What Do You Tools Say About You | Tool Forensics

[@ozu.2210]

The mark on the wooden plane says "WEISS & SOHN IN WIEN". The company Joh. Weiss & Sohn from Vienna produced woodworking tools from the 1820s until the 1960s.

[@robohippy]

My dad claimed that he was not going to retire until his birth certificate expired. He was still working at 100, engineer in a family business. His birth certificate expired 5 weeks before what would have been his 101st birthday. Hope I last that long, and I will never run out of stuff to do...

[@Bargle5]

One of my hand saws has the stamps of an earlier owner. My father gave it to me, but they're not his initials, so there's been at least 3 of us. Whenever I get it back to properly sharpened, I'll be using it again.

[@thomasarussellsr]

I'm into my 50s and the only new hand tools my woodshop has are cheap beaters. The nicer tools are all pre-owned except for one set of Mortice chisels and a marking knife I got from WoodByWright. Oh, I also invested in some mid-level diamond stones for sharpening. The wife complained about how much sandpaper I was buying, so that was my compromise. After showing her the math, she quit screaming about the cost of the stones/plates versus the long time cost of wet/dry sandpaper.

[@arnavpandey3150]

It's quite fascinating how these simple tools accumulated such value and meaning over the course of their life. The story itself is not loud but subtle, and that's just so beautiful. Always love your vids, thank you for another gem! ❤

[@brendanlangord1687]

I absolutely loved this video. I love collecting old tools and restoring them. It is something I started doing over covid and it is the main thing that got me through it since my industry completely shut down (I work in live entertainment, touring doing rigging, lighting, stage management, and carpentry). Thankfully I have been back to work for 2 years now, but I always look forward to getting home to my small basement workshop and working on tools. I have been very fortunate to have found a great local source for old tools, The Tool Shed in Worcester, MA, as well as finding things on Facebook market place, craigslist, as well as random yard sales. I always get excited when I find something with someones initials stamped in them. If someone took the time to do that, then that tool was important to them. I also get especially excited when it is something I can restore and put it in my touring workbox and can be something I can use on the road. I have become the person that everyone comes to if they are look for some sort of odd tool to do a specific job, 9 times out of 10 I have the tool they need. Anyways, sorry for the long comment comment, and as always, thanks for sharing.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Small world. My masters was for technical director. I worked in theater for 12 years building sets off broadway. I did some touring work but not much.

[@christophervanmeier1648]

What I would love to see is you, to travel to Mystic, CN. To the harbor/museum, and go through a full set of their shipwrights tools, and do a complete forensic workup on everything. I love what you do. It is engaging, educational, and fun!

[@rogerwiese3498]

Loved this video. I have been a working carpenter and hand tool user since the 70s. I married into a family of carpenters from Sweden. I have a few hand saws that were used and sharpened so often they are like the one in this video, though not as short. I was told that every day he and his father would bring 4 sharp saws to the job and every night would sharpen them. All work was done by hand and if your tools were not sharp so you could saw the rafters quickly you would be let go and one of the waiting carpenters would be hired.

[@reptilesarecool6739]

This is genuinely touching - I like to think the previous owners of those tools would be appreciative that they’re in good hands still rather than sitting in a landfill or turned to rust.

[@andrewfitzsimons7047]

really like your style James. btw, great T shirt buddy

[@OliveHugh2]

Tool forensics, it's so fascinating. I just did this with the vintage tools i got recently, i theorized what happened 6o the tools and from when and where they are. My household was fascinated how anyone could read the use and wear.

[@tonyp.2482]

I just want to say thank you for the bedtime story! I really enjoyed listening to the journey these tools have made. 😊 I will definitely check out the link.

[@RonHoglund]

Many tools on my workbench awaiting refurbishment. I'll be looking at them for clues about their past now.

[@brooklynpaul4003]

I've loved thinking about the users of antique tools since I started collecting them, and especially after reading "A Museum of Early American Tools," by Eric Sloane. Making your old tools talk was like magic to me. Thanks.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

love his books!

[@richardlyle9676]

I love these videos that talk about the history and stories of the tools

[@artswri]

Most totally excellent video, really enjoyed the stories. Paint spatter may mean- tools left around, painting happened whenever the need arose. My grandfather was like that. Tools were... Just tools. If they needed a sharpening or cleaning it happened just in time to make the tool ready to use right now. Thanks for another great video

[@notubename99]

The maker‘s mark on the wooden plane looks like „Weiss & Sohn, Wien“ (Weiss & Son, Vienna (Austria)).

