Old hand saws, Scraper stock or Tole painting? (long)
David F. Eisan
As per my usual routine, I scan the classifieds every Saturday for a chance
to bottom feed at an auction looking for various flavours of burfle. I
already have a shit load of big machinery so really all I am looking for are
planes and lumber, although if I ran into another Unisaw for $300 I don't
think I would pass on it.
I haven't had much luck with auctions recently, there just don't seem to be
enough old guys dropping off recently. Finally I do spot a small print ad
for a farm auction 60 miles out of town, along with the usual tractors,
assorted farm implements and milk can listings, I notice "old hand tools".
Now from experience I have come to learn that that can mean anything from a
box of broken sockets from a company that is no longer in business to minty
fresh hand planes. I call the auctioneer, but I don't hear back from them, I
decide to chance it, I power up the thumper truck and head out of town.
Apparently the auctioneer didn't call anyone else back who inquired about
the auction either because there is almost no one there. I do a quick
scouting and decide it was a waste of time. The entire auction seems to be
box lots of crap the family doesn't want that they assembled when they
cleaned the place up for sale.
But since it is a beautiful day (outdoor auction), I decide to stick around
for an hour or two, just in case I missed viewing some gem, plus a few
people I know have showed up and I want to chat with them.
The short auction is almost over, my buddies have left as have most of the
paltry crowd that showed up for this crappy auction. I am about to leave
myself when one of the family members walks up to the auctioneer and starts
talking with him.
The auctioneer pipes up to myself and the few others who are still left,
"Apparently some of grandpas tools were missed when the cellar was cleaned
out for the auction, anyone interested in going down?". What the hell, I
raise my hand as do a few others.
Really, they didn't miss much, but hanging between two posts in the basement
is a rack of old hand saws that look like they haven't been touched in a
hundred years, totally covered in caked dust. My ears twitch. I have learned
never to show interest in an item, I am the guy who only starts bidding as
the auctioneer shouts "Going twice!". When everything wraps up and just
before the last person leaves, I ask, "Are the rack of saws not for sale?".
The auctioneer not wanting to miss even ten cents commission, says, "Sure, I
was told to clear the place to the walls, but I didn't think anyone would
want those, what will you give me for them". I muster up a fake pause and
say, "I don't know, five bucks". "Sold", he says to me and one other guy
sill in the cellar.
I go out to the truck to get a hammer, I to pry the rack off the wall, and
put it in the back of my cab. I briefly think that this should be the final
resting place for the saws, hanging in the back window of my truck like
yahoo's do with shot guns. I find the mental image amusing, but then, I find
all sorts of odd things amusing.
I get the saws home and start to clean them up, I found the reason they were
to covered in crap was the fact the who ever last used them how ever many
eons ago had covered them in grease after their last use and a zillion years
of dust and spider parts have settled into said grease. The saws look in
great condition, one of them has a little medallion on the handle that says
"H. Disston & Sons - Philada", three more say "H. Disston & Son - Philada",
the last two of that type say, "Henry Disston - Phila". Now the one saw that
I think is really neat is one with what looks like a lioness or a puma
carved into the upper part of the handle.
Anyway, I now have a whack of old hand saws and no use for them. I know the
steel used in these old saws in much better than what we have today, so I
have been thinking of cutting them up to make cabinet scrapers or for
scratch beaders, but I already did that will the last batch of saws so I
have lots of scraper stock.
The wife is an avid crafter and was wondering about painting country scenes
on them like the saws you see in those wonderful quaint country stores. I
thought that was a great idea, and I aside from her time, we should be able
to turn my five dollar investment into at least fifty bucks, but I have no
idea what type of paint works best on bright tool steel. Would it be best to
use an automotive etching type primer first? Or can I just go to Michael's
and pick up some Martha Stewart tole paint and let the wife have at it?
Any advise would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks,
David.
Every neighbourhood has one, in mine, I'm him.
Remove the "splinter" from my email address to email me.
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Pam Niedermayer
paint them, wrecks perfectly good tools. I'll offer you $20 per saw.
Pam
Dan G
key, prose. I was almost there, the sign of a good writer. My heart leapt
at the casual manner of acquiring the saws for five dollars. I then read
with unbridled horror about your intentions to put the saws to use in
manners for which they were never intended.
Troll?
Had to be!!!!
No one would do that to remnants of history. Would they?
Thanks for the story telling. On the off chance that this was not a troll,
please send me a way to contact you.
--
@@@@@@@@
Keep the whole world singing . . . . . . .
Dan & Dee Griffin
"David F. Eisan" <dfe...@rogers.splinter.com> wrote in message
news:WbOc9.151174$8aG1....@news01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
Nova
<snip>
> Anyway, I now have a whack of old hand saws and no use for them. I know the
> steel used in these old saws in much better than what we have today, so I
> have been thinking of cutting them up to make cabinet scrapers or for
> scratch beaders, but I already did that will the last batch of saws so I
> have lots of scraper stock.
Hi David,
Why don't you cut them up to make shurikens (throwing stars used in
karate). You can use them the next time those armed EPA enforcers come around.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
David E. Penner
>
> I get the saws home and start to clean them up, I found the reason they were
> to covered in crap was the fact the who ever last used them how ever many
> eons ago had covered them in grease after their last use and a zillion years
> of dust and spider parts have settled into said grease. The saws look in
> great condition, one of them has a little medallion on the handle that says
> "H. Disston & Sons - Philada", three more say "H. Disston & Son - Philada",
> the last two of that type say, "Henry Disston - Phila". Now the one saw that
> I think is really neat is one with what looks like a lioness or a puma
> carved into the upper part of the handle.
