreek]

I don't have any of my father's tools; not one. He passed when I was 12, and Mom just got rid of them. Heck, I only have a few pictures of him. I have a LOT of tools, and I hope my son and grandson hold on to a few of them. I need to remind my son that someday he'll WISH he had some of them.

 

[esben57]

Of my Fathers tools I have a B&D workmate folding work bench. It doesn't like me, constantly catching ankles and throwing a shoe whilst putting it up. Put new timber on it, springs plastic clamps and handles. Put tee nuts in to hold my vice.
I use it quite a bit and remember watching him use it, has to be 50 plus years old.
My tools are all good tools. When I go, orders are keep them or get their value in cash.

 

[rust in the eye]

The old Crescent set is great, esp the box.
Nice to have that connection to your dad. I'm sure he'd smile knowing you are using them.

 

[KnurledNut]

Bestowing empathy during this time of sadness.

That random E8 Etorx must have a story to tell.

 

[DGersic]

Sorry about your loss, I have tried giving my both my son's tools to no avail, now I sneak small toolboxes into their homes filled with tools,lol. I'm afraid when I leave this good earth my tools will go for pennies on the dollar as my two boys are not into tools.

Not everyone is a tool user. I know plenty of people that would struggle to use a screwdriver. Lack of interest in fixing, building things. They’re just not there for some reason.

I sometimes post repair pictures on FB. I have a friend, nice lady, who invariably comments that she doesn’t even understand what this is, and her husband, nice guy, doesn‘t posses the skills to fix anything. They just buy new, or pay somebody. It works for them, but it’s a mystery to me.

If I had to put my father’s legacy in to words, for myself it would be fixing things. He believed that some humans made whatever it was, and that meant that a human (him) could likely fix it if something went wrong with it. I grew up with tools, and fixing things. I now have more tools than he ever did, and still amaze my wife when something breaks and I just shrug and haul it off to the workbench to be fixed. She grew up in a house where something breaking was a problem, not an opportunity to get out the tools to fix it and still doesn’t really grok the idea that things can be fixed.

My eventual plan is to get rid of pretty much everything I own, including the tools. Having to go through emptying my FIL‘s house, and now my parents’ house, I have no desire to leave anything behind for my daughter to have to deal with. She is welcome to take anything she wants, but I’m going to get my worldly possessions down to one small storage bin, and she can toss that in the nearest dumpster when I go.

 

[DGersic]

That box/logo is great. I’m surprised to see the 8 point sockets. Were those included in the original kit? Were square fasteners common enough “back in the day” to warrant the inclusion of the 8 pointers?

It looks to me like the original set is six point, and he must have added the eight points for something. I don’t know what prompted that addition, though.

 

[cherrybomb]

-My sincere condolences for the loss to you and your family. Your reluctance to remove his tools was well worded. Using his tools will keep him with you.

My Dad's health was failing badly and he always told everybody that his tools were mine,as we used them together until I was out on my own.After he passed,28 years ago,and I miss him so much,I put his tools in my basement shop.I could replace my tools in my garage shop if someone swiped them.As I work in my basement shop,Dad's tools bring back many enjoyable memories we had together.

 

[DGersic]

That random E8 Etorx must have a story to tell.

It’s a Carlisle. Beyond that, I know nothing. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered an E Torx anything.

 

[bonneyman]

I'm sorry for your loss.

When my dad died over 20 years ago I didn't get anything. About 5 years ago my sister - who had gotten a bunch of dad's stuff - called me and said I could have whatever I wanted as she was moving and didn't want to haul all that stuff. I got some stuff he made, but no tools. No biggie - I've got a shop full of the greatest tools on the planet!

With no kids to pass things on to I figure I'll enjoy my tools until I die. Then the Mrs. can have an estate sale company we know come by and sell it all. That way she doesn't have to go through the process of people digging though my stuff haggling with her over a few dollars.

An option you may consider is donate the tools to a local apprentice shop or job training center and see if they can use them to teach the next generation.

 

[cgrutt]

It’s a Carlisle. Beyond that, I know nothing. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered an E Torx anything.

