What kind of tools do you keep on hand for projects

[perchie.girl]

I was just on another topic and it occured to me that I have a particular list of tools that I keep on hand. I am always doing projects and live alone therefore I have over time resisted going overboard with tools I keep. If I need something more substantial or for a one time project I rent:

A short list of power tools I keep around:

1. Skill saw. (Miter and complicated cuts can be accomplished with practice)
2. Drill motor. (if given a choice I use screws every time)
3. Roto Zip. (will do most jobs a scroll saw will do and a thousand more)
4. shop light with a clamp or a hook

I dont do battery powered tools because I forget to keep the dang things plugged in. I do have about a thousand feet of power cord though....

Then for those projects where you need a second set of hands:

1. C clamps
2. Wood clamps
3. Bungee cords
4. Duct tape (duck tape held my truck together for a very long time)
5. Vise grips

All of the above can be purchased at Harbor Frieght for half the cost of a home depot or Lowes. and for the amount of use I give them they are quite suitable for my needs.

any more ideas?

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Sorry you never have enough tools. I have a woodshop, with all of the tools I had when I had a cabinet shop. I'm all the time adding more.

Air Compressor, nail guns, table saw, chop saw, planer, sander, on & on & on.

Love woodworking!

 

[Dogfish]

Table saw, compound slide miter saw, Mag77 worm drive saw, Sawzall, jig saw, dremel, rotozip, set of 18V Makita drill and impact driver with 2 spare batteries, air compressor, air nailers from 18ga finish to framing nailers, levels from 8" to 6', framing hammer, speed square, drill press, shovels, picks, rakes, tape measures, pencils a plenty, paper, roto hammer, electricians tools, socket set, and every other tool I used to build my house.

I need a planer and a lathe.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

If I had a garage I would have more. My next purchase will definately be a Compressor. Then eventually air powerd tools. But There are alot of us who are pretty novice with regard to woodworking and knocking stuff together. I built my first coop with a hand saw and a hammer. That was when I bought my first power tool a skill saw.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
So my guess is you are beyond the basics....

 

[JackE]

I've been buying/collecting tools for over 40yrs. In my opinion, You can NEVER have enough tools. There always seems to be something I just have to have. Like I just got this cool Delta variable speed drillpress.... But thats another story.
Jack

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
I'm a late bloomer where wood working tools are concerned. And have very limited income so I have to buy things that will multitask. What I have can be packed into a box and kept in the house. I do have a drill press a chainsaw and a one man auger havent used them yet so I forget I have them. and for a brief few months I had a Full blown Metal Lathe... just didnt have a place to put it. So it got sold to a Machinist in town. I am much better with steel and sheetmetal been around it longer so my wood working tools never got built up.

What I wish I had is a tractor or a bobcat. I have eighteen acres to fence and cross fence and I will be darned if I will pay 5 dollars a linear foot for approximately three miles of T post and field fence and or hotwire. sigh

 

[Cargo]

Slightly off topic:
If I had to go down to just 1 power saw in my garage it would be a Jig Saw.
It does just about everything. Not fast but it works.

That being said I am also glad I have a circular, recip, miter, etc.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

My Daddy bought me a jigsaw for Christmas and DH got me a Miter saw for our anniversary.

I put up my first chicken coop with little more than a hand saw, a electric screwdriver, and a fencing tool

 

[obaan1]

Not a tool -- but you can never have too many screws and hinges on hand either. Tarps are good, too.