The Beauty of Tools

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The Beauty of Tools

This topic has 88 replies, 33 voices, and was last updated 9 January 2017 at 12:39 by Carl Wilson 4.

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2 January 2017 at 16:18 #275127
Carl Wilson 4
Participant
@carlwilson4
One of life's great joys, for me at any rate, is the inherent beauty to be seen in many tools. An example of form and function in perfect harmony.

I have been clearing out a project container and I came across a Facom made scriber. It is quite possibly the greatest example of it's type I've ever cast eyes on. I've taken to calling it "The Scriber"…

Gaze upon it's majesty. If you listen very, very carefully, you can just about detect a barely audible high pitched ringing sound coming from it's points.
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2 January 2017 at 16:18 #18341
Carl Wilson 4
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@carlwilson4
2 January 2017 at 16:24 #275131
Carl Wilson 4
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@carlwilson4
PS the photo does not do it justice.
2 January 2017 at 16:44 #275140
David Standing 1
Participant
@davidstanding1
Quiet day? .
2 January 2017 at 16:53 #275143
MW
Participant
@mw27036
The aluminium body (I think, hard to tell just looking) makes it seem like a much nicer object than a simple scriber, I think you have the most versatile design of the scriber.

It puts my grubby looking Clarke one to shame, that I've reground and reheated many times.

Michael W
2 January 2017 at 17:10 #275155
Carl Wilson 4
Participant
@carlwilson4
The body is aluminium and the ends are threaded and interchangeable.

The quality of Facom tools has to be seen to be believed.
2 January 2017 at 18:21 #275175
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
It doesn't look right to me because the bend is not 90 degrees. A case of what you are brought up with being taken as the definition of correct.
2 January 2017 at 18:23 #275176
Chris Evans 6
Participant
@chrisevans6
"The quality of Facom tools has to be seen to be believed" Hmm they now produce Britool spanners that show signs of wear after a few months that my original Britool stuff does not show and I bought them in 1964/5.
2 January 2017 at 18:36 #275181
Daniel
Participant
@daniel
I think Facom are quite good; but, will always come a poor second to Snap-On.

That is however an opinion, not a fact.

Happy New Year

Daniel
2 January 2017 at 18:36 #275182
vintagengineer
Participant
@vintagengineer
Old Facom & Britool tools were very well made. The only spanners now that I trust are Stahlwille, they are still made in Germany. Some Snap-off tools are now made in China are really poor quality for the price.

Posted by Chris Evans 6 on 02/01/2017 18:23:12:

"The quality of Facom tools has to be seen to be believed" Hmm they now produce Britool spanners that show signs of wear after a few months that my original Britool stuff does not show and I bought them in 1964/5.
2 January 2017 at 19:09 #275196
Clive Hartland
Participant
@clivehartland94829
I agree with you on Stahlwille spanners and sockets as I bought a set many years ago and are in use almost continuously. Strange as i reach for a spanner and I can tell it is a Stahlwille by feel!

Re the right angle point on the scriber, if you have had to use a scriber on a block for over the top marking then it is right!

Clive
2 January 2017 at 20:03 #275223
Carl Wilson 4
Participant
@carlwilson4
It is a 90 degree bend on The Scriber. Seems to be an artefact of the photo that it looks wrong.

With regard to the quality of Facom tools, the project container I refer to is an ISO container on the back deck of an offshore construction ship. We are currently on our way back to Europe after a campaign installing oilfield infrastructure off the coast of the Republic of Congo.

This place is the SAS assault course for tools. You know if it’s any good if it lasts here. The Facom stuff goes on and on while others fall by the way side, including snap on. Britool, Gedore and Stahlwille stuff fairs just as well.
2 January 2017 at 20:27 #275236
Tractor man
Participant
@tractorman
Some of my favourite workshop tools are Facom, I even wear a lapel badge from Facom on my workshop coat.

A set of Snap on midget combination spanners started to lose their chrome plating despite being only 3mm to 8mm so not exactly thrashing spanners.