Did he have any German cars? My wife's Mercedes uses e-torx extensively. Believe also used on son's BMW.

 

[DGersic]

Did he have any German cars? My wife's Mercedes uses e-torx extensively. Believe also used on son's BMW.

A ‘70 Beetle and a ‘72 Type 4 / 411. I don’t think the bug had anything as fancy as an E Torx in it. Maybe the 411 did, that thing was an interesting beast. Other than those, and a random Saab he bought from a coworker then got rid of because it was junk, everything else was US brands, mostly Pontiac and Buick.

The 411 was mom’s car. I had my first driving lessons in it. Bosche fuel injected flat four that at idle in drive would do 30 MPH. To go any slower, you had to drag the brakes. Pulling it up to the grocery store, back when the bagger boy would bring a lady’s groceries out to the curb and load them for her, always got puzzled looks when she would pop the hood. Taking it to the local VW dealership would cause a commotion, emptying out the mechanics from the shop and most of the sales guys, all clustering around it with “wow, never seen one of these before” and “I didn’t know they actually sold any of these” comments.

 

[Nofries]

Sorry for your loss. I will probably be doing the same in the coming years.

Once we were in my dads garage and my father said "I don't envy you" I asked what are you talking about and he said "you will have to empty this garage one day" My reply was lets start now on the tools you haven't used in years but alas he still holds onto them. I know it is sentimental and I don't push it. Tools are not only his, but my grandfathers and my fathers uncle, who worked for LOF (Libbey Owens Ford). Drawers full of wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers etc. NO tool box just a large wooden base cabinet from my grandfathers Grocery Store 60's era turned western store, relocated to his garage. The cabinet has 12 drawers 16"x16" 24" deep full of random tools thrown in the drawer. So heavy you can barely open them. I respect his wanting to hold onto them, I would like to go through them to learn some of the history of whose they were or if there is anything interesting from his memories, sadly he won't be there when that day comes. He did give me a 1/2" black and Decker metal body, two pronged drill several years back. Story on that one was he was drilling an overhead hole in the barn at the apple orchard my Great Grandfather owned. It was raining and the drill not having a ground knocked him on his *** when he, became the ground. After that, he called my uncle over to finish the hole, "You are taller you can reach it better". Same result, when he pulled the trigger my uncle became the ground. I'll probably never use the drill but I do have the memory of his story.

On the other hand the next generation; my son, buys me tools every Christmas and birthdays, generally to make what ever project we have recently worked on or are working on, to make it go easier or faster. This year was a battery operated heat gun and wire strippers, (we are going to be rewiring his boat next fall most likely) He is buying for his future, nothing truck quality but good quality tools that will last his lifetime. He knows he will inherit them. LOL I'm ok with it. He uses them and takes care of them like they are his and generally puts them back when he is done. I wonder if he will have the room for 4 generations of tools LOL.

 

[MovingAlong]

Lost my father a half century ago. He engraved his name on most of his tools. Still tear up once in a while when picking up a wrench and seeing that..

Sorry for your loss...

 

[four.cycle]

It looks to me like the original set is six point, and he must have added the eight points for something. I don’t know what prompted that addition, though.

That Crescent set did originally include the 8-points. I recently sold the exact same set. (see below. the re-branded Wright 2400 ratchet was an add-on to the set.)

My eventual plan is to get rid of pretty much everything I own, including the tools.

^ I've been working on doing the exact same thing for the last several years and it is a very slow process.

 

[y'sguy]

I'm sorry for your loss. In the future, you may still grieve when you pick up one of your father's tools, but you will also be able to thank your Dad for allowing you to have this moment and to manage through this situation. It will happen more than you can imagine.
Best wishes.

 

[stillnostrebor]

I also am sorry for your loss.

A portion of my tools were my grandfather's tools, and a portion belonged to my uncle. The former, who was a lath and plaster contractor, taught me much of what I know about fabrication, tools, and making something from nothing. The latter, who was a diesel tech, taught me about engines, restoration processes, and patience, as he had none! Neither had much money, so the tools were basic. Both did a lot with a little. Both were incredible problem solvers, which is the tool I treasure the most. They were both great at sharing their experience.

