I like to make stuff. Early frustrations led me to become somewhat fixated on doing things “the right way,” which meant getting the right tools.
There was a time when I tried to cut oak board with a cordless drill and a Dremel rotary tool, and another time when I tried to round-over a pine board with a Dremel and a sanding drum. This was maybe 16-17 years ago or so.
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Much earlier than that, I bought small plastic circles at a local supplier, and I struggled to drill holes perfectly through their centers. I mounted them to servo horns for use as robot wheels. My little robot wobbled a little as it moved. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve gotten much better at drilling holes perfectly through the centers of plastic circles, but I picked up plenty of tricks over the years to fine-polish the results.
I have gotten way better at improvising over the years, both in terms of seeing creative (and safe) solutions and allowing myself to go against my strong habits and personal tenancies.
But should probably have more tools than I do. I bought a couple of “dream tools,” such as my Woodpeckers router table, and a floor-standing drill press, with both crushing most of the project needs and wants I had before I purchased them.
But in addition to the metal-working machines I’ve been wishing for, I’d love for a horizontal band saw, cabinet table saw, and wood jointer. I have a Dewalt planer review sample still on-hand, and an entry-level woodworking band saw, plus a basic dust collector I bought when I convinced myself that *something* was better than *nothing.*
I’ve got big eyes. Jobsite tables saws get me through some projects in the meantime. I try to buy relatively straight or planed-down wood for projects. I have some hand tools for light board flattening, although I still haven’t gotten around to planning or building a solid woodworking bench yet.
It seems that regardless of finally being able to purchase what I want and need, there are always obstacles. Space. Electrical requirements. Space.
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Part of the reason I’ve been on a cleanup spree recently is to assess what I’ll have space for. The other part is to make more effective use of the tools I have, with different stations and easily-retrievable bins or tool boxes of like-themed tools and supplies.
Better organization won’t help me close the gap between my current needs and wants and what I have at my disposal, but it’ll be a good start.
I look at benchtop tools every so often, but there are so many compromises. Even before the rise of 3D printers and benchtop CNC routers, brands seem to have stopped caring about bringing good benchtop tools to market.
When’s the last time Ryobi introduced any new hobbyist tools? A better disk sander? A better drill press? What about Craftsman?
Back before Sears’ demise, I was at a Craftsman “show and tell” holiday preview event, or something similar, and a product manager was showing me their new line of premium-quality circular saw blades. We ended up talking about benchtop tools, as even then I noticed a decline in selection and quality, and he mentioned that he was hoping to revamp their benchtop drill press and were in the process of trying to find a good supplier.
Sure, you can buy a benchtop jointer, but the consensus of the woodworking internet community is that they’re not very good. I *might* be able to budget for a 6″ jointer, which runs off 110V power, giving me flexibility, but of course the widespread opinion is that everyone regrets their 6″ jointers and wishes they went with 8″ machines to start with. In addition to higher pricing and longer tables, 8″ jointers often have 220V power requirements.
I went with a basic Jet dust collector after being paralyzed by more premium choices over the years, hung up on their space and electrical requirements, and so far it seems to have been a reasonable choice. Maybe I could or should just try a tiny straight knife or “helical style” benchtop jointer before committing to a floor-standing model. But, I really hate buying tools twice.
Trying to figure out where things will go, and acknowledging that some tools might require workshop upgrades, has created decision paralysis for me.
I’m giving myself limits. One cannot have everything or do everything.
But how do I choose between say metalworking or woodworking machines?
I tend to really like using 80/20 t-slot aluminum for workbenches, jigs, and other needs. “But you know you could weld together something made out of steel for cheaper.” Yes, but I don’t own a welder, I haven’t learned how to weld, and even if I checked those two things off the list, I don’t have the space for such activities, not yet at least.
It’s easy to lust after the workshops that some YouTubers have, with some even having enough space for dedicated woodworking and metalworking shops. In theory I could set up an industrial space somewhere, but such investments would likely leave ToolGuyd without the means to purchase tools and equipment I’d want the space for.
