some masonry tools

I sold my truck,,let the diamond plate toolbox go with it.Just kinda emptied out the box and said some rainy day Ill put everything away right.Today its raining,so I organized some stuff.Kind of sad,i had a lot of stuff in that box.I used to do lots of side jobs and was pretty prepared tool wise. Here's a couple of tools kind of special for masonry.One is called a skate,,it is for raking out brick joints when you wnat the recessed look,,the other tool is called a Hubbard or barrel jointer,,it does a nice job of jointing up brickwork. I dont guess I ll need this stuff anymore,,but I just cant part with it all yet,,

heres a better picture of the Hubbard,or barrel jointer you can spin the barrel once in a while so it wears out evenly these ar adjustable line holders,,once you build a corner or lead,,you hook these on the block to stretch a line to lay the walls this tool is called a scratcher,,when you want to put two coats of plaster,,you scratch the first coat,it makes the second coat stick better Even though I gave a lot of stuff away,I still have a bag set up for plastering,one for brick and block laying,one for stone work,and one for concrete finishing,plus a bucket full of concrete edgers,groovers trowels etc Special stone hammers hanging from the rafters, stuff hanging everywhere from the rafters boxes full of stone chisels this is a handy tool for doing concrete,its called a darby,,many a sidewalk I used that ,,,guess I wont be doing that anymore I hung up some other stuff too I know I have too much stuff,but some of this brought back memorys today,I cant give it all away yet,maybe garafge sale when Im gone? lol

I have never seen a Gerafgi for sale do they bite! I would (do) keep the "special" tools that extend my abilities. Even when they
are no longer in my hands every day. Jim

Meant to spell garage sale,,my bad

Don't say you won't use it. A few months down the road when your strength comes back you may want it. Maybe not big jobs but you can never tell when you may want to build a flower pot in the yard or a new BBQ pit out of fire brick and who cares if it takes weeks to do what was a 1 day job before. Remember if you don't have it you can't use it but if you have it you may use it. Leroy

Larry I understand where your thoughts are coming from but if you are anything like me what you did or what you do is who you are. I would not be in a
hurry to get rid of the tools to be who you are.

Larry,
Save those tools. You'll have a son-in-law (or grandson) someday who would be thrilled to get those tools.
John

my daughter wants me to downsize,,said the wife and I should move into a condo,,where would I keep the tools?

A friend of mine was a machinist. He and the wife are selling every thing and bought a place in Belize. He called me one day.....I bought his tractor, wood spliter and many tools. He wanted me to take a Gerstner tool chest and tools - the first tool chest he bought.

I bought the chest, set it back and did not remove any tools. A week later the phone rang - Ken, I can't part with my first tool chest, I have another chest and will fill it with tools to make it right for you. I replied, I have it here and will bring it back.

You can always sell tools - is there a need to hurry?

BTW - I will never sell my first slide rule!

Ken, when you and I are gone, there'll be nobody left who knows what a slide rule is for.

I have some of those same tools, and I haven't seen the word darby for a long time! I have a long one like that that I made 45 years ago. I
have a couple of shorter wood floats made out of redwood, that was supposed to work the best. One time we made a little edger out of sheet
metal so we could edge around machinery bases, had to be less than 1 1/2 wide.

Larry, as you well know, getting started in the stone, brick block and concrete work is very expensive. Not all young men are going to college. Check around find a young man/women that could use a leg up getting going in the trade. Give sell barter the tools to them, new tools are expensive and older tools are broke in so to speak. just an idea. hang tuff gobble

Larry, I think that someone that was as active as you and loves gardening and keeping a place maintained would be bored living in a condo and it would not be good for you. I believe you will get your energy back and be able to do many of the things you used to do. Don't rush these decisions give your body a chance to recover, it has been through a lot. You are already getting out more and more. Besides if in a condo where would you keep the tractors?

I dont want to do it,,she says I stress her out and she cant deal with me always doing things,,she worries too much,So I need to downsize and be safe..might as well be happy and take a risk I say,,but she gets so upset when I say that

Larry, I lived in a condo not all that far from you in Basking Ridge, NJ. Just off Mt Airy road, the end closer to Rt 78. You could tell it was all nice farmland at one time and on the other side of Mt Airy Rd, there was still an active farm. Coming from a place not all that different than yours in PA, living in a condo, with neighbors and condo association and everything else, was not something I cared for and will never if at all possible do again. I'll find another way. Even just ones home and yard will provide activity that you cannot have in a condo. Neighbors door 8'-10' across from my door, can't even BBQ, grounds taken care of by someone paid to do it. They tell you what you can grow, and worst of all, flying an American Flag will always be a problem. Whomever invented these places that have taken up some of the nicest lands, in places like NJ and elsewhere, did not have people like yourself in mind.

