Someone mentioned some of the stuff that we can get so easy and affordably now that would be impossible to find in a collapsed world and I got to thinking about it. I was just wondering what some of the tools are that the rest of you have set aside? I know I have a couple and need to pick up several more metal files when I can. In a post SHTF world we would be useing old fashioned saws (as innot theelectric kind with replacable blades or chainsaws once the gas runs out or the sparkplug supply) and axes a LOT as well as a lot of other edged tools and metal files to sharpen them would be a must but is something that I dont know ANYONE who could make them, like say on a home forge. I also want to pick up a 2 man crosscut saw, have 3 or 4 axes, need to pick up an adze and some other stuff. So what do you have and whats on your shopping list for hand tools and such?
I know we have next to nothing anymore. Comes from living in town for so long, I guess. Used to have all sorts of the lesser tools (axes, files, various wedges and winches, etc) but through the years they seem to have returned to the earth or somesuch 'cause I sure can't find them now. So, our list of what-to-get keeps growing. On a brighter note: it'll be enjoyable hunting for and securing everything!
Wish list??? A file is the ultimate tool, techniically you can make any other tool with afile and some muscle, including some very fine knives.. couple of voltmeters ( analog kind measures voltage and current w/o batteries..( Ifigure there 'lll be plenty of "mvcgyvering" all those old car batteries and alternators..)it'll be a 12v world... I think digging tools will be in demand good shovel or two,extra handles, mattock, hoes,digging fork, probably a wheel barrow (I need one,now) maybe a garden cart or those heavyduty 4wheeled wagons to haul filled water containers , hand pump, hoses... lat you already covered axes /hatchets/bowsaws, Perhaps somespecialized logging tools( like the "thing"with a pivoting hook to roll logs over) brace and bit( hand drill), drawknife,adze( for"debarking" ) and a "come along " (hand crank "winch")a few heavy nylonstraps and chain I think you can weld straight off a car battery with the right rods/ holder and cables, not something to use foreveryday, but might come in handy I think 12v, old steel, and "wood" for resources.. I'd like to build a a handcrank forge and learn to use for tempering welding and 'smithing in that instance a solid anvil and hammers /tongs become "necessary"(look into primiive knife making) ...
monkeyman, the FIRST thing on my list is...........A FARM to use all these nifty tools on . After that, my list is pretty close to Tango3's with a few differences. But then again, I'm a nester, so my list includes house-holdy type of stuff, as well.
MM....a person needs all kinds of tools around a farm to get by in the day to day job of living.shovles,picks and such.the more you got the better.the crosscut saw is a god idea..also there is a special tool for setting and sharpening it.there use to be a company in seneca falls n.y. that sold all the old saw stuff.mgith want to google it ands see if they stilla round.i got a old catalog somewhere from them.also if you are in the buisness of takeing care fo our own needs we need to have gardening tools...hoe,tiller and such...we can get by on much less than we do but a few basic tools make it so much easier and more productive.a well stocked tool shed and shop in woth its weight in gold.you can make or producethe things you need.skill saws or hand saws and squares and more for building.plus nuts and bolts and nails and screws.i buy the biggest box of anyhting i got to town for casue i know sooner or later i iwll use more of it.
Hey Monkeyman... check out Lehman's catalog... lots of good stuff.... let me know if you need one... I'm sure I have an extra lying around... they're online as well... Pick up a few machete's as well... cheap and versatile... as well as intimidating and effective.... Martindale is my favorite... I always pick up one or two when I see them....
Lehman's has some cool stuff! A long time ago I picked up a hand-washer from them -- it looks sort of like a tumbler that you put your clothes into along with a little soap and hot water. It's not very big (1 or 2 gallon size). Okay, I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to now that I've brought it up and don't want to embarrass myself too much more. A tool to clean your clothes off the power grid is very useful.
We have the old fashioned wash board for that and if we have some juicewe also have the wringer washer that I use a lot of the time now to save on water.
is a new file made in some poor country as good as a old one ,what name brand do you look for? pinetree
I buy mill files from Lowes. I forget the brand but they are made in the US. Not too expensive either. I'd think Chinese files would be a lot like a chinese anvil: ****
I keep all the hand tools I grew up on the farm with, unless technology has improved them, then I have the improved model. I have all the plug in and battery operated tools, and make sure I have the hand tool that will do the same job if I can't use the electric ones. Plus backups. I have a 12 volt charger for the 18 volt tools and I'm hoping that a 12 volt charger will be made for the new 36 volt tools - especially because the 36 volt batteries are lithion and will last much longer. Hopefully 18 volt replacement batteries will come thru as lithion. Anyone know if that is possible? Solar panels for straight charging.
