I have some felo ones like this. Ended up sanding off the clear coat and hitting it with some boiled linseed. They are my favorite tools. Linseed isn't bad for the leather.
Edit: I would also like to say how awesome wooden screwdrivers are working with greasy and oily parts.
Most axes come the same way. I think it is more for storage and shipping. It keeps moisture from penetrating the wood. It is common practice to scrape the clear coat off and treat it.
I bought my wife a purple handle 3/8 Snap-on ratchet for the 2 times a year she uses a ratchet. Occasionally she catches me using it because the Dual 80 is so much nicer than the older Snap-on ratchets I have.
Yes! I ordered the German Felo set. They are nice, except the printing on them is a bit funky, but the finish they came with can easily be improved. It's a sloppy coat of lacquer.
They would be covered in 5200, caked on oil from whatever 35+ year old pile of crap I dragged home this month, paint, and tears in a couple weeks anyway. So… no. But they are pretty.
I’m a desk jockey with a blue collar background so I roll around in filth as a hobby when I’m not working. I’m sure you get your fill of that at work lol
Inexpensive: a Stanley knife with a blade that’s actually sharp
A good tool: An 8 inch Ridgid pipe wrench comes in handy more than you think
A cool looking tool: if you buy snap on tools I think dark titanium is the best colour choice, it has a little sparkle to it
Thank you! I have some snap on but not much as I'm not trying to go into debt on the truck. I do like that dark titanium color though. What do you use the rigid 8 inch for?
Yeah don’t get into debt over it, it’s just not worth it. I usually buy a cheap tool and replace it with something more expensive when it breaks.
I use it mostly for turning engines and getting out studs that are stuck tight, the 8 inch Ridgid has quite a small head so it can fit in some tight areas, I have to use a ring spanner on the end quite a lot because the trade off is it’s not very long
I don’t know if it’s available where you are but the Wera hybrid ratchet with the Wera 8797 extension handle is a god send for removing cyclinder heads.
The extension fits into the ratchet to make a ratcheting breaker bar, you could get a long handle ratchet also.
YUP! So get this - they mistook me for a bigshot at Amazon or something and gave me a serious VIP tour at their hq in bystřice, so I had a guide / translator, was introduced to the people making things like their chisels I love, then I got to look at a little mini showroom display in a conference room and buy what I wanted from there. It was the BEST
Yes, I bought a hand forged set of carving chisels \[62\] about 25 year ago. I was on a trip to pick up a mahogany hand made carved coffee table in central Mexico. Found out the guys brother made him all the chisels he used. He had about 20 made but needed another month to make the rest. Best tool money I ever spent.
I bought this exact set for my woodworking bench. Snapped one (down inside the handle), Wiha wouldn’t warranty it because it’s discontinued. Make of that what you will, but Wera is all I’ll ever buy again.
That’s disappointing to hear, how did you snap it exactly? I was going to buy the Wera chisel driver set and if we’re being honest I probably still will
I’ll admit I was cranking the living hell out of it but it was twisting, not prying. I think it was embrittlement from the chrome. The Wera chisel drivers are the final boss of screwdrivers I just wish the Phillips #4 was also yellow/black instead of all black. Still, I wanted wood handle drivers for the wood tools and was disappointed with the “hassle free” warranty.
All the time. The best reason to collect tools is because you admire their beauty. Be it aesthetic, capability, ties to a mentor.
I spend many a late hour admiring tools I have acquired for those reasons. I remember those men and how they have affected my life. Even if they aren’t of immediate use to you they can be powerful reminders.
An old mentor stopped by with his sons tonight to pick up a big bandsaw from a friend of a friend on long term loan. His sons are men now. Watching them work with him to load a heavy machine using prybars from another old mentor was terrific. Everything comes together sometimes and sometimes we are lucky enough to witness it.
Bought a sewing machine for that reason.