I’ll be researching my next piece of equipment, and will likely hold off until my workshop is spotless and empty of everything that doesn’t belong. Maybe I’ll snag a good deal around the holiday season.
Part of the headache with all this is that some tools’ functionality can be duplicated, albeit not quickly or easily. Do I need a cabinet-style table saw? No, I could get buy with other types of saws in the meantime, although having a permanent table saw setup would likely yield faster, better, easier results.
Do I need a jointer? No, but it would make a lot of things easier.
Do I need a milling machine? That might fill more non-overlapping needs, but less often than say a table saw.
When I was younger, I had to pick and choose what I could budget for, growing my tool kit slowly over time. Now, I still have to budget cautiously, but space is a bigger limitation.
I often see people talking about setting up their retirement shops to their liking, but my project list has been growing steadily over the past few years, and I’m nowhere near retirement.
It might seem like I’ve fallen into the trap of chasing “the next acquisition,” and that can be a problem at times, but only once ever few months. More often than that, I run into “darn, I don’t have the tools to make what I need” types of situations.
Smaller tools are easy. The other day a reader gave me the itch to buy a powered desoldering tool, and I expect it to be delivered sometime next week. I don’t plan to use it every week, but it’ll be easy enough to store out of the way between uses. Table saws, jointers, milling machines, lathes, band saws, sheet metal brakes or shears – tools like these have a footprint and command floor space, not to mention size investments.
I won’t let it bother me though. I’ve been cleaning up, and there’s more to do, but it’s been liberating already. I’m going to focus on the things I can do, and not be occupied by the things I need and want but cannot have yet. Still, oh how I wish I had access to a good makerspace or hackerspace.
Wayne R.
I read this and immediately think of Jason at Fireball Tool and his shop. His stuff is on another scale, and he seems to have endless energy & creativity. And a monster shop, full of monster stuff. Pretty awesome all around.
Not sure exactly what the parallel is here, but he’s also pretty impressive. Check him out on YouTube for some insight.
Plaingrain
I started my wood working tool inventory in the early 1980’s. A Craftsman radial arm saw & tabletop router table(w/ router). Then my father suffered a serious medical problem. So I began a long caretaker role in addition to my job. So everything was put on hold. So now it’s the virus thing slowing it up. Maybe things will get back on track in the near future.
Mike
There should also be another line for the cost of tools I “need” cause that goes up just as much. Sure I can make a track for one the 3 circular saws I own, but I mean if Festool already has made one, I may as well just get that.
Side note….come on Milwaukee make a damn track saw. I don’t know if I can hold out another year!
Plaingrain
The cost of tools, your opening the used tool door. I don’t usually buy used tools. I’m not sure what I’m getting, safety might be a factor.
davethebrave
I’ve purchased several used tools over the years (Drill press, Table saw, 6 inch jointer, 13 inch planer, 14 inch band saw, HF dust collector, etc.) and have had really good luck with all of them and saved about 50% on the cost of new stuff. I’ve found if you know what you’re looking for and stay away from cheap, gimmicky stuff (which usually means looking for tools that are a bit older) you can hit a cost/quality sweet spot. Although you may have to compromise on getting tools with the best safety features. Case in point: I bought a Ridgid TS3650 table saw off craigslist, it’s a great table saw- solid motor, beautiful cast iron table and wings, good fence. BUT it doesn’t have a riving knife , and the splitter is integrated with the annoying plastic blade guard. This just means I have to be very aware of how I feed my boards through it in order to avoid kickback. In a way it has actually trained me to be a better table saw user because now I’m programmed to be more methodical and careful as I use one. (still have all my digits- knock on wood).
fred
Have you tried adding a zero clearance table insert with a splitter?
https://www.sliversmill.com/category_170_Ridgid.html
https://www.sliversmill.com/category_142_MJ_Splitter_Kits.html
David Swearingen
My dad bought his first house in 1954, and divided the basement in half to make a workshop. The first thing he bought for it was an old, used tablesaw. He build a lot of projects with it, and we took it with us as we moved into a larger local house, then moved from Illinois to Florida, then moved from the west coast to the east coast, then back to the west coast, and then to a peninsula. That old used saw made every move with us, and was still performing flawlessly the last I knew. I don’t know how old that saw is now, but it probably belongs in a museum.