I've got some files including miil bastard and triangle shaped ones. Here's an idea, turn a bicycle into a grinder to sharpen them axes. Or a water pump, or a fan etc. wood chisels and gouging tools will be handy too. I've turned a old 24 volt rechargable lawn mower that broke into a 24 volt power source. Put a voltage divider on it, and you have two 12 volt circuits coming out of a small breaker box. This will power grinders too. A two man saw is a good idea.
Keep a good set of manual drills around as well... breast drills, wood boring etc... as well as a set of bits.... files are good for sharpening the bits if you know how.... I also acquired some 20 ton hydraulic bottle jacks.... lifting pressing etc... got a floor jack and high load screw jacks that they use to support floor loads etc... in both long and short... as well as 2 high lift jacks.... Oh and pick up kegs of nails... at least they used to come in wooden kegs... now I think they all come in heavy boxes... make sure to get a box of concrete nails as well... those little puppies sure do come in handy....
My grandfather had a few sets of hand tools that lasted him a lifetime Surely mine will last me through the bottom of any SHTF... Remember this. We won't be looking at the Dark ages forever. Just need to get through the fog. Some of y'all like to romanticize about this end of the world thing as if we will go back to 1807 and spend the next 200 yrs coming back up. I think the curve will be much quicker and try and plan for the slide down, bottom, and climb up of the 'event'
That washer works great!... I sent one to a buddy who gave it rave reviews... just don't put the hot or warm water in it and leave it for too long... he cracked the lid that way... there is pressure that builds up in there and longer isn't necessarily better... I also totally agree... clean clothes is one of those "comfort" things that emotionally is very very important.... Great post...
"Remember this. We won't be looking at the Dark ages forever. Just need to get through the fog. Some of y'all like to romanticize about this end of the world thing as if we will go back to 1807 and spend the next 200 yrs coming back up. I think the curve will be much quicker and try and plan for the slide down, bottom, and climb up of the 'event'" Agreed... the bottom will only be for a very very short while IMHO... the opportunities to prosper or suffer will come on the slide down and rise back up.... the more thought given to how to best handle those longer periods will minimize the duration and impact of the bottom on you and your loved ones.... I actually believe the real threats are those that will only last a few days or maybe a few weeks.... there are so many folks who don't really think realistically and completely about that scenario... that it would probably be pretty chaotic.... there have been enough situations to illustrate how a few days without modern luxuries and a little suffering can cause huge problems....
There are some situations I could pretty easily see that would make it very useful to have what you needed to be pretty much if not totaly self reliant. One of the most likely longer term situations I could see happening would be another great depression just as bad or worse than the last one. While it wouldnt make it impossible to aquire things like TP or even tools, I could see it being a situation where they would be MUCH more costly in a relative sense even if not by the price tag its self and a maybe harder to find. So haveing the cross cut saw for instance, IF gas were not available for a chainsaw or even if it were but income vs cost for it was such that it wasnt easy to afford then the crosscut saw would make it easier to be able to cut firewood for heating the house oreven cooking on a wood stove. I can also say that while its a bit more labor and takes a slight learning curve to get used to useing one, with 2 people that havesome idea of what they are doing a 2 man crosscut saw is just about as fast as a good chainsaw which kind of surprised me to find out when had the chance to use one for a while. So basicly while I seriously doubt that we would face a situation that would take a few generations to come out of that would totaly remove electricity and fuel and so on, I could easily see situations where it could be dificult for the average person to get some of these things for a few years at least and need to do some home repairs and get through for longer than most of us would be likely to keep fuel and such stored for.
Good points MM.... for sure... the price of quality hand tools has done nothing but go up.... and alot of tools that were made of iron,steel and alloys ,indestructable and maintainable, have now been modernized with plastics and computer chips, planned service life and pretty much unmaintainable when they break down.... still... you can find those tools high quality tools today.... but maybe not tommorrow.... just getting them shipped to you would be a major problem or expense.... Yup... nice 2 man crosscut is definitely an asset... don't forget the saw set and files for resharpening... its expensive now... but will only get more expensive... and then when you really really need it... if you haven't acquired it... you won't be able to get it at any price... I used to watch ebay for those saws... a couple years back they were going for a good amount of cash... I have a good friend who trims trees etc... he actually collects the older finer saws.... says there's nothing finer....
I have most of what I need.For every power tool,I have the hand powered equal to it. Most were picked out of junk piles or bought dirt cheap at flea markets,yard sales,farm sales,etc.