Mick
2 January 2017 at 20:36 #275243
Sam Longley 1
Participant
@samlongley1
Posted by Carl Wilson 4 on 02/01/2017 16:18:52:

One of life's great joys, for me at any rate, is the inherent beauty to be seen in many tools. An example of form and function in perfect harmony.

I have been clearing out a project container and I came across a Facom made scriber. It is quite possibly the greatest example of it's type I've ever cast eyes on. I've taken to calling it "The Scriber"…

Gaze upon it's majesty. If you listen very, very carefully, you can just about detect a barely audible high pitched ringing sound coming from it's point

No protective caps for the points???

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 02/01/2017 20:37:15
2 January 2017 at 21:01 #275254
MW
Participant
@mw27036
Posted by Sam Longley 1 on 02/01/2017 20:36:23:

Posted by Carl Wilson 4 on 02/01/2017 16:18:52:

No protective caps for the points??

Now we're just getting fussy Maybe we can include a little marquetry presentation box on a velvet cushion.

Michael W
2 January 2017 at 21:06 #275259
Carl Wilson 4
Participant
@carlwilson4
That is a brilliant idea.
2 January 2017 at 21:37 #275268
Mike Poole
Participant
@mikepoole82104
About 30 years ago I found Facom's clé à pipe spanners in France, I have found them very useful and often the tool of choice, not seen much of them in uk.

Mike
3 January 2017 at 06:53 #275310
Carl Wilson 4
Participant
@carlwilson4
Yes, these. Brilliant things. I'm told very good for working on motorbikes of the Japanese persuasion.
3 January 2017 at 08:05 #275319
David Standing 1
Participant
@davidstanding1
Shouldn't those all be neatly lined up in size order? .

See what you started now! .
3 January 2017 at 08:41 #275321
Mike Poole
Participant
@mikepoole82104
Spot on Carl that's why I bought them, had a Honda VF750 at the time of purchase. That's your CDO kicking in David, that's OCD with the letters in the right order.

Mike

Edited By Michael Poole on 03/01/2017 08:44:04
3 January 2017 at 08:45 #275322
BW
Participant
@bw
I have always thought that surface gauges are stunning classy interesting looking objects.

I got this one for 12 pounds in a 2nd hand shop.

**LINK**
3 January 2017 at 09:01 #275324
Chris Evans 6
Participant
@chrisevans6
Plus one for Gedore. I am still using a Gedore set of Whitworth spanners I bought in the sixties. The open ended ones are unplated but are now nicely polished up with use, British motorcycles and old Land Rovers ensure plenty of use.
3 January 2017 at 09:04 #275325
Brian Oldford
Participant
@brianoldford70365
Posted by Bill Wood 2 on 03/01/2017 08:45:03:

I have always thought that surface gauges are stunning classy interesting looking objects.

I got this one for 12 pounds in a 2nd hand shop.

**LINK**

Not visible to non-subscribers.
3 January 2017 at 09:04 #275326
Carl Wilson 4
Participant
@carlwilson4
The link didn't open anything Bill but I'll take your word for it. There is something about a precision made tool that makes you want to take good care of it. For me it is the knowledge of the time and skill put into it by someone to make it. That deserves respect in my opinion. I've often seen tools as almost votive objects. They should be treated with a great deal more respect as artefacts in their own right. At the end of the day they are the things that have shaped and made our world into what it is today.

Perhaps though the cavalier attitude many have to tools is just inbred. After all, archaeology would be a seriously diminished discipline if early man had not thrown his tools away.

Michael, my brother uses the Facom cranked box spanners (cle a pipe sounds nicer) in his motorbike restoration work. I have a lot of them too, upwards of 50 I would say.

And they are in size order in the photograph, though it does irk me that they aren't exactly in line. Yes, I have OCD too. My wife, who is a nurse, is of the opinion that OCD is an essential part of the mental make up of all engineers.

Carl.
3 January 2017 at 10:27 #275340
Tomfilery
Participant
@tomfilery
Guys,

I'm really sorry, but it has to be said – you all need to get out more!

Drooling over a bloody scriber – get a life!

Tom
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