JoeM
I feel genuinely called out on my BS with this topic. Not only does it ramble in tangents like my usual posts (I am honoured by this, not insulted.) but it also reminds me of just how much those two lines diverge for me, almost from the zero point on.
There was a time I was a workaholic, nose to the grindstone, relationships, friendships, family, and politics didn’t matter to me… I just wanted two things: Coffee and a Machine to Build. I needed tools, I saved up for tools, I started a couple businesses, but made bad decisions as to who to run them with… and it all came crashing down on me.
I’ve continued my interests in the tools of the trades I love most, and acquired new skills I NEVER thought I’d need after leaving Scouting (Sewing… Not just for all those badges you earn, it turns out.) and I have DESPERATELY tried to re-enter the workforce as something new. Something I wasn’t doing before. Something in demand. Something I now had TOOLS for.
I’ve been trying all this for 20 years now. I’m being treated for PTSD, I have phantom injuries all over the place, a self-dislocating right-shoulder, carpal tunel from typing at 120 words per minute during my computer tech days… and frankly half my family has not lived long enough to see me develop any of these skills. Now I really am a caretaker for an elderly parent, who recently had a MASSIVE Heart Attack after a neighbour attacked me, and the police were involved.
I’m almost 40 years old, and inside I feel 90 or older. My own health has failed in the time since I was working so many hours, I must’ve invented a few extra days just to generate that high a number on the time cards. I don’t have the room for the tools I want, and I’m having trouble organizing the tools I HAVE. I DO need to get out, and build again. I need to build a workshop worthy of doing work again, before my hands and joints give out on me.
But the reality is… I keep accumulating skills and tools for things, and life keeps dropping “Emergencies” on me that stop me from getting to DO any of those things for months, sometimes YEARS at a time. I haven’t had a chance to TOUCH my original Circular Saw in over THREE YEARS, and I’ve owned it much longer.
So… This article really calls me out. For all the skills I have, for all the abilities I am capable of, the problem solving, the analysis, the manual skills for building… The jokes I have with Stuart over EDC Scissors, Pens, Pencils, and Canada in general… All the injuries from my youth are catching up to me now that I’m 38, and I look around myself and genuinely feel some serious impostor syndrome. Like, any day now someone is going to show up at my door, and take it all away saying “I’m sorry, but you were never good enough to use any of this. Have you tried Accounting? I hear that’s what Jews like you are good at.”
I started making things, repairing things, and general fix-and-build applications when I was 9 years old. I borrowed my MOTHER’S tools, because she did Miniatures, and so had precision tools that could be applied to larger jobs. I started my FIRST business when I was 16 years old, and at the age of 14, when my friends and siblings were rolling drugs, I was rolling and managing coins and finances. I was cooking like a master chef by 17, could speak and read almost 100 languages, and I saw an amazing future for myself. My Father’s side of the family, the only ones with money, frowned on all this devlopment, saying “Why would you do all that work, when you can just pay someone else to do it?” and it just drove me to work HARDER to spite their consumerism. They wanted me to be a Lawyer, a Doctor, or a Writer… Something I could sit at a desk and roll in money doing, without making effort. So I became an Arbiter in Scouting to spite them (The equivalent of a JAG Lawyer.) and VOLUNTEERED my legal expertese for the organization. I took all the First Aid Classes short of just TWO that would have qualified me as an Army/Armed Forces Field Medic, and did THAT on a volunteer basis as well. And as you can probably tell by now, by this post and practically every post I make on ToolGuyd, I write. I write huge amounts just to say simple things, all because I DESPISE my upbringing to be a white-collar fraud, rather than a skilled labourer.
And yet… The number of tools I NEED to continue from my current point on, versus the ones I HAVE right now? I feel like a fraud. A Fake. I pick up my tools, I do something awesome, my hands, shoulder, and spine hurt for MONTHS at a time. Do I let it heal? No. I just do whatever I can, and ignore the pain. Terrified someone will come along and say “You’re no builder, maker, or craftsman… You’re just a mess with a mental health problem, and a stubborn demeanor, who can’t see you don’t deserve to do what you want to do. You should give up and go to school for some soul-crushing white-collar job out there. You’ve got the brain, and the upbringing to conquer the world THAT way… not with building gadgets and integrated systems that make people’s lives easier to survive.”