[@PiousSlayer]

I think you should make something using it (unless it'll break) just to see how using it compares to the full length one. Also to give the tool life again.

[@RexKrueger]

Do you think the nail holes on that plane might be from fences being nailed on? Great video!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

After thinking about it further I think that might be the more plosable answer.

[@thomasarussellsr]

​​​@@WoodByWrightHowToo your self made tools, like the frame and bow saws, have a maker's mark on them? Maybe the year they were made, as well, stamped in? Even if a kit was used... Edit: how about owner's/care taker's marks on the ones you have acquired or rebuilt/cobbled together like the treddle lathe and other antique tools? [Comment here because for some reason it didn't give me a spot for a fresh comment.]

[@ianpearse4480]

Cool. My tools would probably say stop hitting me so hard with that mallet, even the mallets! LOL.

[@caneycreekwoodcarver]

The reason I got into collecting hand tools was my father was a contractor and we would go to old houses and I would look in awe at all the molding and base boards and hand rails thinking that people would spend months with a hand tools to get make all those thousands of feet of very cool peaces by hand planes and saws. I would like to see someone do that today.

[@markp6062]

Excellent! I've seen Rex's vids as well. I Love these kinds of videos. the forensics is fascinating to me and I love the stories they tell!

[@jerryhoogeveen]

This was a fantastic video! Please do more of this

[@RobGb100]

The first carpenter I was paired with as an apprentice 40 years ago had a panel saw that he could use as a keyhole saw. He was probably as old as I am now and had that saw since his apprenticeship. I have many tools with history behind them and remember that history when I use them.

[@fred5480]

My son has entered a Carpentry apprenticeship. I restored a No4 Stanley type 14 for him, bought him some nice, new Makita battery operated power tools and passed on his Grandfather's hammer. It's a Cheney Nailer (Google it; it has a spring-loaded nail holder in the claw side). I made the old joke about it being 75 years old and only having three new handles and two new heads. But, I remember clearly the day he took me to Sears to buy a new handle...and taught me new words when he installed it! Here's hoping he gives it to his son too.

[@OORAH659]

Some times my tools take up a lot of my day. I really appreciate you making this video about favorite tools. Mine are the stanley chisels that I have use for 20 years and are very worn-out. my other one is a antic hammer with a curved crow that has the original hickory and other peoples int. press on it. I could go on but duty calls ... OORAH!!

[@slomkaadas9603]

Ahh, Rex Krueger started beautiful thing! Great, i love it - please, do more ❤ Cheers from Poland 🍻

[@214rwoz]

Leaving a comment down below, Thank you for all your time and effort.

[@MrMarkpeggy]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I have a love for old tools and using them. I like thinking of the men who used them before me. 👍❤

[@MCsCreations]

Fascinating indeed, James! Thanks!!! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@chunlee5317]

Please do more of these types of videos. That was amazing.

[@vtlynch92]

Thank you for this video!

[@raminieminen2955]

Whenever bying old tools I always wish they could talk. Just imagine the stories they could tell. Same goes to old buildings, I always wonder how much they could tell us about past generations. I used to clean and polish old tools thoroughly to almost make them look like new ones, but in the last couple of years I have started to do less and less sanding and scraping and instead leave all the old marks on the tools.

[@makermark67]

Great video, James. Thanks for sharing those stories. Love that kind of stuff.

[@appalachianwoodworker7046]

My tools would most likely speak of neglect due to my busy work schedule and declining mental health. I would love to spend more time in my shop, but when I work 48 - 60 hours a week on night shift, all I want to do when I’m off is sleep.

[@AllanMacMillan]

I picked up an old #4 equivalent, a Rapier 400. I found that the adjustment wheel wasn’t working and it had clearly never worked for the previous owner, as the iron was mushroomed on the back from hammer adjustment. The fix was pretty simple once the problem was identified, but the previous owner had clearly just soldiered on and gotten work done, and clearly quite a bit of work considering how long it takes to mushroom a steel edge.

[@timothymallon]

This was a great video! I really love how you get it when it comes to the history. I always wonder about the initials in my own tools. Ive got a couple that have engraved initials done with one of those electric engravers from back in the 80s and 90s. I have one that was engraved using a nail as a punch to strike the initials in.

