Thread: Minimalist Hand Tool Kit

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

I am very tempted by the brace and bit, but they are so heavy. I have not dismissed it at this stage.

I'd suggest getting a couple more quotes on different shipping weights. To the best of my knowledge (which is admittedly not complete) shipping uses a formula that includes both weight and volume. Given the length of the package, you may find that to add an extra kg or two might cost surprisingly less than the initial 5kg, as much of the cost might be for the volume of the parcel. It's worth a look just for interest's sake at any rate.

Originally Posted by IanW

"The Backpacker Anarchist's Tool Kit".....

Cheers,

Oh I like the sound of that!

If I had thought of that at the start I would have titled it the same: So much more rugged and purposeful. My title in comparison sounds more arty farty and slightly effete.

You could imagine Monet saying "Throw in a saw et a chisel and peut etre un knife." The anarchist's kit would contain three types of hatchet, one axe and two hammers.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Colin62

I'd suggest getting a couple more quotes on different shipping weights. To the best of my knowledge (which is admittedly not complete) shipping uses a formula that includes both weight and volume. Given the length of the package, you may find that to add an extra kg or two might cost surprisingly less than the initial 5kg, as much of the cost might be for the volume of the parcel. It's worth a look just for interest's sake at any rate.

This is true. It varies from carrier to carrier but, in the case of Airfreight it is usually 250 kg / M3. So, work out the size of the parcel, then work out what you can put in it.

Colin

The shipping possibilities area bit limited to Slovakia. I have to say I am surprised how limited. For the particular service I selected, through Australia Post, there is a maximum of 5Kg. I can get a much cheaper pro rata price, but that service is limited to only 2Kg!

I can send a heavier parcel, but that is sea mail. Pretty slow.

I have not investigated alternative methods of shipping other than the one Enfield Guy mentioned and while it may have been a good deal for some countries, Slovakia wasn't one of them.

Regards
Paul

I go over to nz a few times a year to visit my in laws and work as their carpenter/home maintenance guy, doing things from building furniture to hanging a door or other home renovations. They don't have a lot of tools so I usually pack a few essential ones that are either expensive or difficult to buy locally. My list consists of
1. A digital distance measurer.
2. One #4 plane iron/cap iron assembly. I can buy/borrow/beg/steal an old stanley there. With a super sharp iron, I am ready to work. I don't bring a plane with me. It weighs too much.
3 a half round rasp
4. A Japanese pullsaw that I can fold. I will buy a panel saw when I need one.
5. A 6" combination square
6. A marking knife.
7. 3 sharp chisels. 12 mm, 20 and 25 mm.
8. A few self centering and countersink drill bits.
9 one small kreg pocket hole jig
10. A small 12v drill/driver.
12. A couple of quick release clamps.
It's only a few kg and fits nicely in my luggage. I think I'm able to complete most tasks that I'm faced with. My in law's don't live in the city so hardware and tools are a little pricey and hard to get. Most of the jobs are done with hand tools but if the situation calls for it I can borrow or hire circular saw or something. I think it's so easy to want to take a lot more but it's not practical in my case. I've done this a few times and sometimes I change it a little if I know I am going to do a certain job. But most time the weight is the show stopper and I generally end up with a similar list.

Justonething

I guess I am looking at a similar scenario except that I don't really know what the work will be. I think he will end up getting some sort of cordless drill and impact driver. Simon has used them so much in his trade I doubt he will be able function without them, but probably only low end brands to begin with.

Regards
Paul

I mentioned earlier that I was looking at another couple of chisels:

Minimalist chisels 003.jpgMinimalist chisels 004.jpg

They came out of a mixed bucket of chisels and are a bit ragged. They cleaned up OK. One is 1/4" and the other 3/8". I think they are both firmer chisels. The narrower one might be a mortice type.

Minimalist chisels 005.jpgMinimalist chisels 006.jpg

I know nothing about drawknives other than I enjoy using them: This one cleaned up well:

Minimalist draw knife 001.jpgMinimalist draw knife 002.jpg

I will do a tally of weights tomorrow and see where we are up to.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

The shipping possibilities area bit limited to Slovakia. I have to say I am surprised how limited. For the particular service I selected, through Australia Post, there is a maximum of 5Kg. I can get a much cheaper pro rata price, but that service is limited to only 2Kg!

