Thread: A story of tools and the Perth WWS

G'day one and all. Relatively new to these forums, but thought I would share the story of my good fortune with you all, and would love to hear if anyone else has had a day like mine.

Saturday just gone dawned clear and crisp here in Perth, and I greeted the day with much excitement, for today was the day that I went to get a second hand Tanner 6" jointer for the princely sum of $70 and too proceed to my first ever WWS. Jumped in the car, dropped my daughter at work in the city, then realising that I was about an hour early to pick up the jointer, decided to waste an hour at the big green shed. While there, the temptation got the better of me and I purchased my first ever pair of sash clamps. The allotted time finally arrived, and I drove to the sellers house. When I arrived they invited me out the back where I got my first sight of the sorry machine I would be purchasing, covered in surface rust and with a separate 3 phase motor with no belt. No probs, a bit of elbow grease and some advice from fellow members of this forum would turn it into my pride and joy in no time (actually got it working for the first time today ). Was discussing with the sellers ( a lovely hubby and better half) why they were selling the jointer, and they told me that it belonged to their father who was now 85 and couldn't use it anymore, which as everyone here knows, is a tragedy. Anyways, they asked if I was interested in some pipe clamps, and when I enquired how much, they said free. What could I do, of course I would take them. Then they asked if I could use a sander. Again I asked how much, again the answer was free, and they showed me 3. I opted for the belt sander and one of the 1/3 sheet sanders. They then said that I should check in the shed to see what else I might like. Like everyone here, the chance to look into the inner sanctum was too good an opportunity to pass up, so into the shed I head. As soon as I walk through the door what should confront me but a lovely old wood vice, and a massive engineers vice. I asked about the wood vice, and my heart sank when they said that someone else was after the bench and the vice, but perked up again when they said they would ring them to find out which one they wanted. When I asked what the other person did for work they told me he was a metalworker. As you can imagine, I was very happy with that situation as I knew he would want the 90kg odd Dawn engineers vice and not the lovely little woodworking one I desired. After the phone call confirmed what I though would be the case, I asked how much for the vice. My jaw nearly hit the floor when they said "No charge, are you sure you can get it out". I'm sure all here would know instinctively what my reply was. After that they told me to look through the shed for anything else I might like, all of which was free of charge. If I didn't take it, it was just going to be given away or discarded anyway. by this stage I was looking for the candid camera guy, cause surely they were pulling my leg, but nope, this was an honest to goodness offer, to which I did the only thing possible, I went on a free shopping spree. As I was leaving to go to the WWS, they asked if I was interested in a scroll saw, or a Triton Mk3 with extension table, router top, Maxi sliding extension table, 2 super jaws and a wheels set. I had to explain that I had just traded out of a Triton into a contractor's saw, and that I would love the scroll saw, but SWMBO would kill me for spending the money.

With that, and a boot full of goodies, I headed off to the Perth WWS at Claremont, and found myself wandering around with a huge smile on my face and my imagination running so out of control that my credit card was in danger of having a hernia. Controlling myself most manfully, I managed to restrict my spending to a little over $120. Could easily have multiplied that by 10 without even breathing hard, (mmmmm, CSMS's, Panel saw, 15" Thicknesser, 8" Jointer, Marri Burl, Dado blades....drool). Ran into an old chief of mine from the Navy, displaying his wooden boat models, then decided to leave before the temptation got too great. Headed into Kings Park to get some late lunch and take some photos of the city on such a glorious winter's day. While waiting for my lunch, rang TLOML, and asked if we could afford for me to spend and extra $80 (moneys tight at the moment with my daughters 21st this weekend). Told her how much I loved her, and suggested that the extra tool would be useful to said daughter for cutting shapes for her scrap-booking. Got the approval, so headed back to the seller of the jointer, and purchased a 21" scroll saw for $80, whilst also picking up a couple of other small items that I had previously ignored but on reflection had realised was worth getting. Proceeded from there back to the city to pick up said daughter after work, then headed home to amaze TOBAC with my incredible deal, to which the response was "That's nice, feed the dogs".

Now comes the part that I'm sure many of you are waiting for...what did he get. Well the following is a list of most of the tools that I got that day for the super special sale price of $150.

1 - Tanner 6" jointer (now restored to good looking piece of machinery). $70
1 - 21" Sakura Scrollmate scroll saw $80
All following tools free
1 - Dawn No.8 woodworking vice
1 - Stanley No.607 Bed Rock Jointer plane
1 - Hitachi PBS4 belt sander
1 - Makita 9035SB 1/3 sheet sander
1 - No. 51 spokeshave (British Made - no makers name?)
1 - Stanley No. 35 level
1 - Crown Tools 4" Gents saw
7 - Chisels (1 Mathieson 3/4", 1 Mathieson 1/2", 1 F. Woodcock 1 1/4", 1 J. Tyzack & sons 3/4", 1 Brades Co. 2428 5/8 CP 5/8", 1 with the makers name in a triangle, looks like Reed? 1/2" bevel, 1 no marks whatsoever 1 5/8")
1 - Brace No. 101 John S. Fray Co,
1 - Combination square set (without the square) Moore & Wright w/box
6 - measuring calipers (Bleekman?, Moore & Wright x2, H.Buker?, The L.S. Starrett Co., one unknown)
1 - Stanley Square (name only and a B, no other marks)
1 - Stanley 14050 honing guide
1 - Vernier Calipers (no makers mark)
1 - Brevettato oil can (Paul Call sticker on can)
2 - Paul Call F-clamps
1 - Footprint timber mallet
1 - Dowelling jig
1 - pincer
1 - bevel gauge No.78 Silex
15 - G clamps (various sizes)
7 - punches
6 - pipe clamps
1 - marking gauge (all timber, no makers mark)
1 - 1ft 4-fold rule Rabone No. 1380 boxwood
1 - oil stone in box
100's of decorative brass hinges
12 - Auger bits
10 - Spade bits
dozens of drill bits
jars and boxes of nails and screws
jar of dyna bolts
1 - adjustable wood bit (Irwin No.2R)
1 - adjustable wood bit (no makers name)
other odds and ends.

All up a fantastic day!



Cheers
Darren