I have been a joiner and wood machinist for many years and have tools still working today which I bought during my apprenticeship in the early 70s.

Hand planes, the blades of wich are two inches shorter through constant sharpening.

Chisels ditto.

I have three saws from that time, which I have sharpened and set by hand.

1) A fine tooth panel saw which has by now been sharpened away to a modeately good kehole saw.
2) A cross cut, now a fine panel saw.
2) A rip, which is now a general purpose cross cut.

Put that up against throwaway hardened saws, surform hardened planers, etc. etc., and you begin to realise just how bad things have become.

Call me old fashioned, but I won't have a tool in my box which I cannot sharpen and maintain until it is completely used up.

I am unashamedly proud of the quantity of metal resources I have avoided wasting in 40 years, and I am about to pass on my tools to my 14 year old grandson, who has shown a huge interest, not only in working with wood, but also in conservation of materials.

He should get at least twenty years use out of what I am giving him.