Tools that are much better than you expected

[Bob Falk]

Track saw. I never joint long boards anymore. Plane them flat and then track saw one edge before a final pass on the jointer. Saves time, frustration, and safer than trying to joint out crook on a board longer than the jointer. IMHO, a track saw is right up there with the table saw as an essential shop tool.

[Glen Johnson]

I bought a set of machinist gage blocks. It really speeds up set ups for setting fences, router bit height, and it seems they are one of the most used measuring tools in my shop.

[Frederick Skelly]

I bought a set of machinist gage blocks. It really speeds up set ups for setting fences, router bit height, and it seems they are one of the most used measuring tools in my shop.

Glen, could you please describe why using the machinist blocks is easier/faster than using a good square?

Thank you,
Fred

[Glen Johnson]

In the first place gage bocks are easier to use with my bad eyes. Second, the measurements are exactly repeatable if one is moving fences back and forth. You just set a reference stop and measure off of it. I also find that measuring a fence against a round router blade is more accurate. I find that doing joinery where one just wants to take a couple of thousands easier to make small adjustments.

[Frederick Skelly]

Thanks Glen!

[David Tolsky]

This might sound funny but I have to say my Craftsman Pro Industrial Random Orbit Sander. I remember picking it up new in Sears and it just had a good feel in my hand and looked well built. It's the only Craftsman tool I have in my shop and probably always will be. It is one of my workhorses for sure, I think I've had it more than 12 years now. Vari-speed and well built and it just doesn't want to die.

[Chris Parks]

I always thought the skewed, ergonomic handle, on the pusher was about the best part of thier jig.

I have made at least four F&F jigs and none of them have handles just because I can't be bothered making them but then I have never found the need either.

Going back a lot of years when the first cordless drill was introduced I bought one thinking I might get a bit of light use out of it and quickly realised that I was never going to be without one again. The nail gun has fallen into that category as well, I never realised I needed one until I bought one on a whim.

[Alex Snyder]

Great thread! I'll add by limiting myself to my favorite tool per phase.

Felling: Stihl MS261. I have multiple saws, but this one gets the most use due to size and power.

Skidding: Wallenstein FX90 skidding winch. Not only can you haul the whole forrest out, but it is powerful enough to pull hangers out of the canopy.

Milling: John Deere 60" grapple. This grapple attachment does so much, but precision positioning large logs on the mill is key! Far better than forks.

Milling (in the shop): the silent cutter head. With so many loud tools it is so nice to take the ear muffs off for a little while and even have a conversation. It also leaves an incredibly smooth finish.

Measuring: anything Woodpeckers with a Fastcap flatback tape measure.

Dimensioning: Festool TS75 track saw. The ease of setup, stickiness of the tracks, and little dust make working with live edge slabs so much easier. Honorable mention goes to the Bosch 12" gliding miter saw.

Assembly: Festool Domino XL700. Lining up for glue ups is so much easier with a tight "biscuit." I have yet to have a joint fail. I bought it solely for building desks, but use it on most projects....even the little ones (Seneca).

Finish Sanding: the card scraper. Such a simple tool is so amazing at smoothing wood.

Finish: depends on the project.

Miscellaneous

Carving: Arbortech Turbo plane. So easy to control and excellent intermediary step between the chainsaw and sander.

Safety headwear: 3M Worktunes. Podcasts or audio books, while working, are a great way to pass the monotonous parts.

Safety bodywear: Pfanner ventilation chainsaw pants. Made for climbing trees, so nicely flexible when working in the woods all day.

Sharpening: Tormek. I don't think it matters which model. As long as you're not just sharpening a single tool, the setup is well worth going through to knock out all the dull things in your arsenal quickly.

[Brandon Speaks]

My Harbor Freight 10x18 lathe.

I have outgrown it now but it has turned alot of wood and does not seem to struggle until you but an 8in out of balance wet blank on it (but still got those bowls done too). It did far better than I expected.

[Prashun Patel]

Veritas shooting plane. Expectations were high and performance exceeded that.

Harbor freight 6" f clamps. Expections were low and performance exceeded that. Good grip, no slip, flex not an issue on shorties.

Igaging striking knives. Cheap and durable. Thick edges are easy to freehand sharpen. Too fat for tight work, but great for general marking.

[John Sanford]

Preppin' Weapon sanding blocks

Rigid Oscillating Belt/Spindle Sander

Nupla 2lb Deadblow Hammer - seriously, it's a hammer. Oh, but what a wondrously useful hammer it is...

Contico "Stool Box" - MAGIC!!

[Terry Wawro]

I have to comment on a couple. The $20 Harbor Freight Reciprocating Saw. I bought it for a one time use project so I didn't care if it didn't last too long. Little did I know how handy these things are. It's now 12 years and two houses later. I've used (and abused) this saw over and over and somehow it keeps on working. I've got way more than $20 value out of it. If it dies today it owes me nothing.

Another is the HF multi-tool. Same thing. I think I paid around $14 at the time. From cutting in tight places to scraping. It solves so many problems.

I would not depend on these if I used them professionally or on a daily basis. But they are an incredible bargain for the occasional user and far exceeded my expectations.

[Bill Webster]

Sure. For me though, none of my Festools have exceeded my expectations. That's because my expectations were high...to go along with the price I paid.

That said, some Festools have not met my expectations. The Trion as you mention. The Kapex is very good but I still need to mod the dust extraction a bit (there's a thread on here somewhere about how to fix it). I'm not impressed with the vacuums for the money. I don't see much innovation over a standard vacuum with an after market vacuum switch and HEPA filter. The drills are OK but I have some Dewalt drills and drivers that are better in some ways.

Overall, I like the Festool products and find them well made. But I was expecting that giving the innovation and price.

I have about a half dozen German power tools and the quality of them all is good, but the ergonomics of them all is awful. If I had huge hands it would be better.

[Larry Frank]

My Festool track saw exceeds my expectations every time I use it.

[Al Launier]

My hobbyist woodworking world really opened up when I picked up a DEWALT DW735 thickness planer, a Rigid JP0610 6" jointer, and a Grizzly G0555 14" band saw a few years back. Until that time I was locked-in to finished lumber leaving me few options for flattening, squaring & sizing. Once I worked out a shimming problem on the jointer the combined use of these tools allowed me to purchase rough lumber & make basically whatever I wanted.