32 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



farms there is a deficiency of suitable repair tools and supplies, and 

 an increased investment along this line is strongly recommended. 

 Some farmers, however, need to be cautioned against hasty, indis- 

 criminate purchasers. A small, well selected outfit, used to the best 

 advantage and well cared for, will prove more satisfactory than a 

 large miscellaneous assortment improperly kept and used. 



In nearly all localities most of the tools may be purchased from 

 the local hardware dealer. In many places there are stores known 

 as farmers' supply houses from which many of the more common 

 tools may be purchased. In addition to these, many of the manu- 

 facturers of tools offer combination outfits, and the large mail order 

 houses of the country are prepared to supply tools of all kinds, either 

 singly or in combinations. A number of tools and appliances are 

 not ordinarily found in the regular stores, and these can be made 

 either by a local mechanic or on the farm. 



Under most circumstances it will pay to secure tools of good 

 quality, although fine exterior finish is not essential. Tools of very 

 inferior quality are offered at low prices, but they invariably prove 

 a disappointment to the purchaser. The name of the manufacturer 

 is a sufficient guaranty of the quality of many tools, and the pur- 

 chaser is advised to secure only those that are sold under a guar- 

 anty from either the manufacturer or the dealer. When contem- 

 plating the purchase of a collection of tools, make a careful study 

 to see just what ones are needed, then purchase all at one time, and 

 a liberal discount can generally be secured. (F. B. 347; Ohio E. 

 S. C. 98.) 



Character. Among the implements needed on every farm 

 may be classed: Ax, nand ax, hatchet, handsaws, compass saw, 

 steel square, drawing knife, brace and bits, screwdriver bit, screw- 

 driver, augers, jack plane, smoothing plane, wood chisels, claw 

 hammer, claw bar, spokeshave, wood rasp, folding rule, chalk line, 

 plumb rule, spirit level, riveting hammer, monkey wrench, solid or 

 end wrenches, alligator wrench, pipe wrench, punches, cold chisels, 

 files, forge, blacksmith's hammers, tongs, vise, drill press, ratchet 

 drill, chain drill, twist drills, hack saw, soldering irons, thread-cut- 

 ting appliances, pipe-fitting appliances, tinner's snips, small vise, 

 dividers, crowbar or pinch bar, maul, or beetle, grindstone, oilstone, 

 oiler or squirt can, wire stretcher, staple puller, leather punch, rivet 

 set, workbench, sawhorses, and miter box. 



Materials for Repair Work. However complete the tool equip- 

 ment, it will be of little use without a supply of materials with 

 which to replace worn or broken parts of machinery and imple- 

 ments. The time required to secure stock materials may be as great 

 as that necessary to have the repairs made in the nearest shop. A 

 supply of timber, bar iron, bolts, rivets, screws, etc., should be kept 

 constantly on hand and renewed from time to time as the stock runs 

 low. 



It should be the practice to save every small piece of good mate- 

 rial and store it in a dry loft or other convenient place. A good piece 

 of a thin board can frequently be saved from a broken packing box, 



