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Thread: Survey re most valuable and most desired tools

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    3,789

    Survey re most valuable and most desired tools

    I thought that it would be of interest to many people to see which tools and shop equipment others value the most. I would also like to hear which items are highest on people's wish list.

    As an example, I have compiled an ordered list of the 10 things that I find most useful in my workshop as well as a different list of the 10 items that I would like to add. In both cases 1 is the most important/desired. Cost of an item should not play any part in the ranking.

    I encourage others to put together their top 10 lists. To assist, I have put together two templates and will post these to the same thread. If there are sufficient responses, I will build a database of the combined results them compile and "publish" a summary.

    The form is not the greatest, but because of the automatic formatting that takes place, I was unable to use a tabular format.


    Tools & Shop Equipment that I have in order of usefulness to me:
    -------------------------------------------------------------

    # Item

    _____Manufacturer and Model and/or Comment

    1 Electric drill

    _____Bosch 1/2" hammer drill 1194AVSR

    2 Circular saw (with guide rail)

    _____Festool AFT 55 E

    3 Clamps

    _____Bessey K-body

    4 Screw driver set

    _____Robertson (these are often known as Square Drive in the USA)

    5 Jig saw

    _____Festool PS 2 E

    6 Hammer

    _____14 ounce with leather covered handle from my Dad and at least 70 years old

    7 Palm sander

    _____Makita BO4552

    8 Compound miter saw (non electric)

    _____Nobex Champion 180

    9 Dovetail guide system (manual)

    _____Veritas (Lee Valley # 05T03.01)

    10 Table saw

    _____Craftsman 10" bench saw -30 years old and I can't find model #




    Tools & Shop Equipment that I would like to acquire:
    -------------------------------------------------

    # Item

    _____Manufacturer and Model (if known) and/or Comment

    1 Cabinet table saw

    _____General 350

    2 Workbench

    _____Veritas (Lee Valley # OSA01.01)

    3 Plunge router

    _____Festool 2000 (not yet available in North America)

    4 Orbital sander

    _____Festool R01 50 E

    5 Router table and lift

    _____(I have not yet decided which ones to buy)

    6 Dust Collector

    _____14 Oneida 1.5 hp

    7 Band Saw

    _____Delta 28-241

    8 Jointer

    _____Powermatic 54A

    9 Pocket hole system

    _____Kreg K2000

    10 Drill Press

    _____(I have not yet decided which one to buy)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    3,789

    templates

    Tools & Shop Equipment that I have in order of usefulness to me:
    --------------------------------------------------------------

    # Item

    _____Manufacturer and Model (if known) and/or Comment

    1 item

    _____make & model

    2 item

    _____make & model

    3 item

    _____make & model

    4 item

    _____make & model

    5 item

    _____make & model

    6 item

    _____make & model

    7 item

    _____make & model

    8 item

    _____make & model

    9 item

    _____make & model

    10 item

    _____make & model




    Tools & Shop Equipment that I would like to acquire:
    -------------------------------------------------

    # Item

    _____Manufacturer and Model (if known) and/or Comment

    1 item

    _____make & model

    2 item

    _____make & model

    3 item

    _____make & model

    4 item

    _____make & model

    5 item

    _____make & model

    6 item

    _____make & model

    7 item

    _____make & model

    8 item

    _____make & model

    9 item

    _____make & model

    10 item

    _____make & model

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Milwaukee
    Posts
    907
    Top 10 lists are fun, aren't they?

    It's difficult, maybe impossible to pick a single tool that's most important or most useful. When I'm building a project, like the desk I'm on now, they are an orchestra and I am the conductor. They are all of critical importance at the time I need them.

    But in spirit of the original posting, here goes:

    1) Screwdrivers. Used all around the house. The jewelers size are particularly worth having to keep my glasses together.

    2) Hammer

    3) Wrenches

    4) Workbench with vise and bench dogs.

    5) Miter saw

    6) Table Saw

    7) Jointer/Thickness planer. A sybiotic duo. Like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. They play well together.

    8) Paint brushes

    9) Stud Finder

    10) Chisels


    My wish list:

    Cabinet saw. More power for the thick planks I like.

    Bandsaw blade tension gauge. Still waiting for that Itura catalog.

    Thickness sander. Convenient, but not critical.

    New hollow chisels for the mortiser. The mortiser is why I don't want a pocket hole system.

    More clamps, K-Body, in various lengths. Quick grips & hand screws too.

    Right now, that's it. You'll note that the more basic items are more important. Tablesaws and cool electric things are fun and necessary for furniture construction, but for day to day around the house things, can't beat the basics.

  4. #4
    Don't really have a top ten list. I am self-employed. Cabinet maker and staircase builder. So---I have lot of tools I couldn't really do without, way over the count of ten. And it seems I am constantly buying some other tool, especially clamps.
    Steve
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Steve Clardy; 03-14-2004 at 8:27 PM. Reason: changed pic


  5. #5

    A Different Perspective

    Hi Fred- As most folks here on SMC know, I'm an old tool nut and hand tool user most of the time. Of all of the tools I have, the most valuable to me are the ones which are part of my g-g-g grandfathers toolchest. The familial association and the knowledge that I'm the sixth generation custodian and user of these tools is priceless.

    What is on the top of my acquisition list? My Uncle in Idaho is supposed to be sending me the other chest which he has had since he and my Dad split up the tools when my Grandfather died back in '61. Other than that, all I really want now is to get the time to build another bench which is longer and more versatile than the one I have now.
    Dave Anderson

    Chester, NH

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    3,789
    I am sorry to say, but this tread went nowhere.

    I think that it should be closed but I can't figure out how to do that. I will send Aaron a note asking him to do so.

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