OK, how about your MOST Useful Tool
KiddervilleAcres
| Posted in General Discussion on
Evening Folks,
I followed the recent thread about your most useless tool and thought it might be interesting to hear everyones perspective on what they regard as the most useful tool in your woodshop.
I’m at a loss as to which one. The one tool that comes to mind is my brain, but in retrospect it has got me in as much trouble as it has provided me with success! Oh my.
The usage of tools seems to come and go with respect to what I’m doing, i.e. different projects. I guess what I’m asking is what tool do you feel that you couldn’t live without?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Replies
hmmmm, table saw, jointer, planer. I use them with every project. But it's gotta be my bandsaw. I just like using it. Chris
Hello Tinter,
I have just started gettin into wood working and since you said you like your bandsaw the best, I have a question for you. Since my finances are limited, I have a bench top delta band saw. Am I wasting my time tryin to make this thing work as a band saw, I seem to have trouble makin it cut or follow the line I want to cut. I have missed out on some great deals on better band saws. What is your opinion of table top band saw, I put mine on a stand to make it look more impressive, but that doesn't really do anything for the way it works. I would appreciate you opinion very much, and please express your answer truthfully, and don't spare my feelings :)
Bill G.
Hey Bill, I'm pretty new myself! I have no experience with table top bandsaws. I have an old craftsman 12" that works good. I also bought a rikon 18" for the resaw capacity. If your blade is wandering, check the tension. Also, blade size is important depending on the job you are doing. wide blades cant cut curves that thin blades can. My gut tells me that your bandsaw just wasnt built for precision or cutting thick hardwoods. But again, that is an uneducated guess. My advice to you is, start a thread asking everybody about your bandsaw. You will get several responses from people who have been in your shoes. They may have some advice on how to fix your problem and save you the expense of a new saw, as long as this one is filling your present needs. Sorry I could'nt be more help! Chris
P.S. Forestgirl is very knowledgable(sp?) about machinery, and very generous with her time and expertise.
Bill, many times (if not most times) problems with bandsaws can be traced to the blade, provided the saw is set up properly. If you're using the blade that came with the saw then that's where I'd start, with a new blade. Be sure to get the proper blade (tooth count, width, etc.) for the type of cutting you are doing. You can learn everything you need to know at this site:
http://www.suffolkmachinery.com/
And they sell great blades too. Good luck.
Jeff
Tape measure,
Can't do much without it.
Dick38
Hey Bob,
My most useful tool? Without a doubt, my 3"x5" steel card scraper. I use it on every project.
Tom
Broom.
Without it my basement would be full!
Workbench.
Alan - planesaw
Hey Bob,
That would be safety glasses. No doubt. A sharp pencil second.
-Paul
for me i think it is my combination square. i am always finding new things to do with it. with a sixteen inch rule it is even more useful.
-pjw
#6000 waterstone -- gets used every time I go back to the shop, regardless of the project.
And when it gets used, the nagura gets used, too.
-Andy
Every project I do has me reaching for:
combination square, card scraper. stanley knife (usually for marking cuts)
My block plane is close behind.
For power tools, it's a tie between the table saw and chop saw.
Bob,
I would have to say that my most useful tool is my brain. I try to use it on almost every project.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel,
I love your answer. Problem is I can sharpen my chisels easier than I can sharpen my brain. Gotta work on it some more. :-)
Alan - planesaw
Mel,
You stole my answer
Greg
Greg,
Sorry about that. I'll give you full credit for that answer.
I narrowed it down to two tools:
1) my brain, and
2) the eraser on my pencil.It took me a while to make up my mind, but finally I went with #1.
Have fun.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel,
Somebody borrowed mine and never brought it back. Wasn't you, was it?
Ray
Ray,
I don't know if I have yours.
I lost mine.
When I find mine, I'll ask it if it knows where yours is.
If I remember, I'll let you know.
What were we talking about?
MelPS - Do you know about "Inverse Alzheimers"?
That's where you start remembering things that never happened.Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel,
Mine used to belong to someone named "Abby" Think that's what it said , on the jar...
Alzheimer's, a chance to make new friends, everyday.
Ray
Ray,
I have come up with an idea for a "most useful" new tool. Other folks worry about flattening their workbench top. But they fail to remember that if their floor is not flat and level, they will have problems with all of their moveable tools. I have talked to the Roomba folks who make the autonomous vacuum cleaner. My idea is to replace the revolving broom with a grinder. So the Floorba will autnomously and continuously move around the floor, grinding it where necessary and spraying red paint in places in which it wants you to move something so it can get access.