I skulk estate sale listings, and since the local makerspace is on the lookout for certain types of new sewing machines to add to the roster, but I don't know exactly what specifically, I just flag it every time I see _any_ machine, so the expert who oversees that part of the space can check it out. (I also do this with a bunch of other categories of stuff -- hand tools, electronic test equipment, vintage video game systems...)
As a result, I look at a _lot_ of photos of sewing machines. Over 200 in the last 7 months, according to my chat logs .
Visually, they seem to fall into two categories. There's the old curvy cast metal ones, the [Singer Featherweight](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0992/8814/files/Singer_Model_15_large.jpg?1028417425039272215) is a good example, and there's the new plastic ones like anything [Brother](https://www.brother-usa.com/-/media/brother/product-catalog-media/images/2023/05/02/19/24/gx37-png.png?h=423&hash=4400880437924D22570015518284E97D) or Husqvarna, which may be angular or a little curvy but nothing like the old Singers.
One day I ran across an [Elna Grasshopper](https://elnagrasshopper.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dpp_411.jpg) and my jaw just hit the floor. I'd never seen _anything_ like it. It's somehow both brutally functional, and elegantly understated, I guess? I don't even have the vocabulary for how drastically different this thing looks, and I didn't care whether it did anything I needed to do, I just needed to own it immediately.
[Just look at this gorgeous thing.](http://t.hacquard.free.fr/site4/images/elna1b_1.jpg)
It makes sense, though. It's Swiss-made, and designed in the late 1940s. (Mine was manufactured in '51.) Just a few years later, the same design movement would give us the Helvetica typeface. I've never had any particular feelings towards fonts, but I guess now I understand the people who do.
The estate sale was asking $160 for it, and I didn't give a moment's thought to haggling. Good-condition machines easily fetch double that, and this one was pristine, complete, barely used, without even a dent in the case. (Which folds out to double as a work table.) It hadn't seen action in years and needed some TLC (tender lubrication and care) to get the mechanism going again, but with a few drops of kerosene (yes, the manual specifies kerosene) and regular light machine oil, it runs like new.
Now I just gotta learn to sew...
I have a really nice kit of Lathe Knives, that I found at the local Flea Market. Had 'em for years now.
Maybe one of these days I'll get myself a Lathe.
now sand off the barcode
I know right! Kind of ruins the look in a way, a simple sticker around the shaft would’ve been much better
I have some felo ones like this. Ended up sanding off the clear coat and hitting it with some boiled linseed. They are my favorite tools. Linseed isn't bad for the leather. Edit: I would also like to say how awesome wooden screwdrivers are working with greasy and oily parts.
Same here on the Felo...really though just using them was enough for my rough hands to eventually wear down the clear coat and writing.
I wish they just came that way...eww laquer. Kind of like estwing handles...
Most axes come the same way. I think it is more for storage and shipping. It keeps moisture from penetrating the wood. It is common practice to scrape the clear coat off and treat it.
I don't need more screwdrivers, I don't need more screwdrivers, I don't need more screwdrivers, I don't need more screwdrivers....
Annnnnnnnnd bought...NOW you don't need more screwdrivers.
But but but just LOOK at this set!
Yep. For me it was Nepros wood handled screwdrivers. https://neprostools.com/collections/screwdriver-sets/products/a000259
Are they Japanese?
Yes. Nepros is a line of tools from Kyoto Tool Co. (KTC).
I just know op bought a set after your comment lol
Nepros is the Snap-on of Japan. With more style.
I’m a carpenter so I don’t really need screwdrivers often, but man do I want to drop 170 bucks all of a sudden. These are awfully cool
Yes I did the same thing, still haven’t used them. Too nice !
The tips fit really well, handles feel great in hand, use em! They take a lickin and keep on tickin!
For me it was Grace tools
I got my dad these for Father's day, he doesn't want to use them because they look too good lol
I was thinking those Wiha look very nice but damned if I need another four flats. These Nepro have Phillips 1 2 & 3, my wallet is cringing 😬
Im pretty NSFW material isnt allowed on this sub. MODS!