I have the ability to purchase pretty much any tool I want, but I enjoy the moments I get to use something they worked with as it reminds me of each of them.

 

[micromind]

That box/logo is great. I’m surprised to see the 8 point sockets. Were those included in the original kit? Were square fasteners common enough “back in the day” to warrant the inclusion of the 8 pointers?

I remember quite a few square nuts on farm machinery back in the 60s and 70s. I've also seen wood lag screws with square heads.

I keep a supply of square nuts (1/4-20 to 1/2-13) around and every once in a while, I'll use them......just for old times sake, y'know.......

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

That box/logo is great. I’m surprised to see the 8 point sockets. Were those included in the original kit? Were square fasteners common enough “back in the day” to warrant the inclusion of the 8 pointers?

I haven't read thru all the posts...
Square nuts were quite common on old stuff around me when I was growing up.

 

[lardy1]

I have a few of my father's tools and, like others, I love using them. In hindsight, I wish I had taken more of them before Mom sold off his stash.

 

[Radio Flyer]

Thanks for sharing. This is somewhat timely for me as well. Dad passed away in April. For a while the garage was like a time capsule, just the way it was left last time he was there. Mom wants everything out, which is understandable. I really don’t need any tools, but some are sentimental to me(and my brothers).

I did save this socket set. It was the one that we had used to fix our bikes as kids. It was a big deal to us, as kids, because it was “Dad’s tools” and he trusted us with them.

 

[AC-WC]

Sorry for your loss
Even though you'll have a ton of work to clean up and least you have the opportunity to keep some of the more sentimental tools. Thanks to an ex BIL who trashed/lost my dad's small assortment of tools I only have 3 of his tools now. Pair of Craftsman pliers, a worn/rusted out Craftsman screwdriver (should be tossed because I really can't use it) and 1/4" metal body Craftsman drill he gave me prior to his passing. I have taken care of the Williams crescent wrench, ball pein hammer, hatchet, hand crank drill and hand made anvil my grandfather gave me as a <10 yr old and they are some of my greatest things to remember them by. Not used often but still get used.

 

[Pexto]

That Crescent set did originally include the 8-points. I recently sold the exact same set. (see below. the re-branded Wright 2400 ratchet was an add-on to the set.)

Don is that the same set that you posted a while ago? https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...et-set-collection.405698/page-39#post-9349024

That one looks a lot like the one @DGersic posted above.

 

[four.cycle]

We're getting mixed up here.
That link you just posted is Don's set (d42jeep)
MY set is pictured here.
And here it is again with the original catalog listing.
(finally sold it about 6 months ago.)

No offense intended to @DGersic, but that big fat-head ratchet is a real clunker. That's why I found that rebranded Wright 2400, which is a gem. The only other U.S. made 1/4" drive ratchet I've had in my hand that was as poorly balanced and had as coarse an action was a NAPA NM40.* Finally unloaded that set in February.


(* and YES, that comparison includes the 24-tooth Walden model 3150, which at least isn't completely out of balance in the hand.)

 

[Pexto]

We're getting mixed up here.

Indeed I am! Thanks for clearing things up.

 

[DGersic]

That Crescent set did originally include the 8-points. I recently sold the exact same set. (see below. the re-branded Wright 2400 ratchet was an add-on to the set.)



^ I've been working on doing the exact same thing for the last several years and it is a very slow process.

That little breaker bar is nice. Got another one of those?

 

[DGersic]

Picked up a few more today. 1/2” set that I rarely saw. It only came out occasionally.

 

[DGersic]

I don’t know why, but back in the 1980s he needed a 1” wrench for something. At the time, a guy I was working with was selling new off the truck Mac tools for 1/2 price. So I got him this for Christmas that year.

The sale was legit. The guy was a dealer mechanic and someone broke in one night a stole all of the boxes. He had 100K+ in tools roll out the door. Insurance covered him, but only for tools actually bought. He restocked his new box, but didn’t buy everything he had before. Eliminate duplicates, stuff bought but never used, that kind of thing. He had around 25K in credit, so was working on turning it in to cash.

Don’t know what I’ll do with a 1” wrench, but the story is a good memory.