The only thing that really stops this feeling is how close-knit I feel with a lot of the posters here on ToolGuyd. When I miss my late Father, I often go and read some of fred’s posts about what he’s done in his life. Or Stuart’s upgrades to his home, or his experiences buying something mundane or not-tool-related. Because they have taught me more from a Father-Son role in my areas of interest, than my actual Father ever did. My Father was in the Stock Market, and Law Enforcement… He barely knew which end of a screwdriver to hold. I had to learn from my Mother, who is in extremely bad health these days. (She’s in her 70’s, it’s to be expected.) And frankly… What’s keeping my tiny flicker of a flame going for these huge ambitions I had is this community. I don’t feel like a fraud when I’m here, no matter how much pain I’m in physically.
If I knew the right words to thank you guys properly, and with the magnitude that comes from the roles you play in my life… I would use them. But frankly, I don’t know what those are, in any language I speak.
Plaingrain
My uncle raved about a Jewish man he knew. The man was Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers. My uncle was standing by him, as they were inducted into the army during World War Two. They crossed paths many times in their military career. I find that I need to use my tools on a regular basis, just to keep them familiar. Doesn’t need to be a project, just something to keep the tool operation fresh in my mind
JoeM
Believe me… I got lectures about him as well… I was born Superbowl Sunday, 1982, and my Father’s favourite team was the Packers. I’m a Nerd, and I hate sports, but every year of my life, my Father found some way to wake me up at midnight on my Birthday, just to say “It is now the (My Age) anniversary of the one and only time I’ve ever missed the Superbowl.” and then he’d just walk away or hang up the phone.
It was always made very clear to me, that my Father’s side of the family did NOT want me to do manual labour, craftsmanship, or a trade for a living. My Father wanted an Athlete (Which I actively avoided.) and the rest of the family wanted some sort of ultimate social climber, out to change the world and make all the money for existing. Everything I am, I am because I refused to be one of THEM.
My Tools? When I get to use them I’m overjoyed. When everything stands in the way? I’m miserable. I’m STILL terrified someone is going to call my bluff, or something, and chain me to a clerical or white-collar social job.
Hon Cho
How much of anything is enough? Just one more………..dollar, wrench, machine, whatever? Having the right tool can make all the difference in the world but we need to keep in mind the wonderful things built over the years with incredibly basic tools. Now to get my life in order and use what I have……..
Plaingrain
Sort of like driving to town. I can drive a car, but a bicycle will get me there also.
fred
I’m reminded that folks like Duncan Phyfe made many great pieces of furniture with a suite of tools far less capable and varied than what I own. It may have been he worked 200 years ago – but there is a lesson in this. I think that is: buy good tools then learn to use what you have to their capabilities. Then, when you can not do a task because of the limitations of your tools – think about what you need to extend those capabilities. Old Duncan did not own a table saw or 8 inch jointer – but cut and fitted boards with hand tools.
We might all ask ourselves : will the next tool purchase really make us better craftsman? Or might we be better served by learning to skillfully use what we have? The lure and promise of a new tool can become addictive – and if we get enjoyment out of and can afford (without financial sacrifice) to collect them – it may be an OK thing. But, I think its nicer to get enjoyment out of their use in making things that give ourselves and others pleasure.
Plain grainy
I look at a new tool as something not wasted. When I can no longer use them. I can pass them on to my relatives, so they can get use &enjoyment from the tools also.
Stuart
True, but larger tools and equipment can be a physical hindrance if they don’t earn their place in the bench/floor/shop. You can’t exactly pick up a cabinet saw and put it away when you’re done with it. Even with a mobile base, it’ll have large physical presence.
fred
Over the years I always debated whether my radial arm drill press has earned its “space allotment” in my shop. But having invested so much time restoring it to like new condition and considering its (tools and cabinet) weight (something like 1500 pounds) – I’m not inclined to move it out anytime soon. Its one of those things I debate having done but having paid $200 for it (1970’s) I’m persuaded it was a bargain (I tend to overlook what it cost me to have it moved into my shop and have it wired up.)
