Tools for a new year

©2018 Barry Smith - Polished faces of some of my steel hammers

Over the last month or so I have assessed my tools and decided that: some needed to be replaced; and some just needed to be refurbished.

My hammers can do some very hard work and occasionally loose their gloss and pick up the odd small line or indentation. I gave my 6 key hammers bit of attention on the grinding-polishing machine. I love how they are looking shiny and ready for work in 2019.

©2018 Barry Smith - Polished hardened steel hammers on the polishing-grinding bench

Somewhere-sometime in 2018 I lost my oyster opening knife that I used for opening folded metal leave forms - so I have had to convert a 'knife form' into a useful but blunt tool for this purpose.

©2018 Barry Smith - New tool for opening folded leaf forms

I worked out that I needed to replace the soft faces that I use in my vices. I had worn out two copper sets and two rubberised-plastic sets. I brought magnetic aluminium faces and also a set of magnetic rubber faces.

©2018 Barry Smith - Aluminium and rubber faced vice inserts.

Whist I was buying the above I indulged in a magnetic cast iron metal bending tool and a new full set of metal drills ranging from 1mm to 13mm.

©2018 Barry Smith - Heavy duty metal bending tool - fits into the 15cm vice and produces perfect 90% bends

©2018 Barry Smith - These are looking great for the jobs ahead

So no excuses in the new year????