The name comes from the late Tsunesaburo Kurosawa, who was a Japanese importer of G&J and he was the one who asked for the mod to be installed on guitars he imported. So it was named "the K Mod" in honor of him.
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What's On Your Workbench?
- Thread starter HaMMerHeD
- Start date
Look at the big brain on Tim!!!!The name comes from the late Tsunesaburo Kurosawa, who was a Japanese importer of G&J and he was the one who asked for the mod to be installed on guitars he imported. So it was named "the K Mod" in honor of him.
I had no idea! Thanks!
I cheat honestly.
Seriously though, one of my major advantages in life is that I've always been really good at hunting down info on the internet. Some people just have really good "Google Skillz" and I guess I'm just one of those. My wife always asks me "Can you Google this for me? I'm not finding anything useful...."
Here at my day job, I've gotten really good with using AI for all kinds of things. MY boss is always amazed when I go "Here's a 30 page SoP I've been working on...." and really it was a bunch of AI conversations that outlined what I needed it to spit out for me.
I also have to be honest; I never bothered to look it up!I cheat honestly.
Seriously though, one of my major advantages in life is that I've always been really good at hunting down info on the internet. Some people just have really good "Google Skillz" and I guess I'm just one of those. My wife always asks me "Can you Google this for me? I'm not finding anything useful...."
Here at my day job, I've gotten really good with using AI for all kinds of things. MY boss is always amazed when I go "Here's a 30 page SoP I've been working on...." and really it was a bunch of AI conversations that outlined what I needed it to spit out for me.
Well, I tend to have this really annoying character quirk (or flaw, whichever) where I feel the need to look things like that up for whatever reason. And if I don't, It'll keep me up for days.
What’s on my workbench ?
The spoils of my stop at a yard sale today !!!
On my way home from picking up a prescription I saw there was a yard sale in our neighborhood, so I stopped. I found the vintage tap and die set (in the pics) and asked the price, to which she responded “are you interested in vintage tools” ?
Well, HECK YEAH !!!
She led me to this box of tools, and said “don’t pay attention to the prices, if you’re interested we can make a deal”
$60 later I have some great QUALITY tools that are really nice shape !
@Bruce Johnson - I’m sure you will appreciate this yard sale find !
The spoils of my stop at a yard sale today !!!
On my way home from picking up a prescription I saw there was a yard sale in our neighborhood, so I stopped. I found the vintage tap and die set (in the pics) and asked the price, to which she responded “are you interested in vintage tools” ?
Well, HECK YEAH !!!
She led me to this box of tools, and said “don’t pay attention to the prices, if you’re interested we can make a deal”
$60 later I have some great QUALITY tools that are really nice shape !
@Bruce Johnson - I’m sure you will appreciate this yard sale find !
Love it! The double ended adjustable wrench is great. In the next to last picture are those tenon cutters?
Yep, adjustable tenon cutters. Real handy when your CNC router is down for maintenance.
Oh yeah, a box load of old misc tools that somebody collected and kept clean for many decades. Many of them, like the double adjustable wrench, are "collectable" tools. Special purpose oddities that look cool and are fun to restore and collect.
I believe most of those tools are from the 1940's to 1960's.
Clearly they must have belonged to the ladies father or something. It was definitely a collection - they’re labeled and had prices on them that had been on their for a long period of time, they had yellowed. I’m not sure what the story was, I should’ve asked. But i am always someone who makes a price offer and then says nothing until the price has been accepted or rejected…and she accepted, so i smiled and handed her the money.
Maybe I’ll ask if I drive by their house and they’re outside - they live in my neighborhood.I have a bunch of antique woodworking tools, so these will fit right in ! And some things, like the tap and die set, I might use occasionally just for fun, to honor the quality of these old beauties.
Oh, and I’ll probably make handles for a few of the chisels. I always love using my lathe, so it’ll give me an “excuse” to do some turning. Of course half of me wants to make fancy wood handles and focus on beauty, and the other half of me wants to make some utilitarian hickory (or pecan) handles to honor the true workhorses these tools were made to be. (Which way would you go, @Bruce Johnson ? Utility, or beauty ?)
As you know more than anyone, Bruce, when you hold one of these in one hand and a “typical” modern manufacture tool, the quality difference is keenly apparent. That’s not to say that there aren’t incredibly crafted modern tools, there certainly are. But these standard “utility” tools of their era compared to the standard “utility” tools of today are just made better. Better materials and craftsmanship, and they were made to last a lifetime.
Anyway, I thought you’d appreciate this yard sale find !
The double-ended adjustable wrench is so you have both metric and imperial.
Back in those days, tools like these were made for Tradesmen (and women) who worked with them all day to make a living and survive. In a factory, or on a farm or in a woodworking shop. Tools were expensive and were expected to last a lifetime of regular use. A hammer or a few chisels were an investment that you used and cared for all your working life, and then passed down to your children.
