"Good" tool purchases - 100% satisfied with,,

[Joe Mioux]

I really enjoy using my Pfeil chisels. There is a night and day difference between them and my Marples, which I use and like, just not as much as the Pfeils.

The Kreg Jig is just a great and relatively inexpensive tool that does exactly what it is supposed to do.

My new MM FS30 j/p, is still in the testing phase, but from what I have seen so far, I am really going to enjoy this machine.

Joe

[Joe Jensen]

Here's my list, rather long

Exceeded Expectations;
1) Festool RS2-E
2) Festool RO150
3) Festool RTS400
4) Festool TS75
5) Bosch PS20 pocket driver
6) SawStop
7) 14" Dewalt RAS circa 1980'ish
8) Byrd head for planer
9) WAP (Now Alto) Drywaller Vac ***** AMAZING

Met Expecations:
1) Pansonic NiMH 15.6V driver drill
2) Panasonic 12V NiMH Impact Driver
3) 1990 Powermatic Model 60 jointer
4) 1990 Powermatic Model 100 planer
5) 1990 Powermatic Model 26 Shaper
6) Oneida Super Gorilla 2HP DC
7) 1990'ish Porter Cable 536 Routers
8) Magi Steff 8 speed 1HP power feeder

[Richard Keller]

If I had to start over, I'd have pretty much the same stuff, although I've traded a few in over the last few years.

1. LN Butt Mortise Plane - I bought it thinking if it was half as good as it sounded, it would be awsome. It was at least twice as good.

2. DW621 - Best plunge router for free hand work ever.

3. LN block plane - if you've never used a real plane, not just a cheapie, you are really, really missing out.

4. All the old Wadkin stationary equipment I've bought at auctions. 1000-2000 pound machines do NOT vibrate. :-)

5. Byrd cutter head for the jointer - goodbye tear out.

6. Gripper. Dad bought a pair for me. I wouldn't have spent 80 clams for a push block, until I used them. Now I can't put them down.

[Richard Keller]

Yeah, I don't think I could be without my Fein vac either. Makes sanding almost (hack cough) enjoy--- (cough) able. :-)

[Michael Schwartz]

My K3 Master system (Pocket Hole)

All of the EZ Smart Gear from Eurekazone

Lie Neilson Low angle Jack.

Hilti 267-E circualr Saw

Porter Cable 343k 3 amp single speed random orbit sander (60 bucks at the borg) Nothing Fancy = No BS. Works great, doesn't leave swirl marks, really well made.

List goes on and on.

[Joseph N. Myers]

Kreg Pocket Hole System

All of the EZ Smart Stuff form Eurekazone

Regards, Joe

[Jeffrey Schronce]

LN Low Angle Adjust Mouth Block Plane. I debated entering the world of hand tools for soooo long and finally bought the above cited. As others have noted in this thread it is great to have an awesome plane that works out of the box, is easy to comprehend and encourages hand tool use.

K-Body clamps are my babies.

I have been very happy with Festool CT Midi dust extractor. The Domino did not really exceed my expectations as I expected a lot out of it. Dont get me wrong, its a great tool but IMHO it only lives up to the hype, does not exceed it. But the CT Midi with my Bosch 1295 ROSs has been great.

Bosch 1617 router combos have worked well though the switches have been replaced in all of them.

Iturra Woodslicer 3/4" BS blade REALLY exceeded expectation and is a heck of a great value!

[Eugene A. Manzo III]

I love ALL of my Ridgid Tools TS3650, TS2400, Jointer, Drill Press,
Planer, Miter saw Stand with a 10" Bosch scms on it and Combo Router Kit.
I have DeWalt cordless drills and Makita Driver. Rockler Router Table
with FX lift and PC vari spd 694 router.

We are very lucky to have so many Quality tools to pick from !!!
My shop looks like Haloween with a rainbow around it

I also have a Black and decker drill attachment kit that is awsome.

[Bob Childress]

A really interesting thread! Got me to thinking about tools I've had over the years. Meeting expectations is one thing: all my Festool gear meets expectations except the CT22, which exceeds them. But then they should, that's why I bought 'em. It's the surprises that make it fun sometimes, and not always expensive stuff either.

Home run hitters for me:

Bosch 1591 jigsaw. A real winner.
Square drive screws--no more cam out and head stripping.
No-name thingamajig that telescopes with a magnet on the end--$2.00 and how did I live without it?
DeWalt battery-powered finish nailer--way better and more useful than I expected.
Rockler shelf-hole drilling jig--cheap, easy, fast, and accurate.
Delta crown staple gun--$49 and works like a charm.
Festool Toolie--Most-used Festool in the shop, I think.

There are no doubt others I will think of later.

[Peter West]

My Hitachi M12V2 (1/2") Router
My Trend T5 (1/4") Router
My Triton CS
All my EZ tools.
A Drill press I bought in a sale
A small 3.5V cordless screwdriver I bought from a store called B&Q in the UK (their own brand) - only cost $18 and is as good as the expensive ones.

I don't have any other tools - I got rid of my Radial Arm Saw and my Scheppach TS4010 when I started using the EZ stuff as they became redundant very quickly and just took up space.

[Matt Chantry]

The LN planes and backsaws go without saying, as does the Festool sander and my Japanese chisels and saws.

The ones that are a surprise are the Grex 21ga. pin nailer and the JacPac CO2 nailing kit. For doing finish trim, these are unbeatable.

M

[Chris Barton]

Here are a couple of my picks...

[Adam Burgess]

My #1 has got to be my Biesemeyer fence, the delta saw I bought with it is so so. Second is my PC cordless 18 ga gun, more of a job site tool for the small amount trim I do, but I'm not dragging around a compressor. In a tie for 3rd is all the rest of my Porter Cable stuff, you really can't beat the quality price ratio.

[John Schreiber]

Great thread.

Craftsman power drill. Still going strong after almost 30 years.

Stanley Eggbeater hand drill. Inherited from a grandfather in law because nobody else wanted it. Rosewood handles and artfully curved spokes. I use it often, maybe that's why the old Craftsman is still going strong.

Marples Blue Chip chisels. There are probably better ones out there, but these have been reliable winners for me.

Stanley #5C. A flee market find that is older than my father, but it just works beautifully.

Stanley Combination Square. I'm sure a Starrett somehow would be better, but my Stanley has been dead accurate every time.

Self made carving knives. From either old chisels or straight razors and found wood. They fit my hand like they were made for me (because they were) and they give me joy to hold.

[Rod Sheridan]

General 650 saw

Oneida cyclone

Bessey K Body clamps

Sorby Mortise Chisels

LV Scraping plane and shoulder plane

Shaper

Regards, Rod.