Overall – if we are honest with ourselves – few if any of the stationary tools that we might buy will earn their keep – based on pure economics – in a home shop. I think about mine – and I’ve not earned my living from them. The furniture I’ve made over the years may have cost me as much (maybe more) than pieces I might have purchased in furniture stores. Some of what my home shop has produced was customized to fit – so that’s an added benefit. Some of what I produced was made from exotic or hand picked wood with hardware and finish that might be superior to commercial items – so that’s and added benefit. But most of the “value” of my home shop has been derived from pleasure of learning, doing , making and often gifting the pieces – not from cost savings.
TonyT
fred,
As you say, it’s wrong to put everything in terms of dollars and cents. To have made something yourself (even with the use of power tools) makes it special.
I am keeping everything my mom sewed for my kids, even though they are too big now, because it’s special – and future grand kids can use them.
TonyT
Yes, it’s easy to get caught in the “gear” trap – it’s easier to argue about gear, or think about your dream tools, than to go out, learn skills, and get something done. Same thing in photography; on the forums, flame wars are popular but the reality is that a good photography with a cell phone can take better pictures than a clueless person with a high end Canon.
I’ll note that it’s hard to support a living in the media (magazines, web site, etc) by covering better ways of doing with the same old boring tools – advertisers aren’t interested in that.
Adabhael
I also wonder if I should focus on more craft less on acquiring tools, especially because one demands hours of repeated frustration and failure, while I can do the other from my couch.
For folks who always want more books as well as more tools, I recommend Christopher Schwarz’s “the anarchists tool chest.” (Note, not political anarchy) I certainly don’t agree with all he says, but his is a thoughtful and deeply personal argument for quality over quantity In his woodworking shop.
Josh
I put some tools on these moving dolly’s https://www.harborfreight.com/30-in-x-18-in-1000-lb-capacity-hardwood-dolly-61897.html. They are great because you cn roll them under cabinets or into corners. Got the hf press on casters to. Fill your empty nooks and crannies with stuff. I keep collecting tools so i have to make room in my 24×24 garage and have room for 2 vehicles in the winter. I have plastic bins under my work bench with stuff in them. I also keep my oil pan under there to
Andy Ringsmuth
I’m the opposite actually.
I have most everything I need in terms of tools. Sure, there are times when I see something and think “oh that would be cool to have!” Here’s my problem though. I may be in a minority here, but I don’t have a dedicated shop. I have our oversize 2-stall garage and simply don’t have room for more tools. I just don’t. Sure, if it’s something small that will fit into an existing toolbox it’s one thing, but anything a little larger and I simply don’t have a place for it.
I enjoy working on vehicles, but after my minivan blew the transmission a few months ago, we now have two new-ish vehicles both under factory warranty for the next several years. Meaning anything beyond an oil change and tire rotation, I won’t be doing anyway.
l law
Every great innovator knows the secret-contraint driven innovation. Having unlimited resources usually dooms a r and d or innovation project to failure. But impose time and financial constraints and watch the magic. This is a case of where less is more. And of course for rarely needed or used items , pay someone to fabricate some of the components for you. After all, we dont turn our own screws or grow trees to make our own lumber. Reasonable constraints spark creativity.
My Dad built 2 high end furniture quality tables for our living room with a drill, a hand coping saw and patience. Stained and laquered to perfection .
Big Richard
You can get decent 8″ benchtop jointers that run on 110V. Try this one:
https://www.wahudatools.com/8in-benchtop-jointer-p/50180cc-whd.htm
fred
I learned (may be apocryphal) that the jointer bed length is as important (if not more) than the width of the bed/cutters. The old rule of thumb was that jointing a 8 foot long board would suggest at least a 5 foot long jointer bed – and that a 4 foot long jointer bed could handle a 6 foot long piece of lumber. I’ve always felt that edge jointing was easer (I have a Delta 8 inch jointer) than face jointing – but that may just be me.
