A few weeks ago I headed to the PATINA tool auction/sale. This is a yearly event hosted by the Potomac area tool collectors (something like that--a clever anagram). I'm something of a Neanderthal newbie, and I could scarcely process the unfathomable awesomeness. There were wall-to-wall hand tools, everything from a Stanley # 1 in the flesh (for $2.5 K, or something) to great bins of dividers, squares, braces, etc for $5 or $10 a piece. I had a ball, spent a good deal of cash, and came away with a ton of goodies. If anybody lives within driving distance, I highly recommend it.
The big ticket item for me was a Stanley 45. This was fairly complete, missing only the long arms and one or two cutters. (I'm picking up a set of the arms from St. James Tool Co. for a few bucks.) It needed a little TLC, but for $75, I was pleased.
This also gave me a chance to dive into the world of electrolysis. I was extremely impressed. I forgot to take before and after shots of the blades, which were the most striking, but these should give you some idea.
Before
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After
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And in its all-together
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I also picked up an egg beater and a brace, which seem to me to be in nice working order. I don't remember exactly, but these were something like $10 per.
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And, I got a nice big tenon saw for $20, and a Record 71 router plane for $30. It only had one cutter, so I ordered a full set from Veritas, which of course cost more than the plane itself!
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I also got a nice sweetheart low angle block for cheap (it was in the electrolysis bath when I took the pics), and a sweet little rosewood and brass square for about $5 (forgot to take a pic, sorry. I guess it didn't happen).
Neither my wife nor my friends have much interest in hearing me maunder on about this haul, but I know you folks will appreciate how much fun I had, and how psyched I am to start using all this stuff.
Yahoo!
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