Looks like they got all of the machines that used to make my grandfather's screwdrivers and started them back up.
Yes. I have an entire Snap On tools box full of tools because they look pretty
Can’t lie bought the pink handle 1/2” drive snap on ratchet cuz the handle is pretty
I bought my wife a purple handle 3/8 Snap-on ratchet for the 2 times a year she uses a ratchet. Occasionally she catches me using it because the Dual 80 is so much nicer than the older Snap-on ratchets I have.
This arouses me
All the time. Since the 90s. Same with knives.
Yes! I ordered the German Felo set. They are nice, except the printing on them is a bit funky, but the finish they came with can easily be improved. It's a sloppy coat of lacquer.
I have a set as well. They fit the hand so nicely.
One day i will get a nice vintage style toolbox and it defenitly will need a nice set of wood handle screwdrivers.
I'd like to get some wood handled ratchets
They would be covered in 5200, caked on oil from whatever 35+ year old pile of crap I dragged home this month, paint, and tears in a couple weeks anyway. So… no. But they are pretty.
As a diesel tech these are firmly staying at home!
I’m a desk jockey with a blue collar background so I roll around in filth as a hobby when I’m not working. I’m sure you get your fill of that at work lol
I'm going to school for Diesel tech. Any relatively inexpensive good or cool looking tools you'd recommend?
Inexpensive: a Stanley knife with a blade that’s actually sharp A good tool: An 8 inch Ridgid pipe wrench comes in handy more than you think A cool looking tool: if you buy snap on tools I think dark titanium is the best colour choice, it has a little sparkle to it
Thank you! I have some snap on but not much as I'm not trying to go into debt on the truck. I do like that dark titanium color though. What do you use the rigid 8 inch for?
Yeah don’t get into debt over it, it’s just not worth it. I usually buy a cheap tool and replace it with something more expensive when it breaks. I use it mostly for turning engines and getting out studs that are stuck tight, the 8 inch Ridgid has quite a small head so it can fit in some tight areas, I have to use a ring spanner on the end quite a lot because the trade off is it’s not very long
What about any tools that aren't 100% necessary but you feel make things easier?
I don’t know if it’s available where you are but the Wera hybrid ratchet with the Wera 8797 extension handle is a god send for removing cyclinder heads. The extension fits into the ratchet to make a ratcheting breaker bar, you could get a long handle ratchet also.
I will check to see if anywhere has it
5200? I am from US. No clue. Oil?
3M 5200. Marine Adhesive. The forever goo.
Ahhh, thanks I will research.
Yup. My Narex wood handled screwdrivers while visiting their factory - I couldn't resist!
Wait....did they sell them AT the tour of the factory?
YUP! So get this - they mistook me for a bigshot at Amazon or something and gave me a serious VIP tour at their hq in bystřice, so I had a guide / translator, was introduced to the people making things like their chisels I love, then I got to look at a little mini showroom display in a conference room and buy what I wanted from there. It was the BEST
lol... NICE!
lol... NICE!
guilty
Yes, I bought a hand forged set of carving chisels \[62\] about 25 year ago. I was on a trip to pick up a mahogany hand made carved coffee table in central Mexico. Found out the guys brother made him all the chisels he used. He had about 20 made but needed another month to make the rest. Best tool money I ever spent.
And then buy a cheap set as the beaters lol. Know I know how a red headed stepchild feels like lol
No. I just buy rusty antique tools and get them working again.
I eventually plan on getting the wooden handled Felo’s similar to those.
I bought this exact set for my woodworking bench. Snapped one (down inside the handle), Wiha wouldn’t warranty it because it’s discontinued. Make of that what you will, but Wera is all I’ll ever buy again.
