What is your favorite inexpensive tool (s) in your shop?

[Bill Huber]

Really cheap but I have it in my apron pocket all the time and use it all the time.
It is a 1 3/4 x 1/4 x 8 inches pine strip, it is covered with 3M P400 sticky back sand paper, left over form a auto body project.
I use it all the time, it takes off that little fur that is on the edge of a cut. It doesn't really hurt the edge just take off the very fine stuff that the blade leaves and I am using a Forest blade.

[Jon Lanier]

Or anything close to this product.

I'd also put a picture of my boys here: They've been a God send when I need alot of stuff moved around... hauling lumber to the shop, cleaning the shop...etc.

[Jon Shively]

A carpenter's pencil like already mentioned except I turned the wooden barrels on my lathe and built it myself. Oh, and the pencil sharpener is in the cap! So guess that is two tools!

[Justin McCurdy]

I can't choose just one either

A 16" carpenter's square ($10)

A Skil reciprocating saw ($35) that goes through anything

DeWalt ROS for $25

Milwaukee 3x24 Belt Sander ($40)

Columbian clamps

[Stan Thigpen]

Nobex 6" folding square.

[Steven Wilson]

4" Starrett double square along with a marking knife has been the handiest tools in the shop. Second on that list would be a card scraper.

[jason lambert]

Starrett squair but not cheap. Also my tape measure forget the brand but you can write on it and has a built in pencle sharpner. Thought it was silly when I bought it but can't live with out it now.

[Hal Flynt]

3" x 5" Card scraper. ($5 new)
Bridge City speed square ($20 as a special)
An antique Taylor 3/4" bench chisel ($5 at a flea market)
Pencil and paper

A screw diver/bit driver set from Sam's $19 (15 years ago). It has 3 sizes of phillips, 3 flat tips, square drives, torx bits, alllen head bits, 1/4" socket adapter. Metric and Imperial 1/4" sockets. flex extension and reversing driver all in a metal box.

[Roger Fitzsimonds]

I would have to say my speed square first and my school house pencil sharpener second. Last but not least my 4 in dual square from Lee Valley.

[Mike Null]

My HF dead blow hammer.

[glenn bradley]

Sorry Mike...Unless you got that at a yard sale........Mitutoyo is not cheap. They are the American equivalent of Starrett.

Gary K.

American equivalent? Ah-so.

[Gary Keedwell]

American equivalent? Ah-so.

Gary K.

[Bill Wyko]

HF Clamps by the dozens

[Tom Cowie]

tweezers and a magnifying glass

Tom

[David Tiell]

Guess I can claim it's cheap (ok, cheaper than buying it at normal price) because I got it on a blem tool discount from Bridge City. AS-3 adjustable square from Bridge City. Nice size for the pocket/apron pouch, great feel in the hand, and with vertical measurements on the outside of the blade, perfect for setting up router bit or table saw blade height.