I guess you could get good results with a benchtop jointer by building infeed and outfeed tables To this end the machine that BigRichard has linked to – does provide extensions for both ends that hopefully provide co-planar support.
Big Richard
Table length is definitely a factor versus table width, and edge jointing is most certainly easier than face jointing. I primarily work with reclaimed wood, so I almost never face joint as it removes the patina (not to mention jointers don’t like nail embedded wood). I might do a little face jointing on one side if it won’t be visible. And for that purpose, benchtop jointers work just fine. Most times I just grab the cordless planer.
fred
Of course, sometimes after a decent rip cut on the table saw – with a little hand planning to add a wee bit of concavity – you can glue and clamp up a very good spring joint – without need to fire up the jointer.
The first time I saw a spring joint being produced I thought it counter intuitive. The planning (I use a No.4) done with a short plane not a long jointer or fore plane – such that you can slip a piece of thin paper into the center of the joint. The glue and clamps do the rest.
Plain grainy
Stuart should have had your radial arm drill press. It would have made drilling the center of his wheels easier.
fred
A radial drill press might help get to the center of a large-diameter wheel. But locating and scribing the exact center point is the start. I use a center head on a combination square for this – then a brad point drill bit to do the drilling. Producing a set of wheels this way for a toddler’s toy – will work OK – but how true the wheels run can be impacted by lots of things – like runout of the drill press spindle/chuck/drill bit combination and how true the axles are. Rather than using the ubiquitous jobber length drill bit – using an short (stiffer) drill bit (screw machine length) or starting with a spotting drill can help. Alternatively the axle holes can be drilled and then the wheels trued up on a lathe.
fred
I might have added that holding the wheel in a V-shaped block tight against the fence – helps in holding a wheel center for drilling. If you get the tip of your brad point bit on the center – then rotate the wheel in the V-block – the tip to center mark should not change if the wheel is truly round.
Plain grainy
Some great tips, I’ll put those in my back pocket for future use. Thanks.
Stuart
I’ve seen it, and they updated after the recent mysterious brand name change. But I keep balking, thinking the several hundred dollars might be better spent on a floor-standing machine with helical head rather than “spiral style.”
Rx9
You’re not going to have access to every tool to do the job perfectly every time.
That’s ok.
As it has been said, “you fight with the army you have”.
You don’t need to get it perfect – what matters is that you try in the first place.
Anything worth doing, especially anything physical, comes with a healthy dose of pain, frustration and misery. You endure this and grow as a result of the process.
That’s the wonderful secret about building things – you’re also building yourself. What’s more, when you share those experiences, as you have on this blog, you build others up too.
The other point I want to make is this – it’s easy to want the next big thing on your list and yes, moving on to bigger and better is part of that growth process. That said, look at what you have now, in both tools and experience, and take the time to appreciate it. Be proud of who you are and what you have done.
Stuart
While mostly true, enough pain, frustration, and complications, and certain tasks aren’t going to be seen through to completion. I can play around on personal projects, but if I need something for say work purposes, I can’t file down a piece of MDF when I really need a part machined out of aluminum.
Rx9
Correct. MDF isn’t always going to take the place of aluminum and wishful thinking can never take the place of just plain old thinking. The way forward is to sit down, run the numbers and make a plan. Be honest with yourself and separate wants from needs. If it is more economical to outsource a project or part of one, then do so.
Keep in mind that you have a resource in your site’s readership. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Over the years, you’ve provided a lot of great info and many of us are eager to return the favor. There are plenty of commenters here who probably have a good answer to most project questions.
