Appreciation post: my neighbor's old 1950s book press saved a big job

Last month, I was gluing up a thick photo album and my cheap press just couldn't handle the pressure evenly. My neighbor, who used to bind books, let me borrow his heavy cast iron press he got from his dad in Chicago. That thing clamped down perfectly and gave me the flattest, cleanest spine I've ever made. What's the oldest piece of gear you all still use regularly?

2 comments

2 Comments

stone.sarah13d agoMost Upvoted

That press probably has more structural integrity than my entire apartment building. My newest tool is a cordless drill from 2004 that sounds like an angry hornet. Still works, though the battery lasts about as long as my interest in doing actual home repairs.

angela19113d ago

Know exactly what you mean, @stone.sarah. My old drill sounds like a bag of gravel getting chewed up. The battery dies if I look at it wrong, but I can't bring myself to replace a tool that still technically works. There's a special kind of loyalty to the gear that just won't quit, even if it complains the whole time.