Lost Art Press

Curse You, Ed Lebetkin!

Posted on by Lost Art Press

Whenever I teach at Roy Underhill’s The Woodwright’s School, I always spend a few hours at Ed Lebetkin’s tool store upstairs. (It’s even more tempting now because there is also a store selling wine and craft beer at the top of the stairs. Get drunk! Buy tools!)

Anyway, most of the time I’m in the store I’m helping students pick what they need from the thousands of tools Ed has in stock.

And without fail, I always buy something myself. Usually it’s just a piece to study and resell, such as an all-iron marking gauge I bought last time.

But this time, I picked up something for keeps for my tool chest – a set of four clamps that look blacksmith-made. These will replace the small, ugly and modern little clamps I’ve had for many years. We used these little antique guys all last week in the class while knocking stock down for the tool chest we were building. They are sweet.

Perhaps my kids will get F-style clamps in their stockings this Christmas….

— Christopher Schwarz

23 thoughts on “Curse You, Ed Lebetkin!”

      1. I know! Buy a book to build a tool chest and wait, need a square,straight edge,winding sticks, I will never get finish the second chest! Now some iron work have to build a forge too!

  3. I am glad I do not live close by as I would need a second job to support my tool habit. Hi my name is Tom and I am a toolaholic!

      1. I’m telling my facilities manager that the Diet Pepsi on the keyboard is your fault. Those of us with tool weaknesses are lucky you don’t have a web presence.

      2. Well I may have a fighting chance now after reading Dr. Schwarz book. Of course when I was buying mortice chisels I could not stop at on or two i needed a whole set 1/8 to 11/2. oh yea it all comes back now it was really the 6 sets of chisels.

      3. Nope no chance at all sent off a email to Ed for …..more chisels! Curse You Mr Schwarz!

    2. perhaps the local chapter of T.B.A. (tool buyers anonymous) should meet at ed’s shop for exercises in “resisting temptation”…

      1. Jesus was a carpenter and I don’t think even He could resist THAT temptation.
        (Huh, Lightning just hit near my house. Go figure)

  4. Ed’s House of Crack and Iron is a wonderful, magical place that will leave you with an empty wallet and a Fireball in your cheek.

    1. Ed’s House of Crack and Iron.
      Perfect!

      C’mon Wes.. It’s just one more rip saw, it’s only wafer thin..

  5. Please don’t blame Ed. He never said the first one was free. That’s like blaming the pusher for the problem. However, those are some really cool clamps and I may need to find some, going to Liberty sale this weekend to feed my little tool problem.
    Richard

  6. Chris –

    Before giving the presents, be sure to mark of engrave them with your identification. When future generations hold them, they will understand your legacy.

  7. Those bare-ended screws look like they would chew into what you are clamping. I’d make some little wooden boots to fit over them.

    2. And the pads opposite the screw don’t look like they clear the “C” thus significantly diminishing the effective depth of the reach. I do very much like the wing shaped screw handles and the variable width of the “C”.

  8. If “F” clamps are going in the christmas stockings, make sure they are Wetzler clamps. Probably have to find them used, as there are rumors that they are no longer in buisiness, but they are simply the best f-clamps made, and damn near indestructable. No curliques. Clamps of neccessity!

    1. Free peanut butter with every purchase over x amount of dollars. That way you can still eat when you leave!

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