Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 36

Thread: Rank the tools in your shop in order of importance

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    72

    Rank the tools in your shop in order of importance

    I want to see how everyone answers the following questions.

    1. What work do you primarily do in your shop. (What stuff do you make and is it done professionally or as a hobby?)

    2. Three most important tools, ranked in order. These are the tools you use constantly or otherwise perform a task that you wouldn't want to do any other way. If one broke irreparably you would quickly buy another... etc

    3. Three least important tools, ranked in order. Maybe things you thought you would use a lot more but didn't really need. Or it could be something where you have other acceptable means to perform the same tasks.

    I'm just curious.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Blacksburg, VA
    Posts
    199
    Quote Originally Posted by Jared Walters View Post
    I want to see how everyone answers the following questions.

    1. What work do you primarily do in your shop. (What stuff do you make and is it done professionally or as a hobby?)

    2. Three most important tools, ranked in order. These are the tools you use constantly or otherwise perform a task that you wouldn't want to do any other way. If one broke irreparably you would quickly buy another... etc

    3. Three least important tools, ranked in order. Maybe things you thought you would use a lot more but didn't really need. Or it could be something where you have other acceptable means to perform the same tasks.

    I'm just curious.

    [QUOTE=Jared Walters;2366798]I want to see how everyone answers the following questions.

    1. What work do you primarily do in your shop. (What stuff do you make and is it done professionally or as a hobby?)

    1. Hobbyist. fine furniture, mostly greene and greene style

    2. Three most important tools, ranked in order. These are the tools you use constantly or otherwise perform a task that you wouldn't want to do any other way. If one broke irreparably you would quickly buy another... etc

    1. Table saw
    2. Planer
    3. Jointer

    I would quickly buy any of the above if one of my current machines failed. They are all essential in my mind



    3. Three least important tools, ranked in order. Maybe things you thought you would use a lot more but didn't really need. Or it could be something where you have other acceptable means to perform the same tasks.

    1. Festool domino (although it can sure come in handy)
    2. no 7 jointer planer (great tool, but I can usually get by with my jack plane and smoother)
    3. Leigh FMT jig. (I've used this a lot over the years, but I get better results, with custom jigs designed for the work at hand.

  3. #3
    1. Furniture, especially with veneer.

    2. table saw (couldn't live without it)
    Planer
    Miter saw
    Dust collector
    ROS
    Cordless tools (drill, driver, jig saw, Sawzall)
    band saw
    Scroll saw
    router, full size and trim
    lathe
    Domino


    3. Biscuit joiner (essentially useless)
    Portable (hand held) planer (used it maybe two or three times)
    A few specialized hand held planes that I bought and found that I never use.

    Mike
    Last edited by Mike Henderson; 01-26-2015 at 8:34 PM.
    Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Pleasant Grove, UT
    Posts
    1,503
    1. Usage: Hobby
    2. Most important tools:
      1. Workbench,
      2. Cordless Drill,
      3. Combination Square
    3. Least important tools: too many to list.... picking three would sort of be silly. Three though do make the list
      1. Slickplane. Simply didna work for me. Least important in this case = "useless".
      2. Vega Lathe - got it as part of a package deal and haven't restored it yet. Just taking up space for now. My Jet Mini-Lathe has been used.
      3. Benchtop Mortiser - inherited from my father, still NIB. "Useless" simply because I haven't had a need for it since I got it, although I have done a few projects where it would have been mighty handy, and may use it on my current workbench build.


    btw, "least important" does not necessarily mean "useless." Well, it does with the Slickplane for me. I do have a jointer and a lunchbox planer that are "least important" because they've been rendered redundant and are in the "for sale" category, but before redundancy, they were used quite a bit.
    Last edited by John Sanford; 01-26-2015 at 6:20 PM. Reason: Typo, more useful answer.
    It came to pass...
    "Curiosity is the ultimate power tool." - Roy Underhill
    The road IS the destination.