It also makes good sense also to build a network of friends/contacts whom share you interests. Sometimes this can give you access to tools and equipment necessary to get a job done. Case in point, I have a good friend who is an ASE Master Tech who has lent me some of his equipment to get personal projects done. Now for context, let me explain why this is important. Most mechanics, especially higher end ones, are loathe to lend out tools. Getting to borrow anything is a privilege that must be earned. I am one of only 3 people (the other two being his dad and another Master Tech he’s known for years) whom he will loan tools out to. He does this because I have earned his respect and trust by:
1. Helping him out on personal car and home repair projects
2. Lending him expensive home repair/woodworking tools that I own.
3. Making absolutely sure to get him his stuff back in perfect order.
Stuart
Generally, for professional needs, if I can’t make the parts I need and I can’t easily and affordably adapter off-the-shelf parts, the idea gets shelved for a very long time until capabilities allow for it.
tim Rowledge
If you have one close enough, try joining a makerspace. Many have pretty decent woodworking shops and if your local doesn’t… persuade them.
Here at the Nanaimo ‘space we have a reasonable wood shop (cabinet saw, jointer, planers, router table, good dust collector, 4ftxft CNC, lathes, cordless tools etc) a growing metal shop (decent lathe, some good shot tools, building a welding capability, etc), electronic stuff, craft stuff, class/meeting room, etc etc.
See makerspacenanaimo.org
There are lots of them to choose from. A great way to get access to tools you don’t have.
JR3 Home Performance
Love the chart
William Adams
The big thing is you need to decide if you’re a tool user or collector — collecting is fine, but it should be done purposefully and with an eye towards learning about the things being collected.
If you’re a user and you’re buying a tool I’ve found it’s best to determine/verify the following in advance of purchase:
– what project will it be used on? Is there a work-around? Is the time saved/accuracy and precision improvement/reliability of action by the purpose-built tool worth the cost? Is purchasing actually necessary? Could the tool be rented instead?
– where will the tool be stored?
– will the tool be useful in future projects?
Dave
My tool philosophy is pretty simple: if I can buy the tools required to do the job myself for approximately the cost of hiring it done, I always go with buying the tools. And every other time thereafter when that situation again arises, I have the tools to do
the the job myself “for free”.
I have saved boatloads of money doing such as I have a lot of commercial machines and vehicles and properties to maintain. I also have plenty of shop space/room for anything I want to acquire.
It ain’t what you make, but what you’ve left at the end of the year……
fred
Well said Dave. I also believe that money is only as good as what good you do with it. The want of it certainly is a challenge for many in our world – but if you have been blessed you should try to share those blessings with others.
While I’m no St. Francis – never ascribing to asceticism – I do believe in the ancient principle of tithing. So what money I have left at the end of the year is always diminished by what I give away. IMO, one’s wealth is not solely counted by what one’s portfolio amounts to at the end of the year.
Yadda
Wow! Like you were reading my mind with this post. I constantly struggle with constraints of time, money, space and desire vs. need. No solution yet, but I keep moving forward hoping the solution is out there.
Bob
I agree many people are capable of extrodinary projects with minimal tools.
But I always remember when I finally had a decently well equipped shop (garage) with a decent set of tools. Nothing fancy mostly sears craftsman and quality yard sale finds. A particularly complicated auto project was accomplished quickly and efficiently because I had the right tools, the storage space so I could find said tools and the room to work on it out of the elements (snow storm).
Sure I could have done it in the driveway on the ground in the snow with vice grips and a sledge hammer but I would have mangled the truck and probably myself in the project. Or taken it to a repair shop.
My tools have paid for themselves multiple times over in circumstances like this. However, because I invested in tools I have been reluctant to pay others to do the work if I am able. But some times its nice just to pay someone else to do the work.
For me tools equate to self reliance, money savings, and certainty the job was done “right”. Conversely its a time suck, significant storage requirements and learning curve. Pro’s and cons to everything. Hopefully we all get a good balance.
Trippy
So you all are really saying that we are suppose to use the tools that we buy? I thought the hobby was collecting tools? All those hours researching price comparing features. Who ships free, who is giving a battery with the drill. If you don’t check daily with Home Depot, Acme, all the others whom’s names I don’t recall at the moment. You can possible miss out on the deal of the year. Christmas or black Friday is o.k. Your best deals are not during those times. Your best deals are when you are checking daily.
Now that I am aware I am also suppose to use these tools. I am not seeing enough time in the day to collect and use these things. How do you all do it?
