Once Upon A Tool Time
Some tools were once must-haves in every workshop, but time (and technology) has a funny way of making things obsolete. Objects that once solved problems now languish in modern history museums as kids gather round and ask, “Did you really have one of those, Grandpa?” Here are 15 almost forgotten tools that had their place in history, but that time is long gone.
Hand Crank Drill
Before power drills, you had to crank your way through wood. Maybe you remember using them in shop class? Those hand-powered drills were slow, but reliable. Today, cordless drills make the old crank version pretty much obsolete, unless you’re really into vintage woodworking.
Slide Rule
Once upon a time, engineers and carpenters everywhere relied on slide rules to crunch numbers. They look like complicated rulers with sliding pieces, and mastering one took skill. But today, even your phone can outdo a slide rule in seconds, and the real thing is confined to specialist museums.
Manual Hand Saw
Every dad or grandpa had one, but unless you’re into old-school woodworking (there’s a whole forum for it on Reddit!), you’ve probably traded it in for a power saw by now. Old saws cut unevenly, took forever, and left your arm sore. Circular saws and jigsaws make straighter, cleaner cuts with a fraction of the effort.
Yankee Screwdriver
This push-powered screwdriver was pretty clever for its time, but it’s been completely overshadowed by electric drills and cordless drivers. Instead of shoving down and twisting, you can just press a trigger and let the tool do the work.
Block Plane
Woodworkers once swore by block planes to smooth down rough edges. But with sanders, electric planers, and even simple sanding blocks available, nobody really reaches for this tool anymore. It took patience, a steady hand, and regular sharpening to keep it useful. Some beginner carpenters make a wooden block plane as a starter project, though!
Brace and Bit
This old-fashioned drilling tool relied on a hand-cranked brace with an interchangeable bit. Effective? Sure. Efficient? Not at all! Cordless drills now do the same job in a fraction of the time and without the sweat. You’ll still get the odd person using them, but not many.
Coping Saw
The tiny and delicate coping saw was great for cutting curves and intricate shapes in wood. It’s another one you might have used in shop class, actually. But with modern scroll saws and jigsaws around, who has time for all that manual labor? The coping saw still has a niche with some hobbyists, but most DIYers long ago sold theirs on eBay.
Hand Auger
Before power tools, people used hand augers to drill holes in wood or soil. It worked – eventually – but it was exhausting. Modern augers run on gas or electricity, cutting through the job in seconds. Unless you’re stranded without power (which to be fair does happen in some places) there’s really no reason to keep one of these around anymore.
Chalk Line Reel
Yes, people still use chalk lines occasionally (especially on construction sites), but with laser levels taking over, the chalk line reel feels outdated. And unfortunately, vintage ones aren't worth a whole lot of money either. They only sell for around $3-$10 on eBay.
Drawknife
This was once a go-to for stripping bark or shaping logs and it required a ton of skill and muscle. Power planers and sanders do the same job faster, cleaner, and with much less risk of injury, and they went the way of the dodo. YouTubers still occasionally show them off, though, and come away unhurt!
Folding Ruler
Before tape measures became the gold standard, folding rulers were the way to get precise measurements. But they were clunky and some beginners found them hard to read. Today, everyone uses a tape measure or even a digital laser measurer.
Spokeshave
This tool was once a favorite for shaping chair legs or smoothing curves in wood. It worked well if you had steady hands and patience, but modern sanders and rotary tools do the same thing much faster. There’s no denying they were aesthetically pleasing, though, and they look pretty good on a workshop shelf.
Gimlet
Nope, not the cocktail - the tool! A gimlet was basically a small hand-powered drill for making holes. It worked fine for screws in softwood, but cordless drills made it obsolete. They’re still kind of cute for those you love vintage things, but you won’t really find them in many toolboxes.
Nail Puller Pliers
Before claw hammers and multi-tools became standard, DIYers used specialized nail pullers for pliers. They worked, but they were clunky and awkward. Modern claw hammers and pry bars do the job much faster and cleaner.
