A RELATED QUESTION

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Ted iin Michigan

Ted iin Michigan

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2010
Messages
1,828
Location
webberville, mi
JT posted a question about your biggest regret in tool "buying". I put that in quotes because I think it applies to tools "bought" for you - eg, Christmas gifts. Good Q and good topic.
So - here's the flip side: What is the tool you LEAST expected to be useful in your shop that turned out WAY different?

I'll start it off. LOML got me the KREG Mortise Mate loose tenon jig for Christmas after I had mentioned it as a lower cost alternative to the green brand tool. Much lower cost, actually. I thought, oh, that's nice, thanks, honey. Took it to the shop and left it there for a month. Then she asked me to make a picture frame with an arched top. Hmmm. Never did that. The Mortise Mate is the PERFECT tool to join together the parts for the arch. There is a learning curve but it's not steep at all. I think Ill be using this one a LOT.

So - what's your entry in to this category?
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
I have two pocket hole jigs from Kreg, one from 25 years ago and another from 2 years ago. The first one was a huge step above dowelling jigs and better than biscuit jointing for me. I was quite surprised at the strength of the joints the first time I used it. I do realized that this is a personal method of choice and work habit. I used it overseas in which I made matching book cases, a kitchen hutch, and several furniture items - to be able to disassemble for shipping back home in the USA and re-assembly back here.

I have looked at the Kreg Mortise Mate a few times and will give it another look for the future. However, At my age, I might not find it beneficial going forward. Thanks for posting this thread.

For daily use: I think the greatest usage of a recent tool introduction in the past 25 years is cordless impact driver. Before that came along, I tried using drill-drivers for driving screws - and did on occasion. Then the impact drivers came along. WOW - I could drive screws all day long. No tool has changed my work habits as much as that one; Second: sliding compound miter saw!
 
Last edited:
There are a couple that come to mind for me.

One is simply a good, impact driver. For years I simply used my cordless drills for both drilling and installing fasteners until I had to replace one. The kit I chose happened to include a drill and a 1/4" impact driver. The first time I used it and it sunk the head of the screw without trying to twist my arm off I said "OMG Why didn't I have one of these sooner!?" It wasn't long before I bought a 2nd, more expensive one, that has more features, especially variable speed and a light that shines on the work spot.

Another is my cordless reciprocating saw. I've had a corded one for years and it got a fair amount of use, but getting a cordless version along with "Diablo carbide pruning blades" was a real game changer. We have used it so much that we wore one out completely and we are on our second one. (We, my wife uses it all the time to prune trees and to cut up fallen branches. I even used it to cut through some buried tree roots to help the internet folks trench a line in to the house from the pedestal. They were amazed that the carbide blade could cut through the dirt and roots without immediately dulling.

The tool that best fits your question though I think is a cordless oscillating cutter. I seem to use it a lot more than I ever thought I would.

Another is a cordless angle grinder with a diamond blade. I've spent a bunch on various tile cutters over the years whenever we decided to tile or re-tile a space. They worked, but not very well, especially for odd shaped cutting. I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money on a wet saw. The last time we re-tiled our bathroom floor I bought a diamond cutting blade for my angle grinder - what a game changer. It cut through that stuff like butter, well, really dusty butter.

I kind of put my electric finish nailer and brad nailer into the same category. I use them much more often than I used their pneumatic counterparts. Just the convenience of not having to drag a compressor out or even to stretch an air hose out.

I don't use my biscuit cutter very often anymore since getting a nice Kreg pocket screw setup. (I do use Milescraft Pocket Screws though as the Torx head works so much better than the Robertson (for me anyway).

Ok - enough. -- I guess I'm a little bit of a tool nut.

Dave
 
Nice follow up!! I am step with Dave on one of them and that is the oscillating cutting saw. Now when I bought it I had ideas where I might need it doing some trim work and thing Sheetrocking a couple rooms. I was right about those but there have been a few other instances where that tool saved my butt. I had to replace a rotted window sill when I was getting new windows. I did not want to installers just throwing new window over the rotted sill that thing helped me get the sill out and adjust for the new sill which was a bitt wider.

The other tool and I seen these used hundreds of times on job sites by carpenters but never thought I would need one. Any sheetrock work I did I would use the ruler and razor method. break out the straight edges and all. Well went I went to the Dewalt 20V battery platform for cordless tools, I decided to buy one of those sheet rock cut out zip tools. Have to tell you I wish I had did that sooner even if it was chorded. When I was redoing many more rooms in the house. Well the last room I did last year and used that thing it made it so darn easy. Saved time and effort.

I am sure there are more but for now those 2 stand out. thanks for the question.
 
Cordless impact driver was life changing, just phenomenal. I can't state the life changing part enough. I'll agree with oscillating cutter, I got one for Christmas a few years ago and the more I've used it the more I realize how nice it is to have around.

