Remember when we had to carry all those tools in a leather bag?

I started in this trade back in '92, working for Otis in Chicago. Back then, my tool bag weighed a ton... I had a separate wrench for every bolt size, a heavy pipe wrench, and I'd lug around a hand drill with a cord long enough to trip over. Now, I just carry a Milwaukee Packout with a couple of impact drivers and a universal socket set. The new guys laugh when I tell them I used to file down safeties by hand instead of using a digital meter. It saves my back for sure, but I miss the feeling of that old leather bag sometimes. Has anyone else held onto their old tools for nostalgia, or am I just getting old?

3 comments

3 Comments

joseph_torres1mo ago

I used to think old tools were better but you changed my mind on that.

the_laura1mo ago

Man, you're speaking my language! I still have my old leather tool pouch hanging in the garage, can't bring myself to toss it even though it's basically a museum piece now.

kim81922d ago

Wait, you FILED DOWN SAFETIES BY HAND? lol that's insane. I'm only a few years behind you but I've never heard of anyone doing that without a meter. @joseph_torres you gotta hear this, this guy was using a file like a caveman while we were all crying about digital meters being too slow. I still got my old leather bag in the basement too, but I keep it more as a reminder of how much easier we got it now. That hand filing thing is wild though, my wrists hurt just thinking about it. What did you even use to check the voltage after, a piece of wet paper? lol