When does one have enough tools

[Rich Riddle]

Another unnamed member in our home has been hinting around the question of when does one own enough tools, stationary power tools, small power tools, and hand tools. Along that questioning, what would you consider essential shop tools.

[Dan Masshardt]

Your second question is interesting.

The first question sounds like a wife question. :-).

[Jim Andrew]

That question does require some thinking. Think it depends on your shop situation. A guy does need some room to work. I have seen guys shops that hardly had room to move, let alone work, because they had more tools and equipment than space. But hey, you can move out into the driveway on nice days. Sounds like you need to build something nice for the wife.

[Stan Lightner]

Another unnamed member in our home has been hinting around the question of when does one own enough tools, stationary power tools, small power tools, and hand tools. Along that questioning, what would you consider essential shop tools.

Never, ever too many tools.

#2 depends on what you do. I'm a toolmaker by trade and have a toolbox full of precision measuring instruments that most would not know how to use. That is in addition to my metal lathe, milling machine, welding equipment, etc.

[Dennis Ford]

You have enough tools when you die.
Essential tools to start; hand saw, hand plane, couple of chisels, straight edge, measuring device.

[ken masoumi]

Basic essential tools in my humble woodworking shop are:
1=Bandsaw.
2=Table saw.
6" edge jointer.
4= Planer.
5= router.
6=Drill press.
7=small drill.
8=Vacuum/dust collector.
9=Marking,measuring tools.
10=Clamps.
Then you start adding and upgrading and end up with at least two of each and we all know about not ever having enough clamps .At this point I have absolutely no excuse not to be able to build small to medium projects,the only thing lacking is experience.

[Steve Kohn]

You never have enough tools. I do lack the space to put any more major tools in the shop. And I keep the wife happy by building projects for our children and grandchildren.

[george newbury]

Another unnamed member in our home has been hinting around the question of when does one own enough tools, stationary power tools, small power tools, and hand tools.

Does this unnamed member have lot's of things like shoes? Kitchen gadgets?

One owns enough tools when one can accomplish all the jobs that need to be done with an acceptable level of effort.

Along that questioning, what would you consider essential shop tools.

Since their are such a wide variety of "shops" I think trash cans would be essential for all.

[Rich Riddle]

Does this unnamed member have lot's of things like shoes? Kitchen gadgets?

Shoes and purses, indeed. I don't go in the unnamed person's closet to count those sorts of things, but the unnamed person has a closet dedicated to shoes.

[Duane Bledsoe]

..........

[Jim Foster]

Do you collect them or make stuff? That should help with the answer

[Shawn Russell]

I am not sure we can answer the question without knowing about what sort of woodworking you do?

I can tell you from my experience I will be doing built ins, trim, both small and large furniture pieces and very small turnings being a hybrid woodworker.
1. band saw
2. drill press
3. jointer
4. planer
5. trac saw
6. chop saw
7. lathe
8. router table
8. planes: couple smoothers, jack, jointer is on the way
9. bench and mortise chisels
10. files and rasps
11. clamps.. errr just a couple clamps
12. sharpening stones
13. miter box which will replace the chop saw pretty soon.
14. mallet
15. hand saws: rip, cross-cut, dovetail.
16. saw files
17. bench and assembly table
18. a mix of power and hand drills and drivers
19. screw drivers, sockets, wrenches and allen keys

And then the obvious glues, stains, and thinners.

[Rich Riddle]

Do you collect them or make stuff? That should help with the answer

I make stuff. Some tools get used more than others. For instance the Unisaw gets used every few days but the Inca 259 small table saw doesn't. The only tool I rarely use is an old Walker Turner lathe. It just sits in it's place high up on the shelf.

[paul cottingham]

I have the basic list from "the anarchists toolchest" give or take a few tools. I can build anything I want with that small collection of tools. And I'm not a very good woodworker.
My space is small ( 9x20 garage) so space is more important than anything.
Mind you, who am I kidding? You can never have enough tools!

[John Piwaron]

Clearly a wife question. My wife has asked it. There is no good answer.

Second question - essential tools are those required to build the project you're working on.