This is badass!!! I would love to see one of these in person and better yet see one runA
What is your most sentimental tool?
- Thread starter ALinCarolina
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This is badass!!! I would love to see one of these in person and better yet see one runA
bczygan
Well-known member
Well..............................................
Bill
Bill
sqyards
Well-known member
I have a Vlchek 9/16 combination wrench I got in a box of oddball tools from my dad. I put a lot of hot rods together with that wrench! Now I have a bunch of Snap On and Mac tools but that old wrench will always have a spot in my box.
Semi-hole mechanic
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I forgot to mention that my son has his tools in my dad's old Craftsman toolbox that was a Christmas gift from me in the early 70s. It is one of the larger gray handboxes that is beat to hell, but my son cherishes it because it was Grandpa's and he has heard me tell how we tried to convince Dad to buy a chest to organize the tools in the truck shop (family owned garbage business), but the old farmer in him argued for the portability of a hand box if a truck was broke down on the road. Even though he usually would grab the 1/2" drive socket set in my original post and a handful of wrenches instead of the toolbox. My son likes having the box becuase of the story, it reminds him of the quirkier side of his grandpa.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
Honestly, I'm not sure I have one.
I do have a orange handle Popular Mechanics hammer bought at Walmart 20+ years ago. It's been mistaken for a Estwing a few times, not sure why. I replaced it with a new Estwing but it still hangs on the pegboard rather than in the tool belt.
I've used that hammer to do a ton of work in the last 20 years on the house and garage. Pretty good deal for a $6 hammer.
I do have a orange handle Popular Mechanics hammer bought at Walmart 20+ years ago. It's been mistaken for a Estwing a few times, not sure why. I replaced it with a new Estwing but it still hangs on the pegboard rather than in the tool belt.
I've used that hammer to do a ton of work in the last 20 years on the house and garage. Pretty good deal for a $6 hammer.
MushCreek
Well-known member
When I first started in the trade in 1973, I needed a set of combination wrenches. I bought a 1/4 to 1-1/4 set of SK. I still have them, although I have no idea how I lost so many over the years. A couple years ago, I went on ebay to fill in the gaps, and I have the complete set once again. They're my every day set, but I have a fondness for them.
Al Borland
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Claw hammer that was my grandfathers. My dad broke the handle back in the 70s and my brother put a new one on in shop class. Head has a very "Art Deco" look to it.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
My daddy's cantilever Kennedy box. He got it when he was cutting his teeth as a mechanic, had stencelled his nickname ("TomTom") on the top... I've repainted the box but left that in tribute... and still use it as my carry box (tho I recently replaced his heavy "bedspread canvas" liners with Yoga Mat)...
The other is part of his motorcycle tool stash - it's an adjustable wrench from about 110 years ago that was just a non-descript wrench from his bike tools... until I cleaned it up, and found it was from a Flying Merkel tool kit (yes, it's stamped)... I don't use it, but it still has a "place of honor" in my shop.
The other is part of his motorcycle tool stash - it's an adjustable wrench from about 110 years ago that was just a non-descript wrench from his bike tools... until I cleaned it up, and found it was from a Flying Merkel tool kit (yes, it's stamped)... I don't use it, but it still has a "place of honor" in my shop.
monkeyspanners
Well-known member
Old Shelley brand monkey wrench that belonged to my Grandad who died in the war so never got the chance to meet him. Still use it at work!
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Probably the Dunlop pliers I inherited from my Dad. Red plastic grips. Use them all of the time. Second was the hand "push drill". I always thought it was a cool tool when I was little. Never use it.
3/8" and 1/4" socket set with 3/8" ratchet and 1/4" breaker. I got it for Christmas when I was about 14. Over the years I added a couple of extensions, a universal, spinner handle, and metric sockets. Still use it regularly, although I am on the third case.
3/8" and 1/4" socket set with 3/8" ratchet and 1/4" breaker. I got it for Christmas when I was about 14. Over the years I added a couple of extensions, a universal, spinner handle, and metric sockets. Still use it regularly, although I am on the third case.
Billy Jack
Well-known member
My Dad died and left me quite a few tools, having been a dealership mechanic (before their status was upgraded to technician) in his younger days, as well as an avid DIY'er. The most treasured memory, albeit a sad one, was the Hilti TM7 hammer drill I bought him as a Christmas gift in the 70's. IIRC, I paid about $175 for it, which was a pretty penny back then. Having tackled many masonry projects without one, he was absolutely tickled. It was probably his most treasured tool ever. It must have been the only one in existence among his friends, family and neighbors, 'cause it was constantly being lent out.
A few days before he passed in 1994, he gave me strict orders to stop at his house on the way home from the hospital that same night, pick up the Hilti, take it home and "don't tell nobody you have it".
A few months after he passed, I was installing some wire shelving in the basement and needed to drill a few anchor holes. Midway through the second hole, the Hilti motor started smoking and quit running. I opened it up and found the field windings were all burnt. Considering how infrequently he used it, especially in comparison to all the use from borrowers, I actually teared up a little.
