Sweating the small stuff

[DavidF]

Now that's what I call style......

[cpowell]

Originally Posted by Bas

Tool catalogs are now like the Victoria's Secret catalog.
Bas.

You may be spending TOO much time in the shop!!

On the spending note, it looks like most of those things are useful. BTW I think the forstner bits will find use, too. I don't use screws very often at all but sometimes a counterbored screw with a plug cap is the best approach.

BTW, you didn't mention a bevel or marking tools or respirator?


Chuck

[Cuprousworks]

Originally Posted by Bas

...BTW, the compass I referred to was the two-legged variety, for drawing circles. Is there a different term for that here? Which leads to an interesting question - what is the strangest thing you have in the shop?

Bas.

I've heard them referred to as "Dividers", but that's probably from machinists and engineers. Some have pencils, some only points. If the points go in or out they're "Calipers"? Put the same points on a single bar instead of attaching them as a "V" and you've got "Trammels".

No wonder there's so many tools, people have been working overtime making the names!

[Rod]

Woodworking is a bottomless pit. The more you buy, the more you "need". The more you learn, the more you "need". It never ends.............


...............thank goodness.



Rod

[ebarr]

I'm sorry but that qualifies for a big YOU SUCK.

I want one.....mine's a little 2x2 cube fridge from wally mart.

[walnutjerry]

If you REALLY want to control tool spending, there is a simple rule. Don,t spend more than the income produced by the tools you buy. But who counts? the guy depending on the shop for a living!!

Jerry

[junquecol]

Originally Posted by walnutjerry

If you REALLY want to control tool spending, there is a simple rule. Don,t spend more than the income produced by the tools you buy. But who counts? the guy depending on the shop for a living!!

Jerry

When you earn your living with your tools, this rule doesn't apply- You do have to eat. My FIL used to say that I was the only guy he knew who had a saw for both ends of the board. I reminded him how many steps I save per week, not having to walk to other end of board to get the saw. All my tools have more than paid for themselves. In 1996, wife and I went to American Woodworker Show in Ft Washington PA. School system paid for motel, rental car, meals for me, along with show admission. Son worked for airline, so round trip was only $12.00 each. While at show, I bought a Kregg Pocket Screw Jig for about $125. Care to guess how many times the cost was mentioned on a ninety minute flight back to RDU? Every time I use Kregg, I remind her of how much it cost, and how much I have earned. She has figured out that it takes QUALITY TOOLS to earn a living. Oh yeah, she bought me Bill Hylton's book "Router Magic" at the show. This is one of my most treasured and used books.

[Bas]

Originally Posted by cpowell

I don't use screws very often at all but sometimes a counterbored screw with a plug cap is the best approach.

BTW, you didn't mention a bevel or marking tools or respirator?
Chuck

I'm not a big fan of screws either, it looks ugly. Plain and simple. But, as you said, sometimes it's the best option. And if you're going to paint, a little filler hides a lot of screws.

I actually use quite a few screws in the shop jigs that I build. Sort of a meta-expense.

I don't have a respirator yet, right now just using the simple dust masks. I haven't found a respirator that is comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time. But I do plan to get serious about dust control in the next few months - upgrade the bags on the DC, air filter, etc. A good respirator is part of all that.

As for marking tools - it's on the list of things to get. This is one item I figured you do only have to buy once in a lifetime, so I want to get a nice one. It's all about priorities. So until then, I use a pencil, cut large and use a block plane


Bas.

[Bas]

Originally Posted by Cuprousworks

I've heard them referred to as "Dividers", but that's probably from machinists and engineers. Some have pencils, some only points. If the points go in or out they're "Calipers"? Put the same points on a single bar instead of attaching them as a "V" and you've got "Trammels".

No wonder there's so many tools, people have been working overtime making the names!

Blades in 28 sizes, kerfs and tooth count. Glue in 57 varieties. I guess six options for the "pointy thing" isn't too bad! I have one with one point and a clamp to hold a pencil. But, now that you mention it, I do need a pair of dividers to measure out some angels. I'll put it on the list....thanks for nothing!

Strange word BTW, "Trammel". Sounds like a loose saw blade.

Bas.

[PeteM]

Speaking of dust collection . . .

I was wondering how many folks worry about 1 micron dust particles in the shop but still smoke cigarettes (or cigars, etc.)?

pete

[lottathought]

Originally Posted by junquecol

She has figured out that it takes QUALITY TOOLS to earn a living. Oh yeah, she bought me Bill Hylton's book "Router Magic" at the show. This is one of my most treasured and used books.

It took me a few years to finally figure out that there is usually a reason why some tools cost more than others.
And I am still trying to teach my dad this one...

My problem is that I have too much for the space that I have got.
I keep telling myself..the weight bench needs to go..to make room for the band saw.

[scsmith42]

Bas, that is one cool looking shop! I like the old coke machine and the checkerboard flooring pattern; I've been trying to find one of the old Coca-cola chest-type coolers for my barn. (Just can't stomach paying $1,500 for something to sit on the loading dock though...).

What's the "strangest" tool that I have in my shop? That would be a hard one to answer; mainly because my most unusual woodworking tools are not in the shop - they're outside and used to harvest trees to turn to logs to mill on the sawmill into boards to dry in the kiln...

Soo.... if I open your question up to include "unusual tools outside of the shop"... I'd have to say that my sawmill is the most unusual tool that I have - it's a swingblade mill and they are not that common.

Scott

[JimmyC]

A urinal, that's about the strangest thing that I have in my shop. It's not often that you go into somebody's home shop and see a bathroom with a toilet and a urinal. The shop is a pole barn style 32'x40' about a 100' away, and down a hill from the house, so the bathroom comes in real handy. It turns out that the guy we bought the house from was a plumber (it even has it's own septic system).

By the way (post gloat), when we were moving from NJ my LOML was looking at houses without me and chose this one. She truly loves me.

Jimmy

[sediener]

Originally Posted by twodognc

A urinal, that's about the strangest thing that I have in my shop. It's not often that you go into somebody's home shop and see a bathroom with a toilet and a urinal. The shop is a pole barn style 32'x40' about a 100' away, and down a hill from the house, so the bathroom comes in real handy. It turns out that the guy we bought the house from was a plumber (it even has it's own septic system).

By the way (post gloat), when we were moving from NJ my LOML was looking at houses without me and chose this one. She truly loves me.

Jimmy

Either she loves you or knew what would happen to her flowers if you didn't have another place to relieve yourself.

- Steve

[JimmyC]

Ain't that the truth Steve.

Jimmy