Question Of The Week.... ( 2026 Week 21 )

[ripjack13]

Assuming both are of good quality, Hand tools only, no power tools.
Which would you rather have? and what's the reason?

1-. A full set of new tools.
or
2 -. A full set of old tools.




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**Rules**
There is no minimum post requirement,
Long eared galoots, primates, the new leaner woodtick and semi-sawed off leprechauns are welcome to post an answer.
Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth!?

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Full set of old tools . I like the history and usually you can tell just by looking which ones are useful. They will be more worn. Then you can know which tools to reach for...
The quality will be proven as well...

 

[Webb]

New because they will eventually become old.

 

[Nubsnstubs]

Neither, because there won't be a cord attached. ........... Nubs

 

[Gdurfey]

Old…think of dad and how many tools went away with the estate.

 

[Mike1950]

Old.

 

[daniscool]

I’m torn. While old has amazing history and is usually of good make, new usually has something of an edge (pun intended) in steel quality. I would choose the new because if the steel even though the old is nicer.

 

[Nature Man]

I'm on the fence. Seems most old tools were built better to last longer. But some new tools use improved technological advances. And since I'm a power tool user for the most part, I would in most cases prefer corded or cordless tools. Chuck

 

[DLJeffs]

Since you qualified the question with the statement that the quality in both is good - I'll go with new. There's always advancements being made, they might be small and almost invisible, but improvements none the less. Take hand saws for example, I'm sure there are better saws and saws made for a specific purpose that work better than a general purpose saw. That's not to say a good craftsman couldn't use the general purpose saw, but if I get to have an entire complete selection I'll take the new one please. Do you need my address?

 

[SENC]

I have a preference for older tools, something about the patina of age and use - but I guess it would ultimately depend on how old. Not sure I'd want a set of Mike-old tools regardless of their quality... metal is so much easier to renew and sharpen than stone.

In the hand-tool world, unless you go to the uber-expensive stuff, in my experience the quality (fit, build, metal itself) has dropped in the last 50 years. And if you go for the super expensive stuff and get the newer alloys of very hard steel, they are difficult, if not impossible, to sharpen. New handsaws are a great example, they may as well be disposable as once they dull they're useless - whereas saws from the first half of the 20th century are both well-made and easily sharpened (and even re-shaped for specialized purposes).

There are some things, though, where new definitely beats old. For sharpening, I'd much rather have new diamond plates than the old stones.

 

[trc65]

Love the look, history and nostalgia of old tools, but if I'm going to be using them exclusively, I'm going with new. I've got mostly old ones that I've spent time tuning to great workers and some Veritas that cost $$$, but are finely tuned as soon as you pull them out of the box.

Tolerances in construction, advances in metallurgy, advances in designs would make me use new. Veritas and Lie Nielsen for planes and Japanese chisels.

I do love the feel of old planes and the way they cut with a freshly sharpened O1 steel iron, but that steel just won't hold an edge like powdered metals can. The PM don't get quite as sharp, but that working edge lasts a lot longer.

As to chisels, nothing can compare to high quality Japanese steel.

 

[woodtickgreg]

Old, I probably already have them. Not quite purchased new like @Mike1950 but close,

 

[JonathanH]

The old set of tools would be my choice. Made when in constant usage by craftsmen who made stuff without the benefit of the power tools that we have available to us today. They were designed to work and be serviced. I've got some hand planes that are over a hundred years old that still work as well as the day they were made, albeit with less skill from the user.

 

[Mike1950]

Old, I probably already have them. Not quite purchased new like @Mike1950 but close,

Grrrrr

 

[Mike1950]

Love the look, history and nostalgia of old tools, but if I'm going to be using them exclusively, I'm going with new. I've got mostly old ones that I've spent time tuning to great workers and some Veritas that cost $$$, but are finely tuned as soon as you pull them out of the box.

Tolerances in construction, advances in metallurgy, advances in designs would make me use new. Veritas and Lie Nielsen for planes and Japanese chisels.

I do love the feel of old planes and the way they cut with a freshly sharpened O1 steel iron, but that steel just won't hold an edge like powdered metals can. The PM don't get quite as sharp, but that working edge lasts a lot longer.

As to chisels, nothing can compare to high quality Japanese steel.

I agree on some old tools but agree on planes. Have LN block and rabbet block plane. The steel and adjustments are far superior. Couple LN shoulder and 1 Veritas shoulder plane.
LN dovetail saw. All are joy to use. I also have a wide assortment of Stanley sweetheart chisels. Great steel and I love the feel and size of handles. I agree on the Japanese steel in the high end chisels, they are are very nice. Not really fond of handle shape but oh well.
But if you take in all hand tools. I will take a 50s set of craftsman wrenches or Proto. I still use dad's Protos. Probably 70 years old. New works though, just have to spend $$$$.
I like the nostalgia of old tools, the feel of years of use.

 

[trc65]

Dad bought almost exclusively Craftsman while farming and continued that when he went to work for an IH dealer. There are a few Snap-On and Mac tools in the mix I now possess, but 97% Craftsman. The only tools I've allowed anyone in the family to take was a 3/4" drive socket set with breaker bar and ratchet. Nephew uses that on his M37 restoration.

Still have memories as a young kid going down in the basement of Sears with Dad to either buy a new tool or exchange a broken one.