On Tuesday 13 December 2005 10:12, Mark Huberty wrote:
> My question to the list is: if you had 30lbs of tools to ship from the US 
to 
> Italy (cost, about $100) with this in mind, what would they be? Keep in 
mind 
> that Italy doesn't really have anything like Home Despot, so ready 
> availability of stuff locally is not to be assumed. Tailed apprentices are 
> also out, as much for lack of them in my inventory as for personal 
> preference. Basic gardening stuff (shovels, axes, machetes, etc) is assumed 
> to be there already.

I'd make sure to include some chisels (bench and mortise), a couple saws, a 
plane or two (block plane, smoother), odds and ends (marking gauge, dividers, 
sharpening stones, saw files, combo square, etc...). Wood could be a problem 
in Italy, isn't the country made of stone?;-)

Seriously, don't miss out on going to the Strad museum in Cremona if you get 
a chance. The old hand made tools are really great to see, and it's quite 
amazing that he produced some of the worlds best violins, ever! Things like 
hand forged calipers, that stuff is amazing...

-- 

Alan DuBoff
Software Orchestration
GPG: 1024D/B7A9EBEE 5E00 57CD 5336 5E0B 288B 4126 0D49 0D99 B7A9 EBEE

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First, a short bio: I'm currently a grad student in International Relations, 
but in my misspent youth I tinkered about with an all-hand-tool shop and 
built myself a decent collection of tools for general cabinetmaking and 
construction. About three years back I spent the fall in Yorkshire (Yarm, 
for those of you who know it) puttering about with a friend who, among other 
things, restored old houses and furniture. Not only did I gain a great 
friend and a lot of knowledge, but a gift of a late-model Norris A6 was part 
of my wages.

Second, the problem: I'm going to be living on Isola d'Elba for the summer 
as research assistant/gardener/carpenter for a professor at school. Tasks 
range from building a fountain to making a cabinet to figuring out what 
Germany's current state means to the progress of the European Union.

My question to the list is: if you had 30lbs of tools to ship from the US to 
Italy (cost, about $100) with this in mind, what would they be? Keep in mind 
that Italy doesn't really have anything like Home Despot, so ready 
availability of stuff locally is not to be assumed. Tailed apprentices are 
also out, as much for lack of them in my inventory as for personal 
preference. Basic gardening stuff (shovels, axes, machetes, etc) is assumed 
to be there already.

Thanks for any thoughts you all might have on this problem. Cheers.

Mark Huberty

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Mark Huberty wrote:

> My question to the list is: if you had 30lbs of tools to ship from the 
> US to Italy (cost, about $100) with this in mind, what would they be? 
> Keep in mind that Italy doesn't really have anything like Home Despot, 
> so ready availability of stuff locally is not to be assumed. Tailed 
> apprentices are also out, as much for lack of them in my inventory as 
> for personal preference. Basic gardening stuff (shovels, axes, 
> machetes, etc) is assumed to be there already.

How fancy a cabinet?  Out of what?  Do you have to plumb the fountain?

Inquiring minds want to know.
Tb.

-- 
_________________________________________
Thomas R. Bruce (trb2@c...)
Director,Legal Information Institute
Cornell Law School
http://www.law.cornell.edu

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Mark,

I imagine you'll get answers all over the board (pun
intended).  I don't have a specific list but just some
thoughts.

Are you limited in the amount of volume or the max
dimension that your 30 pounds (less than 14 kg) of
tools can occupy? For instance, if you have to stay
under 28" (70 cm) then a 30" jointer is unfeasible.

I primarily use planes with cast iron bottoms.  These
are nice, but wood is lighter, especially for the bigger
ones.  Also, wood won't break if dropped. Consider
mostly wood planes especially the larger ones.

Some processes are vastly easier if the tool fits exactly.
For instance, if you need a 1/2" hole, you pretty much
need a #8 auger bit.  Another situation where this
comes to mind is chiselling a mortise.  Having the
right width chisel is important.  Expansive bits like the
Clark might help, but you should consider your choice
of these tools carefully.

Good luck!  This is the kind of problem I'd *like* to
have.

