My new catalogs have arrived and it's Memorial Day, so it's time for my annual memorial to the tools, gadgets and perpetrations that died hidden away in the back of bottom drawers in our shops, never to be used or seen again. They weren't the "greatest generation", but they weren't all bad. Some were merely misguided hopefuls, some just badly behaved miscreants, but some committed misdemeanors, even felonies. Many of you are too busy to DIY, others are tool junkies so YMMV, but here's my list: R.I.P.
*********************************************** Spring loaded safe driver, $38 a dead center with a spring tip. If you can remove or install a blank onto a spinning spindle, why would you need a 'safe driver'?Versa Center, $75- replacement tip $25, a live center with a plastic tip. Wow!
Scraper burnisher, $35 Works ok, but is it any better than a throw away valve stem?
Depth drill, $30 Lost your electrician's drill bits and your vise grips, did you?
Waste blocks, five for $7, shabby chic or an embarrassment if seen in some shops
Tool handles, $4 to $7 by length, Avoid the misery of turning wood, just drill a centered hole for the tang if you can.
Wire burner set, $12 A miniature bola for the turner that needs one thing more than everything.
Taper Mate, $14 A plastic spindle taper cleaner that substitutes for a rag on a stick. Plastic anti lock spindle washers, $2 No decent turner would stamp out washers from ugly milk cartons. Plus think of the risk from residual cholesterol.
A sharp edged metal pipe masquerading as a combination gouge and dust collector: A dive mask pretending to be a 'Respirator'; An uppity drill press add on calling itselt a 'Vertilathe' $ vary, I can love the inventor of each, but hate the device.
Several handled round and flat tools with missing flutes, $ vary, but there are no bargains. Most turners own a grinder and some could shape points, bevels and curves on less expensive steel blanks of the same quality.
Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter