[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I have the Jorgensen ones and the HF ones. The name brand are nice to handle and all that but the HF ones clamp just as well. Being OCD about it I eased the edges of the HF ones and put a light stain on them to mimic the high end clamps. I guess I didn't want anyone to think I used HF tools on the job back when. Now it doesn't make a bit of difference. It's the opposite, leave your good tools home and take the cheap stuff for when it gets stolen.

So now fully retired I have both in the cabinets. Gotta have a sale or something. 2 and 3 of everything is too much. Did I mention I have 5 air compressors? I'm down to 4.

I think.

One thing for sure, if something breaks I just toss it. There's another one over there.

Funny story: when I was working and doing bodywork at home, I had 3 HF angle grinders set up with different wheels. I carried a Metabo to the jobsite and used the hell out of the HF ones on my cars. Well, after nearly 25 years I'm down to one HF grinder and still grab it instead of pulling out the Metabo box, unwinding the cord and installing a wheel.

Yeah, tools that come in a nice case live in the case.

PS, using a corded tool and having it go away in a big blue flash is pretty exciting. Wear your gloves.

I guess that's one of the benefits and a downside of us downsizing about 11 years ago. I got rid of a ton of tools except stuff that had a connection to my grandfather or parents (grandad's tools or dad's tools or gifts from mom & dad). There's been a bunch of it that I wish I still had. Fortunately, everything that I got rid of is either stuff that I still don't need or can buy again. So I don't have a ton of extra stuff (although I wouldn't mind having a garage full of the "extra" stuff.

Holy moly, yeah, having a power tool die with a blue flash would be very exciting. I've had a few die, but it was always more of a slow fizzle.

If/when you ever getting around to getting rid of old woodworking hand tools, if you are willing to ship, let me know. I would love to have some stuff from a well respected craftsman like yourself. It would be great to know that skilled hands had done skilled things with them, and to have known the previous owner even if it was just in the virtual world.