Gary K
(too) Close to Buffalo NY, USA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Huberty" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 1:12 PM
Subject: [OldTools] Stuck on an island, need some tools (no, really)

--snip, snip--

> My question to the list is: if you had 30lbs of tools to ship from the US 
> to Italy (cost, about $100) with this in mind, what would they be? Keep in 
> mind

-- snip, snip-- 

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"My question to the list is: if you had 30lbs of tools to ship from the US to 
Italy (cost, about $100) with this in mind, what would they be? "

Regarding the ensuing posts to the lists:
This is gonna be great!, like a trailer trash drag-queen waitin' fer
Jerry Springer to come on!!

Rich-Maybe I'm enjoying the witty reparte too much?

http://mysite.verizon.net/popeye91/index.html
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  Let's see, 100 pounds and varying tasks from cabinetry, masonry to 
influencing a government, plus there is always you, yourself to consider.
  Pick the friendliest,  cutest beauty contest winner of your entire 
state and your problems will resolve themselves as the entire island 
volunteers to help.  Even if they don't, whattaya you care?
 yours, Scott
  
********** Scott Grandstaff, Box 409, Happy Camp, CA 96039 ********* 
Tools:http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/scott/scotts/tools/tools.html 
PageWorks:http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/

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Mark Huberty wrote:

> My question to the list is: if you had 30lbs of tools to ship from the 
> US to Italy (cost, about $100) with this in mind, what would they be? 
> Keep in mind that Italy doesn't really have anything like Home Despot, 
> so ready availability of stuff locally is not to be assumed. Tailed 
> apprentices are also out, as much for lack of them in my inventory as 
> for personal preference. Basic gardening stuff (shovels, axes, 

Let me try to take a comprehensive crack at this, assuming that the 
cabinet will involve some rabbeting and maybe a drawer or two, and that 
you'll be doing some general factotum handyman duty as well.  Sorry for 
the inclusion of modern tools, but sometimes that's what you gotta 
have.  I bet I missed stuff, though, and am over the weight limit anyway 
-- and am sure others won't hesitate to express other opinions.

Layout:
Combination square
Mortise/marking gauge (superfluous but handy)
Small machinists adjustable square
Divider with interchangeable metal point/pencil so it can also be a compass
Tape measure
One of those cheap laser levels from Lee Valley (can be adapted for 
longer levelling onsite)

Sawing:
Rip
Crosscut (toolbox sized)
Backsaw (midsized)
Coping saw, I guess.

Boring:
Brace (with dual chuck capable of dealing with both tanged and round bits)
Auger bit set
Drill bit set

Driving:
Metrix multiposition ratchet driver for hex bits
Bit set from the Borg, with phillips, hex, straight slot, etc.

Whacking:
Plumb 16-oz claw hammer (fiberglass handle)
Fashion mallet onsite if needed.

Paring:
Set of Marples Blue Chip chisels, or equiv
1/4" mortise chisel, maybe superfluous if you chain-drill mortises

Planing:
#5 jack plane
low-angle block
1-1/2" rabbet plane (wooden)
#4 smoother if there's room
Generic spokeshave for shaping.

Grabbing:
Needlenose-style small vise-grip plier (superfluous but handy)
8" arc-joint plier
Needlenose plier with wire cutter.

Turning:
Adjustable wrench.  Crescent makes an 8" model with an oversized jaw 
that is pretty swell.
1/4" drive and metric sockets.  Also a hex to 1/4" drive adapter.

Miscellaneous:
Putty knife (useful for many things, not just putty)
Hyde scraper (lighter than oldtool types)
Locking blade utility knife (also usable for layout)
Swiss Army knife.  I favor the locking-blade models like the 
Adventurer.  A reasonable person might also look at the Leatherman Wave 
or Juice CS4, which I actually like better for travel.  The main purpose 
here is to have a working knife that might save you packing a separate 
awl and spare you changing bits on the screwdriver occasionally.

-- 
_________________________________________
Thomas R. Bruce (trb2@c...)
Director,Legal Information Institute
Cornell Law School
http://www.law.cornell.edu

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