Obviously the Floorba will have its own built-in dust collector. The only problems that I haven't worked out yet are: the noise, and tripping over it. Never underestimate the importance of a flat floor in woodworking!Soon the Floorba, and the Electron Microscope, for checking on blade sharpness, will be the two most necessary tools in the workshop. You know that I worry about the future of fine woodworking. I hear persistent rumors of trouble ahead. You know the Henry Taylor company is trying to revive its flagging sales and quality problems. North Korea is concerned about how to feed its burgeoning population. I hear that Korea's leader, Kim, is working a deal with Henry Taylor to provide all unemployed North Koreans with a complete set of carving tools, and will train all of them to produce handmade Chippendale reproductions. I am worried that our current crop of fine woodworkers may be out of jobs within a few years. There is a fly in the ointment, however. To keep their tools sharp, Kim wants to make copies of the JET sharpening system for all of his people, BUT JET is claiming that he is infringing on their proprietary, long-standing, unique design. This potential new house of cards may just fall down on its own.If you are wondering where I got this information, I heard it on the "Imus in the Morning" show. He looks kinda funny, sort of like a grouchy, ugly old woman with no sense of style, who is trying out for a male role in an upcoming production of Midnight Cowboy. So you can probably relax.
I'll keep you posted.
Or you can just check on You Tube, for up to date info.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel,
Hope your floorba comes with planeba and bladeba attachments so one can drop his stanley and blade on the floor, come back later and find them flattened, fettled and honed. If you saw my shop floor, you'd laugh.
I understand that, til he has his foot surgically removed from mouth, Imus will be replaced with Emus, in the mornings. His listeners will be treated to a series of discordant bleats and bellows; broadcasters are betting no one will notice the difference.
Ray
Ray,
Rumour control has it that ole Don has applied to legally change the spelling of his last name to "Imass".....
HA!! if only it were so.....
.<!----><!----><!---->
Tschüß!<!----><!---->
<!----><!---->James<!----><!---->
<!----> <!---->
"I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that...."
-- A.C. Clarke
Mel,
You are Ray are in fine form. I love your series of ___ba tools. Pretty soon you will have a corner on the market.
Now, as you know, in my line of work, I will have plenty of room for you two if you are 302ed, or some other such conclusion is drawn about your psyche. In fact, I am in the planning stages for 15 more units right now. On four acres. Serene. Wooded (you'll feel right at home). Calming, etc.
In the meantime, keep it up. Some good clean humor is always welcome.
Alan - planesaw
Bob
Assuming a tool not a part of the human anatomy, I would have a tie. My 12" jointer and workbench. I keep watering and feeding my jointer hoping it will grow to a 16" model, but it hasn't happened yet!
Flattening all that wood by hand would be a lot slower for me. I know, I've done it.
Jeff
A combination of my legs and my guts that tell me it is time to put down whatever tool I have in my hand and slowly back away. Before whatever mistake I am trying to correct gets any worse.
That's easy, a hammer and a paint brush!
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Hand Held Motorized? Router.
Bench mount or free standing motorized? Drill Press.
Manual? Cabinet Scraper.
At one point a drill press and handheld router was all I had and all I needed.
Bob,
I guess I would have to agree with Jeff Heath. It is my jointer, everything begins there. Face it, edge it, then it is off to all the tools in the shop. I like that Onieda 5 HP cyclone pretty well too. I worked 20 years in my shop without a central dust system, just a 2HP on casters boy was I stupid.
Bob:
It seems to me that you could make some pretty decent furniture with a set of three saws, two planes and a set of chisels, plus some sharpening stones. You might not want to, and it would certainly take quite a lot of time and require a great deal of patience and skill… But you could.
So I would say that these are the most fundamental requirements, and by inference, the most important tools.
Although many of the other tools mentioned are great, in and of themselves, they need to be supplemented with something else. Try making a Sheraton sideboard with only a jointer!
I did think of a measure, but even that is a relatively modern concept. I believe the great European cathedrals were built with, what we call today, "story poles".
Regards,
Hastings
Hastings,
I like your suggestion of tools. "Underlying" each of those tools is a workbench in most cases. Chances are one is going to use the workbench regardless of which tools. I would add that to your list.
Alan - planesaw
Alan:Completely forgot the bench! It is so easy to take it for granted.I have seen pictures of japanese craftsmen who use the floor as a bench — not something that I would care to do.Regards,Hastings
Since I'm pretty sure I don't have a brain (little joke there), I would have to say a pencil. It seems I never have enough of them, and every time I sharpen up a new one, it lasts maybe fifteen minutes and bam!, it disappears. Then I feel like I lost my best friend until I get out a new one. I've even been known to keep one behind each ear and a couple sticking out of a shirt pocket. Gotten a few comments about that, as you can imagine!
Dan
We’ve had this topic a few other times, and as always, my Starrett combination square is were every project starts.
