This is a block I made about 15 years ago , it's just [was] a foam block with about 12 grit, contact cemented on, one end wore away completely, the other is still going strong,I It's probably done est 5 to 7 thousand boards[hand], I love it. The surf form is older and done a lot more boards, thats very hard plastic and it's worn about 1/4 ", Every shaper would have their own little hand tools they have worn down, I've been thinking of framing the foam block, not yet though, its still got plenty left in it yet.
The hand saw I use to cut my outlines is actually from my grandfather’s shop from after he passed. I guess it’s about 70 or 80 years old by now. He used to build boats. The last one he built was a beautiful wooden canoe. That saw the perfect size, and the blade has just the right amount of flex. It’s even shaped funny by today’s standards, but it is hands down the best handsaw I’ve used for the job. The teeth are not sharp, but it’s only cutting foam, so that’s ok. The wood handle is worn smooth and cracked from over a half century of changing seasons, but is now hard as wood gets. I have a bunch of other hand tools of his… old block planes and stuff… but I don’t use them on surfboards.
Yes I like my surform and saw to be a bit blunt, well not sharp anyway, foam doesn't need it and less room for mishaps.
nj, I have my grandfather's old handsaw too, but the framing square (from him also) that has been used on every board I've ever shaped is the most valued/loved tool.
I saw this thread this morning and took my camera to work, here's 2 other favorites. Officially retired a 5 or 6 year old set of visorgogs today, you can see how my hard head wears out the inside after a while.
The sanding block was made with assistance from Jim Phillips at his world famous Magnolia St. factory about 1980. One of his ''here, kid, let me show you how to do that'' moments. Much sentimental value...
(it was made as a 120 grit finesand block, with a layer of 1/8'' upholstery foam around radiused block. I now use it with #40 Rynalox wrapped around, removed for photo)
Great idea for a thread, harris!
Here’s a rail jig I’ve had a long time:
Milwaukee jigsaw I've had since mid-80s. Near bulletproof (triggers and brushes only maintenance) for many years, until it started making some funny noises about 10 years ago. When my tool repair guy opened it up, he found that I had worn out the drive gear. He said he'd never seen anyone do that to one of those saws. But figuring (conservatively) 14 feet per outline cut, multiplied by about 15,000 boards, I had cut almost 40 miles. Milwaukee took care of armature/gear replacement and I'm now working on wearing out a second set of gears :)
I kept the old gear for a paperweight and reminder of all that work.
My Makita 1100's, One is 35 years old, another 30, the other bought later for parts. I have a roller blade on one. They are very reliable and have served me well, some new bearings here and there, I can see Ballina power tools sticker on one, Miami power tools sticker on same one, so its had some repairs, they are my shaping machines, cheers H.
https://swaylocks7stage.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/planers.JPG
ha’ john you got me inn.
heres is a sander that i got from my old boss in the boatyard 1958.
i most certainly was not the only operator throughout the years
1 set of brushes 1 triger spring made in italy after the war.
heres a pair of sheers from my mum 1963
and the spokshave for wooden boards made by huie 1958
** cheers huie
**
Hi Huie, Damn…
I bet no one can top them.
That sander…wow!
…Looks like those Sheers came from the same mold they use today!
…Hi H
My oldest tool is a piece of floor sanding paper I stuck to a block of wood.
I got it when I was working with Feral Dave…Bastard had a box of the paper, I asked him for a little piece and he bloody well said NO!..So… 
I feel So guilty.
Howzit harris, I have some of my Dad's old tools from the 40's and 50's and need to take pics and I have a POrte Cable 1/4" power drill that works great and it is from the late 40's. I also have tools that I bought in High School for working on VW's and a Harry Elfrink VW repair manual from the early 60's and he knew how to write a repair manual so you could understand it. I have had VW auto repair guys offer to buy it but I refuse due to it's such a good book. Aloha,Kokua
Hey Yorky and Kokua, hope all is well. I bet you are really guilty about Dave's bit of paper. Kokua that stuff sounds great and especially a manual that you can read, I'm such a moron with manuals normally, there's always some little nut or bolt leftover. I just paid a guy to put my new bycycle together, my present for Christmas, now if it would stop raining I might try it out. Here's some more old tools, my ear muffs, got to be some laziness here, I just forget to get some new ones, one side has to be put back on everytime and the sponge is crumbled away, the block of sponge, almost petrified, so dense and full of foam dust, works a treat for blending deck rails, the brush, my 2nd one, the 1st just went bald as this one is going and my old block again , cause it's not a pic in my 1st post, cheers H.
Howzit harris, I have to admit I am a pack rat and hate throwing anything away that I think I might need some day. When I left Kauai I almost cried when I sold or gave away some things but now that I am here I still haven't opened all the boxes because I don't know where to put the things inside them. My nephew blew his mind when my Senco compressors showed up and when he saw some of my other tools he really lost it. My digital Camera for looking inside walls and other hard to get at places was the real kicker and I am going to buy 2 more 3' extentions so I can see 9' away. Aloha,Kokua
Thing is Mate, I always seem to throw away the wrong stuff, not tools, how about the 1st wingfin I shaped out of the block of foam and had ridden it to near death, remember going, "won't need this again, out she goes", a hand written letter from Rabbit in 70' , saying " I don't know how you can say we don't have any competition up here, we have Michael Peterson, Peter Townend, Peter Drouyen, etc", my letter must have tuned him there was no competition up there, lol, yep remember clearly about 80', doing a purge, don't need this, DOH, hey hope your going well Kokua, cheers, H.
Howzit harris, I am doin the best that I can and trying to stay positive in my thinking, have good days and bad days. This morning was a not so good but got better later on. So many things I want to do but I seem to get tired way easier than before all his happened. One of the hardest parts is not being busy all the time like I was used to before the cancer treatments.Aloha,Kokua
I send my best and have no doubt there is a lotta love and best wishes for you here and every where else you have touched, H.
Howzit harris, Thanks to all my Sway brothers since I have felt all the positive vibes you send my way. Aloha,Kokua
They come that way because your nature brings them, H.