The other one would be a corded hammer drill. I have probably the absolute cheapest one out there ($20 Menards) but when I've needed to drill into basement walls helping our neighbors hang stuff in various basements it has been worth every penny of the 20 bucks. It has the ability to switch between regular drill and hammer drill. I use the regular drill setting with a wire wheel to clean the bottom of the lawn mower too.
 
I should have mentioned the oscillating cutting saw also. I bought the original oscillating saw - from Fein before Fein's patent ran out in the early 2000's, and then many companies began making them. My mom wanted me to tear out a tiled shower and install a new shower in 1996, but she said she did not want any dust. I told her I knew of a tool that would help in taking the old tile off without creating a lot of flying dust - the Fein and it was close to $200 back then. So I bought one, and it was so helpful in so many more ways than just removing tile, and without creating a lot of ambient flying dust too. Mom was happy and I was happy with that new tool. I don't use it often but when I do, there is no tool like it! (I gave it to my son in law about 5 years ago and bought me a new Fein.)

In 2001, I was getting ready to go back to Japan and fell off a ladder 4 days before leaving, breaking a bone in my wrist. The doctor put a cast on it, and I told him I was leaving for Japan in 4 days. He said get a Japanese doctor to take the cast off in 6 weeks. I put the Fein in my suitcase and took it with me back to Japan. 8 Weeks later (another story) I used the Fein to cut the cast off myself! šŸ˜ (That is/was the basic tool/method that was used to cut casts off without cutting the skin.)
 
Last edited:
egnald said:
There are a couple that come to mind for me.

One is simply a good, impact driver. For years I simply used my cordless drills for both drilling and installing fasteners until I had to replace one. The kit I chose happened to include a drill and a 1/4" impact driver. The first time I used it and it sunk the head of the screw without trying to twist my arm off I said "OMG Why didn't I have one of these sooner!?" It wasn't long before I bought a 2nd, more expensive one, that has more features, especially variable speed and a light that shines on the work spot.

Another is my cordless reciprocating saw. I've had a corded one for years and it got a fair amount of use, but getting a cordless version along with "Diablo carbide pruning blades" was a real game changer. We have used it so much that we wore one out completely and we are on our second one. (We, my wife uses it all the time to prune trees and to cut up fallen branches. I even used it to cut through some buried tree roots to help the internet folks trench a line in to the house from the pedestal. They were amazed that the carbide blade could cut through the dirt and roots without immediately dulling.

The tool that best fits your question though I think is a cordless oscillating cutter. I seem to use it a lot more than I ever thought I would.

Another is a cordless angle grinder with a diamond blade. I've spent a bunch on various tile cutters over the years whenever we decided to tile or re-tile a space. They worked, but not very well, especially for odd shaped cutting. I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money on a wet saw. The last time we re-tiled our bathroom floor I bought a diamond cutting blade for my angle grinder - what a game changer. It cut through that stuff like butter, well, really dusty butter.

I kind of put my electric finish nailer and brad nailer into the same category. I use them much more often than I used their pneumatic counterparts. Just the convenience of not having to drag a compressor out or even to stretch an air hose out.

I don't use my biscuit cutter very often anymore since getting a nice Kreg pocket screw setup. (I do use Milescraft Pocket Screws though as the Torx head works so much better than the Robertson (for me anyway).

Ok - enough. -- I guess I'm a little bit of a tool nut.

Dave
Click to expand...
OMG Dave, I had no idea Milescraft made pocket screws. I absolutely hate the square drive screws that Kreg makes. Guess what I'll be buying? Thank you for clueing me in.
 
I don't know if this counts because it's not a shop tool but my wife got me a battery operated leaf blower. I thought it was kind of an expensive item for something that will probably rake leaves badly, but I've used it to sweep the carport and the sidewalk and clear snow. I would never have gotten my gas powered one out for any of those little chores, but boy it does a good job and is a time saver.
 
leehljp said:
I should have mentioned the oscillating cutting saw also. I bought the original oscillating saw - from Fein before Fein's patent ran out in the early 2000's, and then many companies began making them. My mom wanted me to tear out a tiled shower and install a new shower in 1996, but she said she did not want any dust. I told her I knew of a tool that would help in taking the old tile off without creating a lot of flying dust - the Fein and it was close to $200 back then. So I bought one, and it was so helpful in so many more ways than just removing tile, and without creating a lot of ambient flying dust too. Mom was happy and I was happy with that new tool. I don't use it often but when I do, there is no tool like it! (I gave it to my son in law about 5 years ago and bought me a new Fein.)

In 2001, I was getting ready to go back to Japan and fell off a ladder 4 days before leaving, breaking a bone in my wrist. The doctor put a cast on it, and I told him I was leaving for Japan in 4 days. He said get a Japanese doctor to take the cast off in 6 weeks. I put the Fein in my suitcase and took it with me back to Japan. 8 Weeks later (another story) I used the Fein to cut the cast off myself! šŸ˜ (That is/was the basic tool/method that was used to cut casts off without cutting the skin.)
Click to expand...
I bought that one too Hank back in the day when it was only around. I bought it for the triangle sander though. I can add that one to the wish I never bought. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom