What is your favorite tool in the shop..?

I would have to say , my framing nail gun . Not only does the ammo come in stripes , it holds a couple of them . Can get a lot of shooting done between reloads . Plus I no longer have to swing that cheap hammer . I built most of the shop with that damn hammer before I sucked it up and spent the money for the gun . Now if I cannot build it with the gun , it does not get built .
 
I read this thread and couldn't think of anything. So I actually walked out there and couldn't think of anything. So I poked around and still couldn't think of anything.

How depressing... I have a nice shop full of tools I only used to dream about. And I'm about ready to drag the entire lot out back and set it on fire. I could use a break from machining, too much of it this year.

But. Way out back, at the rear of my property, there is a filthy workshop with two dusty windows, and a couple flickering florescent lights that illuminates a dank dark dusty mess. This is where I keep all the dirty stuff. A big metal rack full of old oily drops and one ton of greasy 1018 CR. Grinders (not my KMG, Rob), tumbler, welders, plasma, saws, even an injection molding machine. Nasty dirty filthy mess making stuff that I keep far away from my nice clean precision shop stuff. In this dark dusty shed, with an old window AC unit rattling away, and spider webs everywhere, there sit the worlds finest welder. A big fat Lincoln square wave TIG welder with a water cooled torch, that will go from 2 amps to 400 amps, and 36 volts to 80 volts, with wave balancing and adjustable everything. Set the high frequency arc start where you want it, turn on the argon and install an appropriate tungsten into a gas lens, step on the foot pedal and a soft glow will expand out into the air and find the piece of metal you're welding and stabilize into a smooth glowing arc. Step on the pedal, and push that powerful heat and start your weld, then back off. Then get it going again, dip your rod, move over and find your rhythm and make the prettiest welds you've ever seen. Welds as small a 1/32" or as big as 3/4". Welding steel as thin as a .035 bandsaw blade, or as thick as one inch plate in one pass, and as pretty as you please. Man I love that welder.
 
Geez, Nathan, that was almost like porn! I don't know doodly about welding but that actually kinda raised my blood pressure.
 
ONeill said:
I would have to say , my framing nail gun . Not only does the ammo come in stripes , it holds a couple of them . Can get a lot of shooting done between reloads . Plus I no longer have to swing that cheap hammer . I built most of the shop with that damn hammer before I sucked it up and spent the money for the gun . Now if I cannot build it with the gun , it does not get built .
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Know what you mean Jack,I have 11 nail guns (all sizes) don't have the first hand drive nail.

Don't want any!!!
 
rfrink said:
I'm talking about the tool that you just LOVE to use. It might be a machine tool...or hand tool. It might be new...or perhaps a few hundred years old.

I have several...but one that comes to mind is this Starrett Tap wrench ( No. 91B ). For years I've always used a cheap imported tap wrench and never considered paying the price that this little gem demands. But one day I did..I sprung for it out of desperation when my chinese wrench broke and felt so guilty about spending so much money. After I used it once..I've never again thought about the price.

taphandle.jpg


I just love this tool!! I love to use it! It is so solid and comfortable...there's something about the way it feels in my hands that seems to really promote craftsmanship in my work.

What's your favorite tool in the shop?
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Wow Rob, I had that exact same experience! My cheapo Chinese tap wrench broke at 4:50 pm on Friday and both local hardware stores were closed by the time I got there. I did finally get a new tap wrench the next day - not as nice as yours, but very, very American nice. I'm so happy. :)

My favorite tool is without doubt by Bader BIII. I bought it long before I even knew of a KMG, but it is everything I expected it to be and continues to allow me to make whatever I can imagine. An artist friend once noted that my whole approach to making stuff is ... sculptural. I pretty much invoke my grinder regardless what I'm making, whether it's a wood box or an armillary or a ray gun prop for an amateur movie. Or a knife. It is my favorite tool of all time.

I've always said though, that the best $150 I've ever spent was for my HF metal cutting bandsaw. That one tool has saved me more frustation and material than any other single tool I've ever owned. Of course, I often wonder what it'd be like to have a nice powerful American made industrial-strength metal cutting bandsaw - and perhaps some day I will.

But the next thing I'm going to buy is Rob's flat platen and big tool rest; now that strikes me as another fine tool I just gotta have. :D
 
Wow. Good question Rob. I'll admit to being a bit fickle and more than a little indecisive, but here are some of my favorite tools. Each receives favor in turn depending on my mood and what I'm working on, but each has a special place in my shop.

- My ugly little straight pein hammer. Bought it for $12 at an antique shop, the head is definitely hand forged, and the handle is crooked and obviously just an old stick from the yard, knothole and all. This hammer has a special feel to it though. It's the most comfortable hammer I own (beats both of my Hofi hammers!) and just has a feel to it that's somehow "right".

- My KMG clone. I use it all the time, for everything. It's the first thing of any real use that I ever built, and with a few exceptions works very well. 2 months of evenings and weekends, a little blood, and a lot of cursing went into it. I'm planning to make another one, but this one will always remain in my shop and be special to me.

- A power hammer. Just about any power hammer. At home my 30# Kerrihard, and at friend's places a series of other hammers, all of which make the herculean task of pattern welding possible and fun. My absolute favorite hammers are the Iron Kiss hammers. Partly because I call John who makes them a friend, partly because they look like battleships, partly because they're simply the best damned hammer I've ever seen. Mostly though it's because I know and can see and feel the years of trial and error, only to be overcome by an effort of will, some careful thought and design, and an incredible amount of precision hand work of the kind you just don't see today that goes into making every one. I don't have one yet, but I will; and when I do, it will be my favorite tool.

-d
 
I love all of these stories! Keep posting them!

Here's another one of my favorite tools. (I hear Julie Andrews singing from the Sound of Music...)

lastword.jpg


It's my "Last word" indicator with it's worn leather covered metal case. I wish it could talk...I'd love to hear where it's been...and what it has done. I aquired it from an Estate sale along with a tool chest from a retired/deceased tool and die maker here in Ohio.

It's not terribly acurate...and I have others that I use for important work.....but it's always a pleasure to pull this one out and use it. It makes makes me feel warm and mushy inside with pride and nostalgia from the glory days of traditional tool and die makers. They are pretty much gone...and I doubt that they'll ever return again in this country...so I just have my imagination and this little "last word".
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
I read this thread and couldn't think of anything. So I actually walked out there and couldn't think of anything. So I poked around and still couldn't think of anything.

How depressing... I have a nice shop full of tools I only used to dream about. And I'm about ready to drag the entire lot out back and set it on fire. I could use a break from machining, too much of it this year.

But. Way out back, at the rear of my property, there is a filthy workshop with two dusty windows, and a couple flickering florescent lights that illuminates a dank dark dusty mess. This is where I keep all the dirty stuff. A big metal rack full of old oily drops and one ton of greasy 1018 CR. Grinders (not my KMG, Rob), tumbler, welders, plasma, saws, even an injection molding machine. Nasty dirty filthy mess making stuff that I keep far away from my nice clean precision shop stuff. In this dark dusty shed, with an old window AC unit rattling away, and spider webs everywhere, there sit the worlds finest welder. A big fat Lincoln square wave TIG welder with a water cooled torch, that will go from 2 amps to 400 amps, and 36 volts to 80 volts, with wave balancing and adjustable everything. Set the high frequency arc start where you want it, turn on the argon and install an appropriate tungsten into a gas lens, step on the foot pedal and a soft glow will expand out into the air and find the piece of metal you're welding and stabilize into a smooth glowing arc. Step on the pedal, and push that powerful heat and start your weld, then back off. Then get it going again, dip your rod, move over and find your rhythm and make the prettiest welds you've ever seen. Welds as small a 1/32" or as big as 3/4". Welding steel as thin as a .035 bandsaw blade, or as thick as one inch plate in one pass, and as pretty as you please. Man I love that welder.
Click to expand...

Nathan thats like having a 56 corvette under a tarp out in the barn. I can picture it perfectly with your description. Thanks for starting my day off right buddy.
 
ddavelarsen said:
Of course, I often wonder what it'd be like to have a nice powerful American made industrial-strength metal cutting bandsaw...
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Dave, same here. This peaked my curiosity from the 'portable bandsaw" thread:

John L said:
I had a two speed Wilton metal cutting floor model bandsaw for years. Thought it was the cats' meow. I set up another shop in a vacation home with a portable Dewalt bandsaw. Now..that is the cats' meow. Cuts like buttah. I bought the bandsaw on Fleabay for 100 bucks. Simply cannot be beat. Everyone needs to know this is an inexpensive way to cut steel accurately and fast. The saw is not as important as the balde.
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Seems too good to be true. :confused:

Patrice
 
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My Nimba anvil. I searched for an old anvil in decent shape for longer than I want to admit. Every anvil I found within driving distance came up short.


Lane
 
My files are also my favorite tools. I used them to build my first knives and I still find they get me out of a jam more than I care to admit. I have a 10" Magicut that I really like.

My favorite power tool is my KMG particularly with the rotary platen. As I get more control over the machine, I find more and more I can do with it. I may not need the files as much in the future but I can always count on them.
 
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MICK when i saw that big RED MONSTER 2 words come out of my mouth and it wasnt merry xmas . My favorite tool has many uses I use it for 20 uses making knives and cleaning my ears Q TIPS .
 
James you are qwick ill have to add you noticed i picked a tool i dont think ive hurt myself with YET LMAO
 
Rob, That's a good question! Once again I'll say I love my shop! I have a lot of tools and I enjoy the ones with a history. If a have to choose a favorite I will have to say my forging press. I like it because I built it and it has a lot of power and works well. I have made a lot of dies for it, recently I made a set of pressbrake dies because I like to build things. I can't believe I lived without them for so long. The tool I use for many different thing and most often is my belt grinder. I just enjoy having a nice shop and am grateful for it and all my tools and memorbilia.
Alden :)
 
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