At one time you had to be able to make the tools of your trade now adays your lucky if you find someone who can maintain them. I used to make most all of my tools except rasps,even made a few pare of nipers but they dident hold up. Found a pare of them while i was packing tools the other day mabe i'll have another go at it when i get to mo .
Thinking about this in our dicushion about tempering and metalurgey .i have fullers chisels tongs nd other tools that i use reguarley that are fifty to a hundred years old and still going strong .my forge is well over a hundred but other then a pair of ge nippers that i turned into pullers i dont think i have any factory made tools made in the last twenty years that have survived more then a few years use.we sure have come a long way lol
Lol Gary whent to a farm haritige museum afew years ago and most the tools icluding the tractor and bailer were newer then the ones i was useing
Heard my supplier had trouble with them. Producer wouldn't cover broken nipper despite warranty. They have had other complaints as well
Thinking of going jack aumish when i get to MO ,trade the old ford for a pair of drafts and grow a lot of fachel hair
Discovered another way of feeling young a few months ago. Client called me because of a lost shoe. Horse w sensitive feet. Problem is I'm on vacation. So I try to find another farrier who could cover for me. But...no one can help out. Next day when I call client to say I cant find someone. No problem he says, our old farrier will be here tomorrow. The old farrier?? But I thought he retired?? How old is he btw? 93........ Later I was told the oldtimer got there on time. Had forgotten most of his tools, but borrowed some and fixed the shoe. Though he said "Nowadays I don't shoe so much...I mostly trim cows.
Bought some more tool steel the other day might venture to make some more tools and keep the cost down
Saves $ and you know what you have. Besides its kind of fun to try something different now and then. Heck sell a few smitty the tool makers are raking in more then us fools who use them
a lot of the amish are going high tech around here, iphone, ipad, square, etc.. just felt weird to look at quilts for sale on his smart phone
We drove through a Mennonite community in Missouri, about twenty three years back, and we noticed that there were electric lines going to the barns. I commentated that I guessed they need to make it easier and more efficient for the men to earn a living. Boy o' boy did my wife go off about having to run a kitchen and household with out the "ease and efficiency" of electricity.