Sharp wooden #2 pencil, not plastic.
Paul
wet dry vac, defenitely my most use full and most used tool. After that I use my router quite a bit.
I would have to say my truck. Can't get my wood without it and there wouldn't be any tools in my shop either.
Darrin
Bob
This is a no brainer, it's my Mikita 3803A groove cutter..
Now I thought that it would be usefull to do wire chases behind timbers. But it's become infinately more usefull than that.. I use it to make perfect tenons in a flash. I use it to make half lapped timbers fit perfectly every time. It's come in handy when I wanted a ledge to set timbers into and all sorts of other uses..
OH, I'll bet you don't know what a Mikita 3803A groove cutter is..
Not unusual, it's not sold here in the US.. It's not UL approved or does it meet any other code related issue.
It has a clip on ground connection, it's not even really used for American voltage using 100 volt 50 cycle. (but it runs just fine)
Think of a skill saw with a dado head cutter on it.. and you have it. As fast as you can shove it down a board it cuts a perfect groove whatever width you've selected. perfectly smooth sides bottom and top.. from well over an inch and a half wide to about 1/2 inch.
Without a doubt, the Oneway Multi-Gauge. I use it to check square of my jointer fence, check height of jointer knives, check alignment of planer bed, check alignment of fence to saw blade, and the list goes on and on. The best $79.95 investment I have ever made.
Steve
Tough question. As I was working this morning my answer came to me. I picked up a fractional caliper around Christmas and use it for everything. I don't know that there is "one" most useful tool. We all need several to do what we do. But I love that caliper. I was cutting tapered legs this morning. Wanted them 7/8 at the base. Set the caliper to 7/8 and with the very sharp tip made my mark. Sure I could do that with any number of measuring devices but not as easily or quickly. I was marking mortises for the apron with a 1/8 reveal (3/4) stock. Caliper again. First mark 5/16 from the edge and second 3/8 over from that. Then just connect the dots. Last: needed a 1/4 drill bit. Couldn't read the etching. Pull out the caliper. 1/4 on the button. Love that thing. PMM
Great folks! The disparity in the answers is amazing!
Keep 'em coming,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Hi Everyone,
Was honing a plane blade last night and wanted to mention a tool that I use in the honing process. It's one of those, for lack of a better name, an engineers lamp. The ones with the flourescent bulb and magnifying glass in the center.
I use it to check my progrsss with a blade. It's not an electron microscope, but it works well for me and it cost me nothing. Friend of mine was throwing it out. Don't you just love recycling!?
Works slicker'n a trout, and that's slick!
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
With out a doubt (not over looking my personal bits, of course) it would be my jack knife. I use it every day for something.
Highlights - While waiting for ferry some others in line discovered that they had locked their keys in their vehicle and were attempting to break a window with a rock. Instead we surgically removed a non-opening window by cutting the gasket. Even had some duct tape to stick it back in. (Hmmmm, a vote for duck tape?)
The other is a really long story, but it involved a non operating elevator, its control panel and, at least, 240 volts.
Festool TS55 plunge-cut saw. Has changed small-shop life as I know it!
TP
I probably use my WoodRat as much as any powered tool in the shop. Cuts all my box joints, dovetails, mortices and tenons, rabbets, dadoes....... Plus a ton of other uses I've come up with. Wasn't cheap, and it takes some getting used to, but it was worth the time and money.
That's easy. No question about it - an early model (British made) DeVilbiss GTI gravity gun.
The best part is that I paid $73 for it in near mint condition at a pawn shop next door to the place that was installing a new stereo in my last car. They did then (5 years ago) and still do retail for $400-500. I've yet to find a gravity gun, regardless of the retail price, that sprays better than a GTI. All my finisher/painter buddies were absolutely green with envy when they found out how much I paid for it. ;-)
Garbage can.
Bob,
Work bench. Difficult to do much without a way to hold the wood.....
.
Tschüß!
James
"I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that...."
-- A.C. Clarke
My sketch pad, big eraser, comfortable stool and a good light. To me, the design process is the biggest challenge and by far the most fun.
Dave
I use a similar method, i.e. I like to design/draw pieces just to get an idea of what I'm looking for. Computer design has its place for sure but in my mind, not during the creative process. Its output is cold to me.
Once I have something close then I revert to CAD. I emphasize revert. Recently I've started using Sketchup to finalize, arrive at more accurate dimensions and establish joinery.
Although there are still rough spots in the process it's getting better all the time. Most of the rough spots have to do with my learning curve with respect to Sketchup, but it's getting better all the time.
Thanks for the post,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 4/11/2007 8:21 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
One of the best and most simple tools I've purchased lately is the new mag-switch featherboard. Rock solid in the magnetic mode and easy to move with a simple turn of the knob.