>
SNIP
On the off-chance that this isn't a troll, the puma-headed saw is rather
rare. In fact Pat Leaches' latest tool list has one for sale--over
$1000.00.
David
Leon
off you TS and let your wife mount clock hands on it and paint trees or
flowers on it.
You will save a lot of electricity.
p.s. You can beat the TS blase with a ball peen hammer to give it the much
desired distressed look before painting.
Kim Whitmyre
> The wife is an avid crafter and was wondering about painting country
scenes
> on them like the saws you see in those wonderful quaint country stores. I
> thought that was a great idea, and I aside from her time, we should be
able
> to turn my five dollar investment into at least fifty bucks, but I have no
> idea what type of paint works best on bright tool steel. Would it be best
to
> use an automotive etching type primer first? Or can I just go to Michael's
> and pick up some Martha Stewart tole paint and let the wife have at it?
>
> Any advise would be greatly appreciated,
Have you considered writing for the movies? ; - ]
Kim
Jon Endres, PE
e-mail, and since the Featured Tool this month is a Woodrough & McParlin
Panther saw (not a Disston, Sparky) for the paltry sum of $2550 USD
($43,000,000 CDN), you have not fooled all of us.
You're getting better, though. If you hadn't given me a clue in the subject
line, I'd have believed you until you mentioned tole painting.
Regards,
--
Jon Endres, PE
West Mountain Engineering
Civil/Survey/Site Development
wmeng...@adelphia.net
PM6564
"David F. Eisan" <dfe...@rogers.splinter.com> wrote in message
news:WbOc9.151174$8aG1....@news01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
>
> As per my usual routine, I scan the classifieds every Saturday for a
chance
That cat head sounds kind of cool. I'd cut it off the saw and varnish it
up. Put it on the front of the Ford for a hood orniment. (Be sure to use
spar varnish if it's going to be outside)
Randy
History channel about hand tools and their beginnings, one of the
hardest things to find were the type of saws you now own.
The saws were used so much that they had to be resharpened over and over
again to the point that there was nothing left of the blade. If I were
you I would take them to the nearest antique dealer who knows old hand
tools and get a quote before you go and paint them.
At 200 mph you have no friends
http://community.webtv.net/gtpstarter/mobileoffices
Unisaw A100
>You could probably sell them on ebay for a couple hundred. Please don't
>paint them, wrecks perfectly good tools. I'll offer you $20 per saw.
Pam,
Push the hook through. Resist the urge to pull it back out.
It'll leave a nasty scar.
UA100
Larry Jaques
<dfe...@rogers.splinter.com> posted recycled pixels stating:
>Dear All,
I've always wanted to thank you for the personalized greeting,
Davey. It's good for a few warm fuzzies every time. <sniffle>
>As per my usual routine, I scan the classifieds every Saturday for a chance
>to bottom feed at an auction looking for various flavours of burfle. I
I've been doing that here in Grass Pants lately, too. The estate
sales suck here, but I be "Garage Sailin'" says Ma.
>say, "I don't know, five bucks". "Sold", he says to me and one other guy
>sill in the cellar.
You suck, Ironmonger.
>I go out to the truck to get a hammer, I to pry the rack off the wall, and
>put it in the back of my cab. I briefly think that this should be the final
>resting place for the saws, hanging in the back window of my truck like
>yahoo's do with shot guns. I find the mental image amusing, but then, I find
>all sorts of odd things amusing.
ROTFLMAO! Good visualization.
>Anyway, I now have a whack of old hand saws and no use for them. I know the
>steel used in these old saws in much better than what we have today, so I
>have been thinking of cutting them up to make cabinet scrapers or for
>scratch beaders, but I already did that will the last batch of saws so I
>have lots of scraper stock.
>The wife is an avid crafter and was wondering about painting country scenes
>on them like the saws you see in those wonderful quaint country stores. I
>thought that was a great idea, and I aside from her time, we should be able
>to turn my five dollar investment into at least fifty bucks, but I have no
>idea what type of paint works best on bright tool steel. Would it be best to
>use an automotive etching type primer first? Or can I just go to Michael's
>and pick up some Martha Stewart tole paint and let the wife have at it?
Them's (2 paragraphs worth) fightin' words, son.
>Any advise would be greatly appreciated,
"advice".
Now that you find them sharp and preserved, they'll work just
fine for you. Keep a few (one rip and one crosscut at the very
least) and sell the rest for $20 a pop on *b*y, but please put
them back into action.
P.S: I'll trade you a tube of acrylic paint for your cougar saw.
Deal?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I sent in my $5, so * http://www.diversify.com/stees.html
why haven't I been 'saved'? * Graphic Design - Humorous T-shirts
Lawrence Wasserman
and send it back. (sure)
--
Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland
lwas...@charm.net
Joel Jacobson
> .............. The saws look in great condition, one of them has a little
medallion on the handle that says "H. Disston & Sons - Philada", three more
say "H. Disston & Son - Philada", the last two of that type say, "Henry
Disston - Phila". Now the one saw that I think is really neat is one with
what looks like a lioness or a puma carved into the upper part of the
handle.
After Disston's son returned after fighting in the Civil War, the old man
changed to company name --- adding "& Son". So any saw without "& Son" was
made prior to 1865.
What to do? Go ahead and paint the damn things. There are too many
valuable, antique, high quality tools, and not enough cutesy, shitty,
tasteless, painted doo-dads.