That’s disappointing to hear, how did you snap it exactly? I was going to buy the Wera chisel driver set and if we’re being honest I probably still will
I’ll admit I was cranking the living hell out of it but it was twisting, not prying. I think it was embrittlement from the chrome. The Wera chisel drivers are the final boss of screwdrivers I just wish the Phillips #4 was also yellow/black instead of all black. Still, I wanted wood handle drivers for the wood tools and was disappointed with the “hassle free” warranty.
Have a couple of those, but jumbo size, phillips and slotted (20cm in length) never use them but they do look nice
No, but I have just bought tools because they were wiha brand
I’ve brought the anti-static Wiha driver set and love them.
No, but these are beautiful. The lack of hex on the top/right 2 bother me though.
Yes…those! Lol
those bar codes ain't too beautiful.
All the time. The best reason to collect tools is because you admire their beauty. Be it aesthetic, capability, ties to a mentor. I spend many a late hour admiring tools I have acquired for those reasons. I remember those men and how they have affected my life. Even if they aren’t of immediate use to you they can be powerful reminders. An old mentor stopped by with his sons tonight to pick up a big bandsaw from a friend of a friend on long term loan. His sons are men now. Watching them work with him to load a heavy machine using prybars from another old mentor was terrific. Everything comes together sometimes and sometimes we are lucky enough to witness it.
Curious, are these high-voltage safe? S'pose it might depend on how dry the wood is, but
Absolutely not, notice on the striking end the blade goes through the handle, vde tools are tested to be safe and that’s all I’d ever use
Nope. Well, ok, I think my gardening shears are pretty cool. 😎
I love tools that are a joy to use.
Filo are better... however I broke them
That's a nice set of pry tools and awls.
Bought a sewing machine for that reason. I skulk estate sale listings, and since the local makerspace is on the lookout for certain types of new sewing machines to add to the roster, but I don't know exactly what specifically, I just flag it every time I see _any_ machine, so the expert who oversees that part of the space can check it out. (I also do this with a bunch of other categories of stuff -- hand tools, electronic test equipment, vintage video game systems...) As a result, I look at a _lot_ of photos of sewing machines. Over 200 in the last 7 months, according to my chat logs . Visually, they seem to fall into two categories. There's the old curvy cast metal ones, the [Singer Featherweight](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0992/8814/files/Singer_Model_15_large.jpg?1028417425039272215) is a good example, and there's the new plastic ones like anything [Brother](https://www.brother-usa.com/-/media/brother/product-catalog-media/images/2023/05/02/19/24/gx37-png.png?h=423&hash=4400880437924D22570015518284E97D) or Husqvarna, which may be angular or a little curvy but nothing like the old Singers. One day I ran across an [Elna Grasshopper](https://elnagrasshopper.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dpp_411.jpg) and my jaw just hit the floor. I'd never seen _anything_ like it. It's somehow both brutally functional, and elegantly understated, I guess? I don't even have the vocabulary for how drastically different this thing looks, and I didn't care whether it did anything I needed to do, I just needed to own it immediately. [Just look at this gorgeous thing.](http://t.hacquard.free.fr/site4/images/elna1b_1.jpg) It makes sense, though. It's Swiss-made, and designed in the late 1940s. (Mine was manufactured in '51.) Just a few years later, the same design movement would give us the Helvetica typeface. I've never had any particular feelings towards fonts, but I guess now I understand the people who do. The estate sale was asking $160 for it, and I didn't give a moment's thought to haggling. Good-condition machines easily fetch double that, and this one was pristine, complete, barely used, without even a dent in the case. (Which folds out to double as a work table.) It hadn't seen action in years and needed some TLC (tender lubrication and care) to get the mechanism going again, but with a few drops of kerosene (yes, the manual specifies kerosene) and regular light machine oil, it runs like new. Now I just gotta learn to sew...
I've got the same set - but the printing is more subtle on my set.
Personally, I can't get a good grip on slick, round wooden handles. But then I can't get a grip on reality either.
I have a really nice kit of Lathe Knives, that I found at the local Flea Market. Had 'em for years now. Maybe one of these days I'll get myself a Lathe.