I went out and bought a new Dewalt to finish the job.
25 years later it's still in the original shopworn metal case, still inoperable, but I can't bear to part with it.
Someday, upon my passing, my kids will find it in the basement and wonder why in the hell Dad kept some old broken power tool. I can only hope that one day, one of my current possessions will have the same sentimental value to one of my kids as my Dad's Hilti had to me.
Bill
A few days before he passed in 1994, he gave me strict orders to stop at his house on the way home from the hospital that same night, pick up the Hilti, take it home and "don't tell nobody you have it".
A few months after he passed, I was installing some wire shelving in the basement and needed to drill a few anchor holes. Midway through the second hole, the Hilti motor started smoking and quit running. I opened it up and found the field windings were all burnt. Considering how infrequently he used it, especially in comparison to all the use from borrowers, I actually teared up a little.
I went out and bought a new Dewalt to finish the job.
25 years later it's still in the original shopworn metal case, still inoperable, but I can't bear to part with it.
Someday, upon my passing, my kids will find it in the basement and wonder why in the hell Dad kept some old broken power tool. I can only hope that one day, one of my current possessions will have the same sentimental value to one of my kids as my Dad's Hilti had to me.
Bill
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Man. This thread hit a chord:
My Dads old SO 12 pt mm long combo end wrenches always take me way back. They are a touchstone I guess. It's a little spooky. When I use them, he talks to me. I have not shared this with anyone. Just writing this makes me tear up.
John McA
My Dads old SO 12 pt mm long combo end wrenches always take me way back. They are a touchstone I guess. It's a little spooky. When I use them, he talks to me. I have not shared this with anyone. Just writing this makes me tear up.
John McA
Starman2112
Member
A multimeter and a bit socket set given to me by my deceased eldest brother.
CN Spots
Well-known member
My father had a similar one that I desperately tried to find amongst all his tools after he passed but the half dozen or so of those gray Harbor Freight hammers I found led me to believe that he had long ago lost/replaced it. Shame. He built my world with that hammer.
gtae07
Well-known member
My grandfather retired as a machinist from Ford (after he retired from the Army) and got rid of his long before he passed (well, some were lost in repeated floods). Dad still has and uses almost all his tools and is still using them (though he didn’t work in a trade). I do have the full Craftsman socket set my parents bought me when I was ~10 years old; first thing I did was work on my bike and I still use it all the time on the cars and my airplane project; I also have the rivet gun we used to build my dad’s airplane and it sees regular use.
I’m of mixed opinions on passed-down tools. There’s certainly sentimental value to some of them (like my dad’s radial and circular saws, which he’s still using), but I think the idea of passing all your tools down to your kids doesn’t work as well as it might have previously—either the kids don’t care, or they long ago got their own set.
Unless you have a really nice set of high-quality tools, your kids might well wind up with their own sets by the time you’re done with yours... and they may be nicer and/or higher-quality ones. Most of my dad’s general tools are old and weren’t the greatest quality even when new; a lot of the stuff at Harbor Freight today is of much better quality (!) than his older US-made stuff... quite sad, really. I’m reminded of the gigantic metal-bodied geared drill my grandfather passed on to him; it made a fair bit of torque but it was heavy and clumsy, arcing was plainly visible through all the cooling slots, and it sounded like a transmission full of marbles. We thought it was a beast when we built their deck 20 years ago; the $25 HF hammer drill I recommended to him for setting a few concrete anchors kicks its *** up, down, and sideways.
I’m of mixed opinions on passed-down tools. There’s certainly sentimental value to some of them (like my dad’s radial and circular saws, which he’s still using), but I think the idea of passing all your tools down to your kids doesn’t work as well as it might have previously—either the kids don’t care, or they long ago got their own set.
Unless you have a really nice set of high-quality tools, your kids might well wind up with their own sets by the time you’re done with yours... and they may be nicer and/or higher-quality ones. Most of my dad’s general tools are old and weren’t the greatest quality even when new; a lot of the stuff at Harbor Freight today is of much better quality (!) than his older US-made stuff... quite sad, really. I’m reminded of the gigantic metal-bodied geared drill my grandfather passed on to him; it made a fair bit of torque but it was heavy and clumsy, arcing was plainly visible through all the cooling slots, and it sounded like a transmission full of marbles. We thought it was a beast when we built their deck 20 years ago; the $25 HF hammer drill I recommended to him for setting a few concrete anchors kicks its *** up, down, and sideways.
I've got a philips screwdriver that cries alot, most of my other tools don't really show their emotions.
To give an accurate answer though, I'm very happy with the higher-end tools I bought when I was much younger. 20+ yrs later I still use those, it was money well spent. I've got no heritage tools from my grandfather or so.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
I'm not the sentimental type of person, and this is sort of a tool, but about the only thing I have that really means something to me is my dads railroad keys. From as far back as I can remember being a small child, my dad wore those keys almost every day until he retired. No matter where I went with him, I always heard those key jingling hanging off of his belt. And when I reach the end of my time, I'll give them to my son.