  5. #5
    A)Hobby
    1=Bandsaw
    2=table saw
    3=planer/jointer
    Least important:
    I use all my tools ,some not as often but they are still important.
    Least used tools:
    Scroll saw.
    router
    biscuit jointer

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    South Coastal Massachusetts
    Posts
    6,824
    #4 plane
    3/4 inch Marples chisel
    MM20 bandsaw

    Hobbyist with no professional aspirations.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Griswold Connecticut
    Posts
    6,926
    Most used
    1. Jointer
    2. Planer
    3. Bandsaw

    Least used and could disappear without a problem
    1. Pneumatic brad nailer
    2. Pneumatic stapler
    3. Oscillating cutoff tool.

    Tool anyone is allowed to borrow and I don't care if it comes back.
    1. Porter Cable air compressor. (I really gotta put a free sign on this thing and put it on the curb.)
    "The first thing you need to know, will likely be the last thing you learn." (Unknown)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Ambridge, PA
    Posts
    968
    Most Important:

    Lathe
    Dust Collector
    Bandsaw

    Least Important:

    Kreg Pocket Hole
    Horizontal Router Table
    Scroll Saw

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Jared Walters View Post
    I want to see how everyone answers the following questions.

    1. What work do you primarily do in your shop. (What stuff do you make and is it done professionally or as a hobby?)

    2. Three most important tools, ranked in order. These are the tools you use constantly or otherwise perform a task that you wouldn't want to do any other way. If one broke irreparably you would quickly buy another... etc

    3. Three least important tools, ranked in order. Maybe things you thought you would use a lot more but didn't really need. Or it could be something where you have other acceptable means to perform the same tasks.

    I'm just curious.
    1. Hobbyist. Small and medium sized furniture. Decorative boxes.

    2. Tablesaw, Drill Press, Smoothing Planes. A 4th item: Marples blue handled chisels

    3. Kreg jig, Electric router (havent used in months), scrollsaw.
    Last edited by Frederick Skelly; 01-26-2015 at 9:01 PM.
    "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

    “If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Camas, Wa
    Posts
    3,853
    1)Hobbiest and homeowner Furnature, home improvement, and anything else under the sun.
    2)Table Saw, Jointer, Planer.
    3)Drill press, Lathe, RAS.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Wake Forest, North Carolina
    Posts
    1,981
    Blog Entries
    2
    Hi Jared,

    As to your questions:

    1. I'm a hobbyist.

    2. My most used tools would be the table saw, miter saw, jointer, planer and dust collector. Hope you don't mind that I listed all my core tools.

    3. My least important tools: Belt Sander, Not sure what else.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Mandalay Shores, CA
    Posts
    2,690
    Blog Entries
    26
    1. Hobbyist, art furniture for me & gifts for others. Stuff for the house for the common good.

    2. Most used tools in order (I am ignoring non-woodworking tools):
    Squares and rules (without this, there is lttle use / need for the other tools)
    Table saw
    Handplanes - jointer to block planes incl spokeshaves
    Chisels
    Clamps
    Sharpening stones
    Hand saws
    Band saw
    Router plane and inlay tools
    Drills and drill press
    Drum sander

    3.Least used tools:
    Thickness planer
    Belt sander
    Pneumatic nailers
    Hand router / router table
    Mortiser
    Lathe

    In truth, I could live without the least used tools. They do get used but less frequently than the others. The planer hasn't seen action in a year and one half.
    Last edited by Shawn Pixley; 01-26-2015 at 9:18 PM.
    Shawn

    "no trees were harmed in the creation of this message, however some electrons were temporarily inconvenienced."

    "I resent having to use my brain to do your thinking"

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Lubbock Texas
    Posts
    931
    I am a hobbiest that sells everything I make. I make artsey crafty stuff with a lot of inaly work.
    #1 tool: Scroll saw
    #2 tool: stationary 6" belt sander
    #3 tool: 14" band saw
    No PHD, but I have a DD 214

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    near San Diego: unincorporated section of county
    Posts
    764
    hobbyist, furniture and home upgrades.
    most used:
    1. Dust collector (bad lungs already)
    2. sliding table saw
    3. jointer/planer combo
    least used:
    too many dumb purchases to list
    Last edited by James Baker SD; 01-26-2015 at 10:10 PM. Reason: typo

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Wapakoneta,Ohio
    Posts
    427
    Cabinetmaker,furniture maker (full time profession)
    Most important
    1- Slider
    2-Cut off saw
    3-Shaper
    Least important;
    Festool Domino
    drill press
    Hand tools

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •