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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> Favourite tool...... https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1083887878 Message started by Doc on May 7^th, 2004, 12:57am

Title: Favourite tool......
Post by Doc on May 7^th, 2004, 12:57am

What's your favourite tool? (Hand and power)

Also, most essential accessory?

Here goes...

Fave tools are routers (I got 3 of em!) and my smoothing plane - just love the sight of them curly shavings!

Most essential HAS TO BE - loads of clamps/cramps... what's the point of building a thing of beauty and not being able to glue it together PROPERLY, don't think this topic has been covered in any substance yet, tho I reckon it should be.

A lot of DIY'ers (myself included) din't mind spending money on a new <insert whatever powertool here> but how many have enough clamps at hand when gluing up? I personally postponed a recent purchase of a new toy in favour of getting some more clamps, and it paid off big style - comments please.

Mike.

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by mailee on May 7^th, 2004, 1:19am

Ok Doc, I have to agree with you that the router is my favourite too although I only have two at present. The favourite accessory has to be the clamp guide I bought as a straight edge. my favourite hand tool has to be my home made centre finder for timber boards. ::)

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by HandyMac on May 7^th, 2004, 6:26am

DeWalt radial arm saw and router share accolades here for me.

Having enough money to spend is the essential bit.

Andrew

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by Learner Turner on May 7^th, 2004, 9:53am

My woodlathe is my favourite to use (surprise, surprise!). The table saw and router are the most useful.

I agree with the comments about clamps - no matter how many you have, you always need more.

Norm (on NYW) has LOADS of clamps - he must have spent more on clamps than I have spent on tools - oh, I forgot, he gets all his stuff for free......, so perhaps not then.

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by Gromit on May 7^th, 2004, 10:38am

This is like having to pick your top ten desert island disks- you need so many its hard to know where to start.
Router has to be at the top and I've recently bought a planer / thicknesser and a table saw which makes life a lot easier.

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by Dewy on May 7^th, 2004, 3:28pm

I always wanted to know where they got their electricity to play the record player on that island.

My favourite has to be the router.
but the tools I have used most for many years have to be a reciprocating saw & an Avon Trimatool (remember them)
The saw has been used for cutting timbers for a carport, removing tree roots to lay a garage base (bloody cherry roots go sideways), pruning branches & even felling a couple of mature alder trees.
The Trimatool has done far more than any surform or file could & still comes back for more.

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by woodsmith on May 7^th, 2004, 4:00pm

Table saw, mitre saw and band saw are my most favourite machines; Tormek, Clifton No 4 smoothing plane, Lie Nielsen Independence Carcass saw, Eastwing leather handled hammer, DW 18V trim saw, Paslode IM250A and DW 14V drill driver make up my top ten today.

Someone did say top 10 ::)

Least favourite...................router

Sooooo noisy and dusty

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by Dewy on May 7^th, 2004, 4:58pm

I would have thought your favourites were a large hammer & a box of 6" nails Keith. ;) ;D

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by HandyMac on May 7^th, 2004, 5:00pm

wrote on May 7^th, 2004, 4:58pm:

I would have thought your favourites were a large hammer & a box of 6" nails Keith. ;) ;D

Or in my case, large hammer and two thumbs ;)

Andrew

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by woodsmith on May 7^th, 2004, 5:45pm

Dewy I thought my secret was safe with you :o

Andrew, 2 thumbs, 50% greater chance of hitting one ;) come to think of it, don't most of us have two thumbs??? ::)

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by Dewy on May 7^th, 2004, 7:00pm

That depends on whether you use an axe head for a hammer & forget to turn it round Keith. :-/ ;D

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by HandyMac on May 7^th, 2004, 7:07pm

wrote on May 7^th, 2004, 5:45pm:

Andrew, 2 thumbs, 50% greater chance of hitting one ;) come to think of it, don't most of us have two thumbs??? ::)

Did I forget a smiley or something? The previous reference was to hammer and nails, and I was referring to the fact that in my case hammer and thumbs might be a consideration..... ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Andrew

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by big_all on May 7^th, 2004, 7:23pm

rrrrrrroooooouuuuuutttttteeeeeerrrrrr

noise dust and all[keeps the gerbils in bedding]

and a sharp chisel

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by Kesh on May 7^th, 2004, 10:45pm

Power tools are great fun & practical too, but I love to use a well honed hand plane - there's something very theraputic about the texture & sound that just feels satisfying!

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by Dewy on May 7^th, 2004, 11:01pm

This shows I go back a bit.
When I was at school I always headed for a wooden jack plane although they were gradually being replaced by metal ones.
Wooden planes had a feel that can't be duplicated with steel.
They were much more comfortable to use.

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by mailee on May 7^th, 2004, 11:34pm

I have got to agree with Kesh, theer is something theraputic about a well honed hand plane. Just look at those fine shavings and feel the action as smooth as silk. Hmmmm! ;)

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by engineer1958 on May 8^th, 2004, 1:00am

Anyone ever read the article in "Good Woodworking" about the guy that makes hand made planes with a starting price of �7500.00 for a smoothing plane?
Even dearer than the Neilson thingy from America.
How can ANYONE justify spending that much on a hand plane?
The guy can't keep up with orders placed either!

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by big_all on May 8^th, 2004, 1:47am

thats not realy a problem

it quite cheap for concord ;D ;D ;D

are they all brain dead if you can afford

this amount you cant be conversant with the plane

if your conversant with a plane make your own

or buy enough power tools to sink a battleship

no brainner eh

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by mailee on May 8^th, 2004, 6:50pm

Holy sh*t!, My last workshop didn't cost me that. Bu**er that rather buy myself an expensive power planer than spend that sort of money. :o

Title: Re: Favourite tool......
Post by splinter on May 8^th, 2004, 10:01pm

my favourite tool has to be my trusty 28oz estwing framing hammer(if it dont fit it soon will when i got that hammer in my hand) ;D