I visit Toolguyd twice daily. I am addicted to this, i admit it. Too many waking hours everyday with nothing on my mind but a new tool or how am i going to pay for that new tool. Last thing i ever think of “is there enough room for it”.
Wow, guess that explains why my wife continually asks me what I am going to do with all those boxes in the garage that say “Milwaukee” “Dewalt” “Mikita” “Bosch” “Dremil” ” Hilti” ” Fein ” ” SawStop” ” Festool” and a few others.
I am going to need to re look into this hobby of buying tools. Seems I didn’t fully understand it all when I started.
Crazy, your suppose to use them.
Plain grainy
Well, if you observed me, you would check the box that says ‘collector’. But , that’s definitely not the case. I know what I need to complete my future projects, but I don’t have the resources to purchase everything at once. So it’s a slower process than I would prefer. Plus the virus situation has put the flaps down also.
Plain grainy
These comments seem to dwell on space saving. I guess we need a Shopsmith type tool. Perhaps there are some new multi tools on the way.
fred
The European style multi-machines (cabinet saw, shaper, jointer) were not available when I started my first shop up (1960’s.) The RAS was then being touted as a do all tool (chop saw, table saw replacement, sander, router.) I found mine (what was sold as the top of the line Craftsman) – as sorely lacking for what I wanted it to do – and not really safe for ripping. Today – I might look at a Minimax combination machine – but room is not so much of an issue for me anymore – and the Minimax’s whopping price would probably scare me off. I think I would be looking at a Hammer table saw – versus the Unisaw that I bought back then.
I did have a neighbor who loved his Shopsmith – and did produce some nice work with it. I always thought that setting it up then resetting it for the next different task might be a real nuisance.
Dave
Shopsmith? No way. So I’m making something and I need a drill press. So I set it up to be such. Then I need a lathe, so I set it up for that. Then I need a drill press again and I change it back. Then a table saw for one cut. So I set it up for that and then I’m back to needing a drill press…. and then I need a router for a short pass, and then I need to use the lathe again….. it takes 20x the amount of time to make a complicated project compared to have separate tools…. and those of you who say I’m wrong have never built anything of substance with one.
bobad
I have the tools to build anything reasonable from wood, but fall far short on metalworking tools. They’re heavy, messy, and take up too much room for me, so I’m forced to do without. I have a 1hp floor model HF drill press that weighs 187 pounds and cost me $187 new. It’s been great, but that’s about all I have for metalworking. It forces me to be creative.
Although I hired and trained quite a few welding inspectors in my day, I didn’t learn to weld until I retired. My stinkin’ Lincoln welder runs on gasoline, which is not a handicap as I can’t weld in my shop anyway. I wheel the 300 pound beast out of my garage for repairs and light fabrication. My wife thinks I bought it for power outages, and probably also thinks all generators can weld.
fred
In one business, we had a truck-mounted Miller diesel engine welder that often served as on-site power when outlets were still scarce or non existent.
Nathan
I do collect tools for things and usually it’s task oriented. But not always. My biggest issue is speed for time. I don’t get to spend weeks building a toybox for my daughter. Or next project is a headboard and foot board for the other daughter.
I can’t just spend all that time. And portability is my other major issue as I work out of my garage – which is supposed to be used to hold you know cars, and a lawn mower etc.
So this colors my selections. But I will buy a tool to make my life easier or especially faster. Take this last ordeal replacing the drawer slides in my kitchen – already installed cabinets. SO I bought the kreg jig. Now – yes I could have made a block set to clamp on. Thought about it. but that’s more time and fiddling, with.
I also work on cars so I have a number of things there too. Example I wouldn’t trust a mechanic that didn’t have a collection of flare nut wrenches. specifically in metric but older cars would need an SAE. Why – well they are needed for oil lines and brake lines. Needed. Yes you can use an open end – but sometimes that won’t work. In a hurry and not wanting to make a new line, and . . . . flare nut wrench saves the day. I only have 3 which are 2 sized in metric the cars I have are metric. Worth more in my tool bag than the ratcheting spanners I have next to them. Power brake bleeder – yes please. does it get used often, about once a year.
So on and so forth. But time is precious to me as is quality for the work.