After WW2, with the growth in prosperity, the market grew for hobby tools. Inexpensive tools made for the suburban Dad, who worked in an office wearing a tie, but took pride in owning a modest collection of tools to tinker with in the basement. At first, there were the Japanese imports which, at that time, were 1/4 the price and 1/4 the quality. Then, the big tool companies dove into the Home Shop Tools craze, making tools and even powered machines that anyone could afford. They weren't as good and tough as the Industrial Grade tools, but they got the job done for light use, by light users.
Over the last 50 years, the manufacturing technology has kept improving. The prices today, adjusted for inflation, are usually lower than they were in the '70's. And the quality of the Home Shop tools has improved to be closer to the Industrial Grade tools. And then, there's the whole market of Snob Grade tools, beautifully made, very expensive, made for wealthy hobbyist collectors to cherish and show off.
There are so many different grades available these days, that it isn't fair to say that Old Tools are better than Modern Tools.
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I don’t want to call someone out without permission, but this is what’s on my workbench. Or at least it WILL be on my workbench once I’m feeling well enough to get back out to the shop !
I got a package in the mail today, and upon opening it a huge smile came across my face …. A Talkbass member here (that I’d sent something to) was so incredibly kind and sent me this vintage USA Lufkin machinists protractor/level/rule and two Starrett tap/drill metric conversion charts !!! As some of you know, I’m a huge nerd for vintage tools, especially measuring tools … Starrett and Lufkin are two of the best, renowned for their accuracy and quality. I have both Starrett and Lufkin tools that I use regularly, and these will get added and used alongside my others.
My day has been a rough one. I had infusions, shots, and blood tests on Monday, and am not feeling great. But even how I’m physically feeling can’t contain how grateful and happy I am to receive and add these tools to my shop. Honestly, and this is embarrassing… I’m damn near in tears. Sometimes the “man upstairs” just knows what you need to keep going, and he provides it at the opportune time.
Though I won’t say his whole name or his user name, THANK YOU John… I’m grateful and honored !
I got a package in the mail today, and upon opening it a huge smile came across my face …. A Talkbass member here (that I’d sent something to) was so incredibly kind and sent me this vintage USA Lufkin machinists protractor/level/rule and two Starrett tap/drill metric conversion charts !!! As some of you know, I’m a huge nerd for vintage tools, especially measuring tools … Starrett and Lufkin are two of the best, renowned for their accuracy and quality. I have both Starrett and Lufkin tools that I use regularly, and these will get added and used alongside my others.
My day has been a rough one. I had infusions, shots, and blood tests on Monday, and am not feeling great. But even how I’m physically feeling can’t contain how grateful and happy I am to receive and add these tools to my shop. Honestly, and this is embarrassing… I’m damn near in tears. Sometimes the “man upstairs” just knows what you need to keep going, and he provides it at the opportune time.
Though I won’t say his whole name or his user name, THANK YOU John… I’m grateful and honored !
I've been active here for years, and never posted in this thread for some reason. Anyway, here's something that isn't thread worthy, but I wanted to share. This will give me two necks - one for an upcoming 7 string and other for an 8 string (octave) build.
Exhibit A - a while bunch of strips of brigalow - an acacia and Australian desert wood. Very hard and heavy, but not at the extreme end like some of the others I have used.
Exhibit B - a whole bunch of hoop pine veneer
Exhibit C - after a lot of glue with everything joined together
At 21 pieces, this breaks my own record for the most laminates in a neck. With the centre section so thin, this could be a 21 piece 4 string neck, but I feel that would be a waste.
Lastly, Exhibit D - not exercising appropriate caution when using a bandsaw
I must be the luckiest bloke alive - skin damage only and a very big fright. Be safe folks. Our workshops are out to kill or maim us!
Exhibit A - a while bunch of strips of brigalow - an acacia and Australian desert wood. Very hard and heavy, but not at the extreme end like some of the others I have used.
Exhibit B - a whole bunch of hoop pine veneer
Exhibit C - after a lot of glue with everything joined together
At 21 pieces, this breaks my own record for the most laminates in a neck. With the centre section so thin, this could be a 21 piece 4 string neck, but I feel that would be a waste.
Lastly, Exhibit D - not exercising appropriate caution when using a bandsaw
I must be the luckiest bloke alive - skin damage only and a very big fright. Be safe folks. Our workshops are out to kill or maim us!
Nothing spectacular....a build project that I think is cool enough for just an oil finish.....
I have heard that everything in Australia is trying to kill you… Seriously, I’m glad you’re ok with comparatively minor injuries and also, cool neck laminates.
For some reason I really like how the grain runs and alters through the body. Deliberately fabricated or not, that is a seriously pretty body you have there.