[@AFN2750]

It’s kinda the same thing with instruments. I play 100 year old saxophones, and some of them have incredible stories. One of them was taken prisoner of war!

[@colinellicott9737]

Reminds me of the movie "The Red Violin". One scene goes through a dozen players over several hundred years, cool.

[@twistedhillbilly6157]

I stopped by to make a hilarious comment but this is a lot more interesting than I expected..... Reminds me of old chimney's I drive by still standing in the middle of a field. I wonder what kind of a house was there, how long ago it burned down.. what else was there, who lived there, etc... I'll save my incredible jocularity for another video..

[@sigogglin]

my tools may say, “this guy may have an impulse control problem” 😂

[@scottswineford6714]

As I deteriorate yet still "make stuff" I sometimes wonder what those that follow me will think of the solutions I've used and the tools I've made to make it happen. Interesting that thus far the kerfing plane I was working on when I first saw your channel still gets a lot of use and is among the first things my rare visitors pick up to look at. Perhaps a question best for the hive is, Does the majority of visitors have to test the edge of your chisels too?

[@demastust.2277]

I thought those little pin prick holes were due to a little bug that bores into the wood. I've seen this before in a video by Shawn Woods where he shows off an old wooden mouse trap that has those pinprick holes.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

in some wood yes, but when you look closely at this one you can see they were made with nails. if they are bug holes you see then all over the block this size and they go in and out ad different angles.

[@WoodenBoatBen]

I love the stories told by tools.

[@Vikingwerk]

My tools say I need to practice sharpening. 😂

[@reticuluminfirma9407]

Awesome video!! Amazing how much tools can talk.

[@thomashverring9484]

I don't think the holes on the wooden plane are from soles being attached. I'm pretty sure it's from a fence attached and reattached at different positions. I see that quite often.

[@MrMNRichardWright]

You created a great story.

[@professor62]

Awesome video, James! Thank you!

[@johnford7847]

Quite interesting, James. Thank you.

[@goaliem288]

Really like stories like these. Super interesting

[@airford13]

Thanks James! Loved this one, hope you do more of them. Also follow Rex, you guys are great!

[@dereksmith2910]

James. Do you have a video on sharpening saws, rip, and crosscut? Also, any direction for acquiring saw "sets" and triangular files for sharpening backset and crosscut saw teeth?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have several videos on each of those. here is one on rip saws. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2i8pJ2BndaeY9k and here is one on crosscut saws. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnacf5hpgrqLpJI as to what files to get I suggest starting with the cheap ones from the big box store. they will not last as long but they are the best bang for the buck and when you mess one up it is no big deal.

[@margaretkrantz1469]

Very fun exploration!

[@EricMeyerMaker]

Absolutely fascinating

[@theeddorian]

For the wooden plane you might look at Weiss and Son, Vienna.

[@davidmontgomery1016]

It would be very interesting to talk to the owner of that hand saw.

[@Deviant_Designs]

My backsaw: Take some time and sharpen me the Wright way already!

[@321mogul]

What do "your" tools say about you. My tools just roll their eyes at the next owner and look traumatized.

[@Russ0107]

Hi James, I believe that says Weiss & Son!

[@FredWaldwin]

Wow this is fascinating please show us more 😀

[@instantsiv]

My tools would say I'm penny smart and dollar stoopid. Needed a jointer to complete my power tool setup and thought I'd be smart saving a little money by buying a hand plane to flatten faces and joint edges before sending them thru the planer... I've since spent magnitudes more on hand tools than it ever would have cost me to purchase a decent brand new jointer.

[@GMCLabs]

I wish I were more familiar with sharpening saws. The mind boggles how many miles of wood that thing had to go through to have been worn down that much. Like if you gave me a new saw and a file, at 8 hours a day, it take me a month to file it down to that size. Maybe I'm overestimating how long it would take to file. I just know anytime I had to file any steel, it seem like it takes forever to remove a significant amount of material. Only a very small amount needs to be taken off to sharpen it, so even with daily sharpening, it would take decades to get to that size.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Ya the normal panel saw has around 300-400 sharpenings in it. That takes a while.

[@NickLuker]

Wow. Last time I said my tools were telling a story, I got put in the loony bin for talking with inanimate objects. I didn't know I could video it and put it on the toobz.

