6 Vintage Tools You Need In Your Artist Loft or Craft Room | Old Man Tools

There are six vintage tools I go to CONSTANTLY in my office… Today I am going to share my secret “Old Man Tools” that I use everyday! These are vintage tools that come pre-worn and have stood the test of time!!!

Sometimes it is easier to show and then tell and this is one of those times!!

oh my gosh… just watched this (NEVER watch your own videos) and realized I really am that “crazy craft lady” because I really do love my tools that much…

Flat Head Screwdriver

This is totally my go to tool! I use it for opening cans, for scraping things like gum off salvage boards and generally prying things off of other things (oh and sometimes as a screwdriver).

The one thing a little different about this on is the size…. it is not the size of huge screwdrivers, rather it is 6 inches tall and about a half an inch across at the handle. I feel like this is the key to using it a lot as it fits comfortably on my desk in my pencil holder sized caddy.

If you only have one tool to start with, I would go with this one here!

Nail Puller | Cat’s Paw Tool

And my second favorite tool of all time has to be this nail puller tool (also called a “Cat’s Paw Tool”). This one is super good for opening paint cans or other cans with lids that need to be pried off.

I love that I can just whip this one out and open things or pry up nails wihtout having to lug out a whole giant hammer.

This one is not as easy to find around so if you get one, hang on to it! I have only seen a handful of these ever out in the wild.

Check out all the artist and craft room tools we have for sale at our Glamorously Vintage Etsy store!

Tape Measure

I love a tape measure on my desk for so many reasons. First off it’s little square shape is much easier to manage than a big, long ruler that takes up a lot of space.

Second off, I use it ALL THE TIME. Because I sell on Ebay and Etsy I always need to measure how long something is for listing.

In my artwork, I often use it as a ruler-ruler, measuring straight lines and checking to make sure that things are lining up.

I feel like a good solid (Made In USA) tape measure is one of life’s little pleasures!

Wallpaper Roller Tool

I swear, when I saw this one the heaven’s parted and angels sang…okay, maybe that is a little over dramatic, but I seriously hated the old brayer that I had. It was big and pink and totally yucky to use… all plastic-y and pink.

If you are a mixed media artist, scrapbooker or just use a brayer in any way, this is the tool for you. It was originally made to help smush down the seams in wallpaper. I can remember using one of these in the 80s when I was wallpapering my kitchen with my Dad!

Please don’t be nervous to use this tool, it was MADE to get all gluey and yucky and clean up fine!

Paint Scraper

I really like my skinny paint scraper. I have been a paint scraper aficionado for years. I had “normal” scrapers, three-in-one tools and other scraper-types.

But never have I been happier than I am since getting my “skinny” scraper. It is a super small size that fits great into my pencil cup.

I use scrapers for the normal thing, scraping paint, but also for anytime that I  need a skinny piece of metal to stick into places and pry things up. It is super helpful often.

A bonus for me was that it came “pre-painted” so I didn’t have to worry about keeping it clean!

Sanding Block

Okay, I did not even know these existed. They are a giant old chunk of rubber that is perfect in your hand. Instead of having to be scritched a bunch while sanding using the typical square sanding block, I have the best feeling of old sander in my hand.

These are not available at home depot anymore, instead they have some weird kind of sander thing that did not do anything for me.

I found mine at an estate sale and will keep an eye out for you guys too!

Vintage Artist and Craft Room Tools

These are just a few of the artist tools that I use in my office / craft room. Honestly, I feel like the old men had great tools that were really helpful and which have totally stood the test of time.

For me an added benefit is that I am upcycling things that would wind up getting thrown away and also using things with a bit of soul that I would not get from modern, plastic tools. Last but not least, many of these tools were made in the USA back in the day (which really matters to me, having grown up in the rust belt near Pittsburgh, PA!)

Check out all the artist and craft room tools we have for sale at our Glamorously Vintage Etsy store!