Nineeightyone
Well-known member
It's not the traditional "sentimental" tool -- I don't' have a great relationship with my family, and it's not Snap-On or anything special -- but special to me is the simple Kobalt 3/8" socket set my parents gave me one year for the holidays. It's the set I used when I was cutting my teeth on my first car, a VW Golf, learning to do my own maintenance and upgrades.
Over ten years later I still have that set, and it still sees regular use as I work on my cars and first home, it's less sentimental for family reasons and more for reasons of personal growth, but sentimental nonetheless.
Over ten years later I still have that set, and it still sees regular use as I work on my cars and first home, it's less sentimental for family reasons and more for reasons of personal growth, but sentimental nonetheless.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My most sentimental would have to be a pair of Sears brand pliers my dad gave me when I was 6 and getting my first toolbox set up. Also not really a tool but my grandpa that died in the 50s was a Chevrolet certified mechanic and I have his certificate that is in a frame saying he was a certified mechanic from 1937-1954 I think it is.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
Rickster55
Well-known member
Great thread question! While not a tool per se, I have to say it is my first roller tool box. It's a Craftsman 5 drawer that I bought new around 1982ish. I went to a garage sale a couple of years back and saw it's twin and tried to buy it but the owner said it wasn't for sale (just in the garage). I probably asked at least 3 times but no luck.
MileHighRover
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Without a doubt my most sentimental tool would be my very first Harbor Freight wrench. I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
You're confusing sentimental with antique.
toddmorr
Well-known member
great thread.
You guys need to document these stories for the benefit of your descendants. Meaning, put pen to paper and describe why the tool has meaning etc. I guarantee you the family members coming after us will be more than curious to know.
My grandfather was a construction boss in Salt Lake City for decades, I have some odds and ends from him and I'd give *anything* to know more about how he worked, how he used this stuff etc.
You guys need to document these stories for the benefit of your descendants. Meaning, put pen to paper and describe why the tool has meaning etc. I guarantee you the family members coming after us will be more than curious to know.
My grandfather was a construction boss in Salt Lake City for decades, I have some odds and ends from him and I'd give *anything* to know more about how he worked, how he used this stuff etc.
TalonFE
Well-known member
A fairly comprehensive craftsman mechanic's tool set and 22" box my Pops got me for H.S. graduation 43 years ago. It's the core of what I've built up around it since then. Besides out on the golf course, the best times of my life were in the garage with him working on stuff.
upper_tanker
Well-known member
I just helped clean my Grandpa's garage out, as he is 90 and is going into an assisted living home soon. A few things that I grabbed that have sentimental value to me are:
An adjustable (almost like crescent) wrench. It's old, and it says "Ford" on it. I asked him, and he said it was made by Ford and I believe that they gave it to him at some point during his 20 years there.
A really old stud remover. It is round, has two holes in it, and has a "cam" that spins around and catches the stud. I just thought it was cool.
Not really old, but he has two SO ratcheting screwdrivers that my dad bought him when my dad managed one of the muffler shops. One is red, one is orange. I love SO tools, and thought this was cool that my dad bought them for him.
An adjustable (almost like crescent) wrench. It's old, and it says "Ford" on it. I asked him, and he said it was made by Ford and I believe that they gave it to him at some point during his 20 years there.
A really old stud remover. It is round, has two holes in it, and has a "cam" that spins around and catches the stud. I just thought it was cool.
Not really old, but he has two SO ratcheting screwdrivers that my dad bought him when my dad managed one of the muffler shops. One is red, one is orange. I love SO tools, and thought this was cool that my dad bought them for him.
Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
I have carpentry tools, cabinetmaking tools, gunsmithing tools, millwright tools, machinist tools, patternmaking tools, pipefitter's tools and of course , mechanic's tools . There is some cross over but some are specific to those trades. So I had to think for minute. I have a 1/2" drive, ETF ( a Canadian tool company ) stamped Wright socket set. One of my early purchases. I purchased tools with my first pay cheque , but those have been long ago replaced.
I guess I should add heirloom tools as well. Dad had to borrow money from the bank to buy a DeWalt in '61. That will give you an idea of the cost and dad's pay scale. From the time he got it, I used it. Can you imagine a 12 year old doing that now. When dad died, of course I got the DeWalt. It was considered mine as much as dad's .My younger brother got his hand tools. In the hand tools were a set of Gray open end wrenches from the late 40s, from about the time I was born. Also a big purchase. Sadly they were stolen in a B&E at my brothers place. I have been trying to put together a set.
I guess I should add heirloom tools as well. Dad had to borrow money from the bank to buy a DeWalt in '61. That will give you an idea of the cost and dad's pay scale. From the time he got it, I used it. Can you imagine a 12 year old doing that now. When dad died, of course I got the DeWalt. It was considered mine as much as dad's .My younger brother got his hand tools. In the hand tools were a set of Gray open end wrenches from the late 40s, from about the time I was born. Also a big purchase. Sadly they were stolen in a B&E at my brothers place. I have been trying to put together a set.
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