The worst ‘upcycling’ tragedy ever?

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

I don't get out as much as I'd like these days (for obvious reasons) , but on a recent expedition I spotted this in the window of a new shop in my town:

I'm not sure where to start with the badness, but I'll have a go.

1. If they've gutted a working Wolf drill to make this monstrosity it is, if not a hanging offence, at least worth some sharp words from the bench.
2. If the drill was unrepairable (unlikely – they were were built to last) the stand would still be be useful – it looks well made.
3. Even as a piece of retro-industrial art it's a piece of dritt, as they might say in Norway. I don't want to use inappropriate English language and be censored.

The shop was closed when I passed so I couldn't ask what they wanted. I'll be down the town tomorrow and inquire, if it hasn't been snapped up.

Anyone want to guess the price , or give other examples?

Robin.

 

 

Edited By Robin Graham on 23/05/2021 23:59:57

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

[HacksawParticipant @hacksaw]

I'd be tempted to pull the handle down…..

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Looks like a real dimbulb project. Literally and figuratively.

Do tell us the price if you find out. Could use a good larf.

Edited By Hopper on 24/05/2021 01:46:49

[DiogenesIIParticipant @diogenesii]

I had a Wolf press like that, it could drill holes like lightning. i.e. never struck twice in the same place..

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Only last year I gave a similar drill and stand to a friend, a new power cable and a general safety check and it is running again. A used item when I aquired it 50 years ago but has seen little use. Torque is amazing, a low speed but unstoppable whatever the load.

[LADmachiningParticipant @ladmachining]

You would hope they are not selling it, as it looks to be an electrical safety nightmare. The flex looks to be 2-core, if it is you can guarantee that the exposed metalwork isn't earthed. I guess it could have a plug-in mains adaptor that is out-of-shot somewhere – don't think those bulbs come in low voltage varieties though.

Anthony

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, I don't wish to upset anyone about doing things like this, people do have a right to do what they wish (within legal reason) with their own belongings. The drill may well be burnt out/worn out and be beyond economical repair. You could criticize the guy on the TV programme Savage Hunters, for some of the stuff he repurposes, but they are appealing to some people. On a technical and authentic note though, it's got the wrong drill in that stand, that stand was designed for EG2c, EG23c or EG3c.

There again one can use whatever drill would fit onto that stand, even if it was another make.

I have a stand like that one or a very similar one and I think I have one of the recommended drills, also a drill very similar to the one in the photo, somewhere in my garage.

Regards Nick.

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

As we go around searching antique & bricabrac shops for mechanical calculators & slide rules we see many of these abominations on oilcans/drill stands/ typewriters etc etc. I agree that many have looked as if they beeen cobbled together by an "artist". Some had no grommets in drilled holes or no protection around moving joints or any obvious earthing points. I have asked several sellers if they have a PAT or some kind of electrical test certificate and have been met by a blank stare.

regards

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

As Nick says, people have a right to like what they want. To me, its quite awful, but then so is a lot of stuff on programs like Salvage Hunters and similar which I wouldn't give house room to with their 'original patination' (i.e rust). But hey – I'm not buying it , and he seems to make a good living from it AND I suppose he is truly recycling things that would often end up in the tip, so credit where its due.

Perhaps someone could re-purpose a Bridgeport as a candle holder?

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Posted by DiogenesII on 24/05/2021 07:48:16:

I had a Wolf press like that, it could drill holes like lightning. i.e. never struck twice in the same place..

The good old Quality British home tool market, built to last forever and keep your muscles toned

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Posted by Mike Hurley on 24/05/2021 09:52:07:

Perhaps someone could re-purpose a Bridgeport as a candle holder?

 

A bilgeport is far too flimsy to upcycle into a candle holder.

 

RIP Sir John!

Edited By Mark Rand on 24/05/2021 10:15:22

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

The worst example of this I know of is a large collection of decorative engraved bookbinder's finishing tools that were advertised for sale very cheaply in a newspaper local to a bookbinding friend of mine. The collection would have fetched thousands of pounds in the right auction.

My friend inquired only to be told the tools had been sold that day to a farmer not far away. My friend visited the farm to see if he could persuade the farmer to sell the tools on to him. When he got there, there was the remnants of a fire in the farmyard and the farmer was just shutting the doors of a large barn. All that was left in the fire was the charred remains of the tool handles; the brass tools themselves had been driven in to the barn doors tang-first with their engraved faces pointing outwards, so that the deep relief engraving on the faces of all the tools was by now hopelessly mangled by hammer blows, rendering the tools useless and valueless.

My friend, who would have put the tools to good use in the authentic restoration of period bindings, had arrived too late, but at least the farmer was delighted with himself for having created such a novel work of decorative art.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Done well, some of these 'upcycling' projects give an extended life to worn out items and look good.

Some are just …. ugh!!

Neil

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Hacksaw, you made me smile

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Reminds me of the guy who wanted an ML7 to bolt to the roof of his longboat to make it more Steam Punk

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

I still have an old Desoutter drill stand, bought in a junkshop many moons ago.

Brought it home on the back of a Honda 50, interesting trip !

Never saw what drill it was intended for, but I managed to fit a Wolf 1/2" to it and later on, a Makita.

Seldom used now since I have a "Proper" floor drilling machine, but it still works.

This thing is all solid cast iron and steel, no plastic.

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

I am afraid I have been guilty of a couple of these things, they can make very good money and who am I to be the arbiter or other people’s taste? This made just over £100 at Yeovil Car Boot some years ago.

Cheers, Martin

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

‘Shade’ is a salad spinner!

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

Martin – I trust the cutters were properly sharpened – would certainly enforce a ‘do not touch’ edict

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

That old drill in the first picture is probably less likely to electrocute anybody now than if it was still being used as a drill.

[Martin WParticipant @martinw]

Martin – Now that I like so much better than the parts being recycled into mass of baked bean cans. However I think that the perpatrator of the subject recycled unit should have it chained to his leg as an example of how not to do something.

Martin W

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by Martin King 2 on 24/05/2021 13:45:02:

‘Shade’ is a salad spinner!

At least you broke even anyway – just!

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

There is no accounting for taste. A well used phrase and absolutely true.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Well here is a replacement drill if you want to revert it

/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265163700364?

Robert G8RPI.

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