My neighbor is a lot older than you, had or still has a medical condition, but is still very independent. He and his wife are the nicest neighbors and he keeps up his place, with a nice size shop to work on things. Put him in a condo, he would be miserable and i guarantee his life would be shortened. Spouse's and family members all have opinions, and can have an agenda with their significant others that does not agree with the way they want to and need to live. I've seen it quite a few times, where people are badgered into doing things they regret. I'm not telling you to argue or conflict with your wife and daughter, rather just stating how you feel with enough firmness to command a little respect, after all, you have to live your life as well, without being oppressed while healing and dealing with the medical conditions you have.

If you're not living on the edge your not living. Hahaha. Some years ago I was having chest pains went through all the tests ect, I reached a point where I figured I'm doing what I want and let the chips fall where they may, at least I would know. Turned out all the tests were normal and my self diagnosis was the problems were caused by a chemical I was working with and went away after I was away from it.

tell your daughter love you dearly, but no. ask her if she would move into one tomorrow? they have their place don't get me wrong ,but you are not her. you will know when its time. me i am going die at my place hopefully, i have been already working on my house elevator to be of help now and later. keep the tools they have no meaning to anyone else. grand kids maybe but don,t know your situation there. i am currently settling my parent estate, (trying) that is. funny how family can change during this process. good luck i am like you also that i can not do what use to do, but one thing i have learned to do is ask for help when i need it.

Couldn't read this post without commenting. My Dad and my Grandpa were plasterers before my dad switched to farming. Grandpa retired, and dad went farming full time. He cleaned up and stored his tools.
After a good run of farming, he had to retire for some serious health reasons. Was moving off the farm, and bought a half-finished house (divorce sale). Two of us sons and another good friend hung the plaster
board, and my Dad, who was starting to recover, gave us lessons in how to plaster. He was still darn good, and was an excellent teacher. The three of us learned a lot, and although we started by doing the
closets, it was a professional job when we were done.
He did give away his tools to the three of us when the job was done. Said he was sure he was never going to need them again. All three of us ended up doing some remodeling, plastering some additions, etc,
and some of us taught our kids the skills. I still have my set of tools, and plan to pass them down to a worthy grandkid. My favorite tool is a mixing hoe that was originally my Grandpa's.
I think those of us that are still "on the right side of the sod", are here for a reason, or several reasons. Likely you'll get a chance to pass on some of your skills, even if you don't know who to pass
them on to just yet. Get your strength back, for when the teacher is ready, the student appears. I still got some teaching to do yet, too.
Thanks for a great post. I could go on all night about the great memories your photos brought back!

Hi, I have all the same concrete finishing tools as
you. My boys are finishers too. I hardly use those
tools but recently I needed to stucco a small shed
so no problem. Same tools. That long tool you
called a darby we called a mag float but I have
shorter ones. Don't lay down and quit. Your not
that old. Please! Guaranteed. I have Parkinsons
disease and specialist said keep working its better
than any pill he could subsribe. Ed Will Oliver BC

Hi, I have all the same concrete finishing tools as
you. My boys are finishers too. I hardly use those
tools but recently I needed to stucco a small shed
so no problem. Same tools. That long tool you
called a darby we called a mag float but I have
shorter ones. Don't lay down and quit. Your not
that old. Please! Guaranteed. I have Parkinsons
disease and specialist said keep working its better
than any pill he could subsribe. Ed Will Oliver BC

(quoted from post at 04:18:39 11/14/17) I dont want to do it,,she says I stress her out and she cant deal with me always doing things,,she worries too much,So I need to downsize and be safe..might as well be happy and take a risk I say,,but she gets so upset when I say that

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Might just as well up and die if you are able to do what you want to but aren't allowed to. Does your daughter run your life?

Talk to your daughter, I know you've had some health issues, but they way you're sounding it's almost like you're giving up, that will take you out quicker than the health issues. One of the problems we face as we grow older is not being
able to do what we once did and letting that gnaw at us, don't care if it's a physical ailment or onset of some of the neurological that effects they way we think. Don't give up, fight to get back or find something else that uses your
skills and abilities and provides a challenge and makes you feel needed or useful. Is their anyone else in your family or community who is interested in this kind of work? Even on a pert-time or DIY basis, can you teach them? Once you
give up then the only thing left to do is die, I don't think your'e ready to do that. If nothing else see if a local hardware store will take you on part time, you often can teach or mentor from those positions and help out younger folks
who didn't learn much of the hands-on skills you did when young.