I am surprised nobody has mentioned his oil can with flexible spout (preferably brass with bronze pump mechanism- no plastic parts). This is essential for the brain which would grind to a halt without some oil.
Another indispensable tool for me these days is my digital caliper- very good because I don't have to remember how to work it, unlike the old micrometer type-all one needs to remember is to zero it and see that it NEVER talks imperial stuff!. Others could check their brain size.
Another favourite tool is my Starret "Last word" dial test indicator-good for measuring the amount of tremble in the fingers after a shaper cutter has flown out, or for deciding whether or not to switch on the dreaded RADIAL ARM saw.
If common sense were a tool I believe this would be the most useful tool.Philip Marcou
Sir phillip,
Very thought provoking and very normal for you sire. Gotta like it. So many messages to consume. Common sense, indeed!
Best Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 4/11/2007 8:19 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Edited 4/11/2007 8:22 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
This is easy -- my safety glasses with built in reading glasses. I walk in the shop and put them on a forget about them! Shows my age.
Will be 55 in May and someone told me I could then order off the senior menu at IHOP after my BDay. Most depressing thing I have ever heard!!
Scott
Leatherman. I use it daily, in and out of the shop. I ground the file into a marking knife, much more usefull.
One tool that I seem use at least once everyday, is my cordless drill.
While not a traditional woodowrking tool, this more than any other recent purchase keeps me on the job. My workshop is a detached building. Prior to purchasing this I would go a few times a day to use the facility in the house; along the way I would stop to get a cup of coffee, pet the dog, catch a little TV, take a nap or get diverted by the wife into a honey-do. Since installing this I have less reason to leave the workshop and get more done.View Image
While I am saying this in a joking manner, I think it is true that the comfort level of our workshops (heating, lighting etc) often are our best investments.
View Image
Er, what is a "honey do"?Philip Marcou
When your significant other askes you, "Honey do this for me". I think every married man has what's called his Honey Do List, most likely a never ending on at that.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 4/12/2007 8:59 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Philip, it is when the marital unit says "Honey, would you do (enter chore) for me?" Although seldom on your agenda, it seems to loom large on her list of things for you to do. Frequently referred to as a "Honey-do List"
edit: sorry for the redundant post; had I read a bit further I would have noticed Bob already had it covered.
Edited 4/12/2007 9:33 pm by stpatrick
Philip,I was going to add a few words to the "honey do" explanation, but found this, which is much better:http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/28/messages/991.htmlI wasn't aware that "honey" usage was so limited. So the day isn't wasted, I learned something. Likewise, I've learned a lot from your posts. Thank you, they’re much appreciated. I'll be looking forward to the next one.Dan
I hate to say it but the computer is quickly becoming my #1 tool.
Mike
Pardon my spelling,
Mike
Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.
That's an easy one for an old greybeard. My brain. Taking time to take a break, sit down and let the feeling return to my carpalled wrists while I ruiminate on all the screw ups I have made on similar projects in the past, and what I learned from them.
Pat Monk. "MONKWORKS" SF. Ca.patrickmonk.rn.sf.
Mike,
Be wary of those digital doohickeys. Just the other day I finished a new piece in Sketchup. The next day I went to work on it and it was nowhere to be found. Did a complete search of the harddrive, nowhere.
Later as I was emailing friends, I happened to check my Sent folder and noticed some emails sent to a competitor at 3AM! Hhhrrrnnnph, I was sleeping at the time.
Caught up with the recipient of one and it turns out that it was sent by Bill Gates!
Arrrrgh
Jokingly,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Clamps. Tough to make anything without my clamps. Love my workbench too.
Jeff
Tweezers!!
OK, I'll bite. Could you explain that one? That has to be a first!
Got my curiosity.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Being new to this hobby, I quickly learned that I have a propensity to get splinters, especially when working with birch plywood. Next to tweezers, the most important tool is a pair of 5x glasses to find the things!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Clarence
Splinters!
Yikes, I had the same problem till the wife bought me a pair of calf skin gloves just for such an occasion as handling plywood. They provide a nice grip on the p-wood as I pass it thru the tablesaw. Never had the problem with solid wood though.
As for the weekend, it seems that Mother Nature is about to dump anywhere from 1' to 3' of snow on us. Not sure if I should believe the weather folks or not. I mean, where else can you get paid for being wrong!
If it does snow that much then I will have a great weekend as I really enjoy plowing with the ol picky. If not then I guess I'll have to enjoy myself in the woodshop. Boy, that would be a drag, EH? :-) :-)
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
I like the Beadlock joinery system. Simple, low cost method for loose tenon joinery. I think it's one of the most underrated tools out there.
mike
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