[@cav89-]

7:12 the maker is probably Weiss and Sohn (?) Excellent video, I found it very interesting. And yes, inevitably, I wondered what my tools would say about me 50+ years in the future. If my “learning planes” are never found (gotta make sure to destroy them) I would be unashamed. I think.

[@Rocketninja200]

In 100 years... "...I don't know but he painted everything blue"

[@glencrandall7051]

Interesting analysis. I'm not sure I agree with your thoughts on the saw. I think the handle was broken so the owner cut down the blade to match the broken handle. But no matter which story is closest to the truth it's all interesting. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Thanks for sharing.

[@A2woodArt]

I disagree about paint spatter. It is not from shelf, it is indication it was used at job sites. Painters disregard other’s tools a lot …

[@brodiesmith4419]

As the son of a painter and decorator by trade I can say that not all painters are equal my dad did a 4 year apprenticeship and trade school under multiple people (big comlany) who also did 4 year apprenticeships and other painters walked into a hardware store and bought a brush and roller

[@paco_vazquez]

Maybe folks were less particular about cosmetic stuff, I bet they were practical people that just wanted to get the job done.

[@wouterengels7769]

As long as the previous owner was not a tool, the tool should be well used and well kept 😊

[@marcbarash6045]

Thanks james

[@paco_vazquez]

Love it!!! Tools to do things!!!

[@JazzKazoo0930]

I can't even imagine how much you'd have to use a saw for the sharpening to file it down that much. It has to have been a lifetime of daily use

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Surprisingly there's only about 300 to 400 sharpenings in a saw. And there's a couple documented cases of someone actually filing through their saw and under 10 years.

[@ssrattus]

Very interesting, thanks!

[@michaelmcdermott2178]

Love this, thanks!

[@christopherharrison6724]

Thanks

[@otterylexa4499]

Fascinating.

[@ryanstieglitz8077]

Comment down below! Loved that, definitely do more of these.

[@zyamadeadborn1785]

I think there's only one name on that router plane and it's something around "J. KLAPA". My guess is that he couldn't find a good enough spot to make his name stamp a full print from the first try. Maybe he tried some different spots and at some point decided "yeah, this one is good enough".

[@chagildoi]

Thanks!😊

[@danwittmayer6539]

Insight! Thanks

[@TheThirdThomas]

Cdb thank you

[@airnashville3883]

"Toking tools". LOL, I'm toking while watching

[@Ivanhoe52]

Cool... And funny. "...lobotomy."😂

[@jimbucket2996]

It's not Wednesday and it's the wrong bald guy!

[@multicoloredwiz]

Beautiful video :)

[@מעייןהמלבלבתחייםםםם]

This tools are so full of character!! And u have got several...one in particular is my Disston D-23 which i bought in a flea market - well it was in the back of the store in a pile of old hand tools and from underneath it called me the i could see beyond the rust and all the dirt that it's a gem!! The plate was straight, the geometry and the set of the teeth was there the one of the pre-owners replace one of the rivets but not ( but not the original/) but still it made the jobe and it had crack on the handle ( i noticed it after cleaning it), so in two minutes i could say the history of the person who worked with the tool!!! I was so glad to restore it but not fully, it has story to tell!!

[@biglacheese7449]

He’s gotta stamp his initials on that router plane now

[@PedroPereira-ut6pp]

Are you gonna paint that rabbet plane in blue? xD

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I should do that someday with a wooden plane

[@andrewgarratt5191]

I too am a fan of such specific history’s My very favorite tool (simple really, but just SO charming) A folding draw knife… the 80ish yo guy I bought it from said: “I knew the guy that owned that… his wife sold me his stuff when he died… anal, hard-headed son-of-a-Bi**h… a lot like you….just not as friendly, Y’all’d ah gotten along just fine.” 🤣 For some reason… having conformation that the last owner was kinda of a kindred spirit makes me like it more.

[@dragonpjb]

Any one ever tell you that you sound just a bit like Kermit?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol that is a new one!

[@dpmeyer4867]

cool

[@RobDragonslayer]

What DO me tools say about me!?

[@santamorel6887]

Como

[@tarbucktransom]

Comment down below

[@ping170]

Comment down below ;)

[@terristroh3965]

Comment Australian

[@davidlynn7161]

Comment down below.

[@franklerouge]

comment down below

[@imortaldeadead]

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