Greetings
I’ve seen hundreds of Black Friday woodworking emails and banner ads and they’re all leaving me feeling kind of meh 😑
so I’ve gone to the other extreme and am thinking about splurges. Anything on your holiday splurge wish list? If enough people tell me that they’re about to splurge on this or that, it’ll make me feel better about my own upcoming splurge. I don’t know what that is yet, but things are beginning to percolate up in the head, and a splurge feels as inevitable as the rising sun.
any purchases in the pipeline that are making you feel kind of guilty?
Replies
I just won a 10K NFL survivor pool, might pull the trigger on the next good condition Stanley #1 I come across... always sorta wanted one... not even sure why!
I have a LN number one. It's fun. I sometimes use it instead of a block plane, just because. Makes me feel like a giant.
!!!
The new Fien HEPA dust collector with the flat-top tool storage. Don't need it, but really want it -- just for that flat-top tool storage.
Waiting on a Hammer A3 41.
In theory, she does not count the machines and in return I don't count the horses but in practice I end up in trouble.
Buying a horse doesn't seem like a huge stretch. The upkeep would seem like a back-breaker. The Hammer is a one time expense.
Ha - my point exactly, but horses cost about the same as big power machines if you want one good enough for competition. Even a nag off the track will cost as much as a really good hand plane!
It's not woodworking, but I'm looking for a deal on a Milwaukee copper press tool. Plumbing. The least expensive version is normally $2100.
I hate plumbing, but hate even more having to rely on hiring someone. Using a torch inches away from flammable no longer interests me, and I'm not wild about Sharkbite fittings, which have gottencrazy expensive. I don't do a lot of plumbing, so it's a lot of money. But being self sufficient has a lot of added value for me.
Have you considered PEX expansion connectors? The tools are much less expensive (manual or electric available) and give a secure connection. You must use the correct type of PEX pipe (type A) others not appropriate for expansion connectors. No flames, except possibly at the initial copper to PEX transition. Not hard to learn proper technique.
I've used a couple types of Pex. The problem in remodels is the eventual transitions, either from copper or to fixtures. The copper press tool seems to be my best solution, outside of the up-front cost.
recently bought a brand new 24 inch powermatic bandsaw. a HUGE splurge for me - crazy expensive, buy brand new vs restore old vintage iron, huge floor space, not made in us, 2000 lbs, etc etc etc. i feel guilty for all those reasons, but i gotta say, it is the most spectacular tool i have ever had the privilege to use - beautiful fit and finish (surprisingly), power, smooth, capable, adjustments are a breeze, etc. it has changed the way i do woodwork more than any other tool in my shop.
Bravo!
Perhaps what feels like a “splurge” today may feel like a “great investment” tomorrow :)
My big splurge was not woodworking, but a generator.
I got really close to getting the lathe rockler had on sale. Otherwise I did get about $200 in mostly shop supplies but nothing special.
My splurge - anything from Bridge City Toolworks.
First Post - Finding an intro location.
Guess my Splurge is kind of BIG - After almost 50 years of employment, I retire in 17 days! Which brings me to "What Now" - for the last 3 years I have been completing my new WorkShop of 1300 sq ft. So to reward myself and outfit my shop in a better way, I sold my old Delta table saw and bought a new SawStop 3hp Cabinet Saw!
My Dad was a LockSmith by trade, but a Fisherman/Cabinet & Furniture Maker by love, and I understand those loves.
Woot Woot!
Congratulations! I got a Sawstop just about a year ago. Fantastic machine.
Congratulations. May retirement bring you joy, peace and tons of good lumber.
Nice, congratulations! 50 years, I think you’ve earned it. Enjoy the shop :)
Thanks All...
I looked around on Fri and today but really didn't see anything that was a great deal I needed to but it. I bought some hinges from Horton Brasses and a chisel from Lie Nielsen but they were at the normal MSRP prices.
I splurged on a 10% off, free shipping Forrest 4-piece finger joint blade set. Cuts 3/16-, 1/4-, 5/16-, and 3/8-inch dados. Not sure I need it, but had to have it.
My splurge has been to take the time to work on my hand tools. I restored 3 hand planes, Stanley Bedrocks 603C, 604C, and 607C, that had been waiting for attention for varying amounts of time. De-rusted, flattened bottoms, put in NOS Stanley irons that I had purchased decades ago from back shelves of old hardware stores (just before many of them went out of business), sharpened, tuned up the chip breakers, etc. Got them working well, and made sure my 605 and 605&1/2 were also re-touched up.
Now I'm going thru my (~100) carving chisels, doing whatever each needs (mostly sharpening, de-rusting a few, and putting dogwood handles on 4 that came to me without handles over the last few years.) Almost done, after which I will make sure they are properly organized by curvature and width so I can find them as needed. I'm currently waiting for the holidays to be over so that a church and I can plan my next project, which is a wedding kneeler with a lot of carved decoration (hence the focus on the carving chisels.)
Here is a detail of a previous kneeler:
New to this forum. Like to papa_lowell, today's my 1st day of retirement (40 years out there). Bought the same dream Sawstop and I've just finished assembling it. Took me a week. In earlier times I'd have done the same assembly in a couple of hours. No need to rush I guess. Now I need a replacement dust collector. The old 300cfm can't keep up. Debating between the various Oneida models. I'm working in about 500sqft, so noise and space are the limiting factors. Opinions would be welcome.
Maybe a bit bigger footprint than you want, but my Jet 2hp JCDC-2 works great. It’s a little under 1,000 CFM.
I am also a retired hobbyist woodworker in a 400 sq. ft. enclosed shop. I came to this forum to ask for dust collector recommendations about a year ago.
I selected an Oneida Supercell based on those recommendations and couldn’t be happier. It is expensive but well-built. Requires 220v dedicated circuit in my shop.
The Supercell is located in the center of the shop on a shop-made mobile cart. I use hearing protection religiously in the shop so the noise of the Supercell plus whatever is connect to it is manageable.
Photo attached. Hope this helps.
Russ
My small splurge was getting a few Bessey corner clamps to add to my collection of clamps. They were on sale at Rockler a few days ago. For big ticket items I got a Laguna 18BX a while back and a Supermax 25-50 drum sander. I wouldn’t really call them a splurge, but the drum sander comes close.
I may splurge on a LN #5. I need a jack plane and considering the traditional duty I don't need fancy. That said, every Stanley #5 I see used is priced so high I don't mind spending the extra on LN. At least I won't have to refurbish and fettle a new plane.
Tried to buy a #1 off Patricks list today but was too late. We'll see if I feel the same way when I have the winnings actually in my hands!
99 times out of 100, I'm late for Patrick's list, no matter how fast I am.
Shoot him an email, and tell him what you're looking for. Chances are he has one.
I got to go to his home maybe 10 years or so back. I'm about 90 minutes from him. I have never seen so much stuff. Cellar was ful. Two car garage was full. Tools everywhere. I was overwhelmed.
Yeah, I've been in touch with him for years. I miss the pics of his son the Tool Model every month! I've never been to the "inner sanctum".
There's one on Ebay right now.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224707087308?hash=item3451960bcc:g:LrUAAOSwC9xhm9uT
There's ALWAYS one on ebay, oddly enough I have never seen one where the seller accepts returns.
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