I recently got given a sticker by a good friend which said “Keep your dirty hands off my tools!”. It reminded me of my apprenticeship, I was fortunate enough to work with proper ‘old school’ engineers, grey beards. All the engineers had there own tools and metrology equipment, so I asked why.
He replied
“My hand’s aren’t your hands”
When working with any normal company, if you require specific equipment for a job, the company will provide it.
An office worker gets provided with a computer, a salesman provided with his car, a seamstress with a sewing machining and a tender with a bar.
The engineering trade like a few select others, buy there own tools. I worked in a industrial electrical manufacturing company a while back just after my apprenticeship, where the tools were provided but you had to sign them out, AND they sucked… It was obvious why most of the lads had their own gear. Convenience. Some of the older engineers had a small tool chest with metrology equipment and other hand tools.
I found out fairly quick to not use other peoples tools. Partly because I wanted to live and I liked have my testicles, firmly in place. But also because their tools didn’t work for me. If I picked up a micrometer from Bob, It would have a very stiff ratchet and I wouldn’t be able to get it to zero out. Brian’s mic maybe very loose and still wouldn’t be able to work for me. Each person had their own, and each tool would work for them.
John’s saw wouldn’t feel right, Keith files wouldn’t cut. It’s not that we’re tool snobs, they can both be the same brand and model but feel different. If you can file flat with one tool, you probably can’t with someone elses, because you get used to adjusting for the inaccuracy of the tool.
A tool to an engineer is like a good suit. It has to fit the owner and it takes years to find your style.
Unfortunately we live in a throw away society where things don’t last. Files used to be made properly, hardened, cared for, and each engineer had their own custom handle that fitted them perfectly. I feel a modern age of mass produced tools has removed the personal affection we have for the items we use daily. They’re now what the manufacturer thinks we want, rather than what fits us. Every tool is the same (but not).
So, to sum up. Stop touching my junk and buy your own damn tools…
The Enginer’d