Paul, from the price you are quoting, you are looking at Australia Post's "up to 5kg" standard 22.5 x 31 x 10.2 cm box.
5kg with your own packaging is the same price as for the "standard box", while 10 kg would be $207.86 (Plus $4.99 extra for tracking). (7kg would be $159.99).
In roundish numbers, the cost seems to increase by around AUD $16 per kilo.

Thanks Ian

You are quite correct. I had honed in on the standard packaging maximum.

That changes things a bit, although the principles are still the same. Now I can consider the brace and bits. I have to do a weigh in today so it may be a day of decisions.

I have sent (actually SWMBO has sent) a message to Simon to see if he has his sharpening stones with him. She thinks he has them with him for his walking trip as primarily he was camping. Unfortunately we also have it in our mind that the "pod" he was towing was proving more difficult than he'd imagined and at some point he shed some weight. We think he sent a parcel of surplus item back to Australia. I have this feeling it may have included sharpening stones.

I can't verify this yet as the parcel did not come to us.

Thanks for picking up on my false weight restriction.

Regards
Paul

I've a spare no 5 somewhere you're welcome to

Thanks Nick.

That's extremely generous of you to offer. If I did not have anything at all I would take you up on it.

However I do have an alternative, although there is conjecture that it may not be the best possible. I have to say that the Gordon jack plane and smoothing planes are all I ever use.

I went looking for Simon's sharpening stones in a box of turning tools. No sharpening stones, but a whole bunch of knockabout chisels I could have rehabed! Also a drawknife I made up nearly ten years ago:That's a bit agricultural and too heavy. I'll stick to the other one.

Minimalist draw knife 2 003.jpgMinimalist draw knife 2 001.jpg

Also I found his marking knife, which again is a little larger than normal. I know that he used to sharpen his pencils with it as well as using it for clean up work instead of a chisel. I will include it just for sentimental reasons . Timber is Bull Oak or Hairy Oak. Blade is an off cut of leaf spring. When the chips are down it can be used to defend yourself too .

Minimalist draw knife 2 002.jpg

I will probably include this 1" shoulder plane too. Not a perfect example, as the mouth is slightly too wide, it is made from Ironbark and leaf spring.

Minimalist Ironbark shoulder plane 001.jpgMinimalist Ironbark shoulder plane 002.jpg

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

... I seem to recall the last lot of tools you shipped required a shipping container...

Damn right! And it cost a lot more than $184 to send, too...

Also, it arrives on Monday! Stay tuned for more on that as it develops.

Paul, how long is your son in Slovakia? Is there a possibility you will visit? You can stretch a 23kg checked bag a long way for not much extra money, plus every international flight I've taken in the past has included two bags per person plus carry on. I only mention that because if there is a second chance at shipping down the line, perhaps it's something to keep in mind.

Cheers,
Luke

Luke

How long is he staying in Slovakia? How long is a piece of string? Completely unknown.

Leanne has not long returned from a visit to Slovakia, but without the benefit of a crystal ball she did not think to take any tools with her. Even I stayed behind .!?

I will look forward to the arrival of your container, but probably not as much as you. Also I did glimpse some of what was being shipped so not a complete surprise for me.

I have just remembered that you gave me that long narrow sheet of fibro cement with coarse sandpaper glued to it. I used it to flatten the Gordon plane after I fitted the new side. Incidentally I am not sure if I mentioned how it damaged. I had had difficulty releasing the iron and decided in a moment of folly to strike on the side adjacent to the mouth: Never ever do this. It cracked on the first hit. "Oh ****" I said (from the latin word meaning to procreate). Gidgee is hard not tough.

Anyhow, your board was excellent and after that with the sandpaper past it's best I flattened the water stone too. The sandpaper has been removed and needs a new strip, but it is a good bit of gear.

Regards
paul

Not too much to shore up now unless somebody comes up with some gear that really should be included and we have all forgotten.

This is the brace and bits.

Minimalist Brace and Bits 001.jpgMinimalist Brace and Bits 002.jpg

Note the auger style twist bit. I had always understood that twist bits have a sharpening angle (135 deg ?) suited to steel not timber. This one was ground at a very steep angle. I measured it almost exactly 90degs.

Minimalist twist bit 001.jpgMinimalist twist bit 002.jpg

I was doubtful that it would work with a brace, but I tried it on some hardwood after sharpening it and it was very passable. I suspect it would not perform as well on something like pine.

Regards
Paul