The people at Brooklyn-based craft juggernaut Etsy just released a pretty cool video on the Liberty Tool store and its proprietor H.G. “Skip” Brack. Located in Maine, the shop sources used tools (not vintage, used) to offer back (or recycle) to local tradesmen and hobbyists at a decent prices. The whole idea is to help support the working people of New England and to allow them access to the tools that they need to provide for their families. To me Liberty Tool looks like a pretty incredible place. I have to say, the more and more I learn about and visit Maine, the more I want to live there.
Tools for the Working People of Maine
Chad Saville
on Nov 8th, 2011
@ 6:59 PM:
Wow, that workshop is amazing. Looks like Skip is a man to know!
Hallock
on Nov 8th, 2011
@ 7:39 PM:
Maine: The Original Hipster
manny young
on Nov 8th, 2011
@ 8:42 PM:
I used to work for Skip about 20 years ago! This is one of the coolest stores u could ever go in. He has an unbelievable collection of tools that are all still completely usable.
Sam
on Nov 8th, 2011
@ 10:36 PM:
If you love cold weather and minimal sunlight, Maine is perfect for you!
Jeff
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 7:56 AM:
We could use more Skips these days. Bravo.
Herdiana Surachman HS
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 8:08 AM:
great post, interesting to see how people do his work like this
HS
Turling
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 9:57 AM:
When do we leave?? Granted, I’m from California and will complain probably from October through April, but in everything there is a little hardship, I guess.
The great thing about that place is I can practically smell it through the screen. Old hardward stores have that smell about them. Smells like work.
Jared
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 10:17 AM:
I’m quite fond of this place. I grew up a couple of towns away in Belfast. I have photographed in Liberty Tool a bunch of times and from those pictures created a body of work. Here’s a link if you are interested: http://www.jareddesimio.com/jareddesimio/Series.html
Most of the photos are from Liberty Tool. Some are from other junk shops and thrift stores in Maine.
jesse
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 11:24 AM:
Ive been to Liberty Tool various times with my dad who is a craftsman. Ive gotta commend you for keeping an ear so close to the ground that you found this place in a country so large. The place really is that cool and Maine IS a great place. Certain years you can generalize about the minimal sun and bad weather but to be honest is been a few straight years of amazing weather and very tolerable winters. Compared to much of the strip mall infested areas of the country, we still have a lot of REAL left here in terms of people and businesses. Portland has an amazing buy local based economy and affordable housing. As a guy in his early 30′s in an aging state, I’d love to encourage heady creative folks like the fans of this blog to take a look at Maine. Music, art and creativity in general is exponential right now and its one of the few states left where something great can be can still be built, from the ground up
sam
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 11:44 AM:
this makes my impending move (from TX to ME) seem even better. thanks for the heads-up. i’m sure i’ll need tools up there as well.
alan rees
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 12:05 PM:
Maine is a great place & Liberty Tool helps make it so.
I have a cabinet/millwork shop in mid coast Maine & have gotten quite a
few tools from Liberty Tool. My wife even like going there.
I feel spoiled having grown up here. Its a great place to live & raise a family.
Making ends meet can be a challenge, but thats part of it.
Matt P
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 3:22 PM:
Would love to visit this place. The stores whole philosophy is right on the money. Patagonia is jumping on the Liberty Tool bandwagon with their own eBay store (http://campaigns.ebay.com/patagonia/)
mat buckets
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 3:47 PM:
really liked this, very charming and inspiring
Tim
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 4:27 PM:
Check out the Tool Library in my hood of Oakland too! http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/branches/temtll.htm
Love good people doing good things
Andrea
on Nov 9th, 2011
@ 10:02 PM:
Yup – just up the road (more or less) from my old home in Nobleboro, and a wonderful source of Obscure Stuff That I Absolutely Have to Own.
Steve
on Nov 14th, 2011
@ 7:42 PM:
This is great! I too am looking to relocate my family from SoCal to Portland, ME. Most people think I’m crazy but whatever.
Charlotte Wilder
on Nov 15th, 2011
@ 10:15 AM:
Love this video. Beautifully shot, really powerful. Here’s my post with photos i took at Liberty Tool–an amazing place. http://www.thewilderthings.com/2011/11/wilder-pictures-liberty-tool-company.html
Andrew
on Nov 15th, 2011
@ 4:45 PM:
Thanks for the love and posting the video! After I finished shooting this piece I spent half a day looking through the shop. It reminded me of digging through my grandfathers basement. What an amazing place, I hope it translates through the piece.
brendan
on Nov 16th, 2011
@ 5:15 PM:
I REALLY hope none of you people plan on turning Maine into something it isn’t.
brendan
on Nov 16th, 2011
@ 5:15 PM:
The ones moving there, of course.
John
on Nov 29th, 2011
@ 2:12 PM:
Everyone that does woodworking needs to make the Liberty Tool pilgrimage. I ended up shipping back to Colorado, but what I got is priceless. I spent far more refurbing my Stanley Sweetheart planes than they cost new, but they are now Mine, and a serious connection with the past. And, they are still very good tools.