 chmodPremium
join:2000-12-12
Lockport, IL | Tools I should have bought years ago.. I have no idea why but I got to thinking about this. What power, hand, specialty tool, etc have you bought then thought to yourself wow why didn't I get this sooner? I have two that stand out for me. I used to work for a gc where I had my hands on just about everything when I moved on 6 years later to do flooring specifically. I had a job years ago that involved a business on first floor and apartment on the second that needed tons of copper pipe water re-routes and water filter additions. I picked up a ratcheting craftsman tubing cutter and it almost does away with the stubby cutters in remodels. The second being my portercable left hand blade skil saw. I cut bunks and bunks of plywood, and being right handed its sooo much more natural without the weight of a wormgear..
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Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs. |
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sk1939
join:2010-10-23
france
kudos:6 | A Dremel. Never quite sure how I built all the things I did without one (mostly using x-acto knives and chisels).
A finishing sander; because sanding by hand is overrated.
Wire strippers. |
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 macsierraBaby NewfoundlandPremium
join:2003-11-30
Minden, NV
 ·Charter
| reply to chmod
V28/M28 Side Grinder |
Granted, these came out in 2008, but I wish they had these years ago without dragging an extension cord around on the job.
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Jimmy Hoffa’s dad was the last shovel-ready job..
Will Rodgers never met Harry Reid..
Why was I Anti-Obama before it was cool?
Saul Alinsky was also a community organizer & Marxist..
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 shdesignsPowered By Infinite Improbabilty DrivePremium
join:2000-12-01
Stone Mountain, GA
 ·Atlantic Nexus
| reply to chmod
Top tools that changed how i do things:
MIG welder
Air compressor and air tools: die grinder, impact wrench, air hammer.
Angle grinder
Metal Lathe
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Scott Henion
Embedded Systems Consultant,
SHDesigns home - DIY Welder |
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 DataDocMy avatar looks like me, if I was 2D.Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC | reply to chmod
My new Wixey digital inclinometer made moving a DirecTV dish a piece-o-cake. Plus, it can be used to measure angles needed for table saw, drill press, etc.
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Oh, no, not clown shoes. They mean I'm in for some mighty bad news. |
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Vise grips.
[NG]Owner |
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 ArthurSWatch Those Blinking LightsPremium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON | reply to chmod
Fein Multimaster. |
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Laser guide |
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| reply to chmod
Cell phone, to call a professional to do the job right, after I screw it up.  Actually the more tools you have, the less you need the cell phone. |
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sk1939
join:2010-10-23
france
kudos:6 | There is the law of diminishing returns of course. Like the classic wisdom of never buy a contractors house. |
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 dennismurphyPut me on hold? I'll put YOU on holdPremium
join:2002-11-19
Parsippany, NJ
 ·Verizon FiOS
·Optimum Online
| said by sk1939:Like the classic wisdom of never buy a contractors house.
* sigh * ... but he told me he was only a mason!
Seriously though, my favorite tool of all so far is the air compressor. The dremel is a very close second.
And get a good set of wire cutters, crimpers and wire strippers. (If you want a good set of the 'other' kind of strippers, be my guest.) |
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tberg
join:2001-08-23
Greenville, SC | reply to chmod
Impact driver. I never use a drill for driving screws anymore. |
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 JuggernautIrreverent or irrelevant?Premium
join:2006-09-05
Everywhere
kudos:1 | reply to chmod
Compressor with assorted nailers and air tools, angle grinder, 12" buffer for the truck, and a few others. |
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dingoPremium
join:2009-02-08
kudos:1 | reply to chmod
Good topic....
Laser Skil Saw, A quality chainsaw (Stihl), Torpedo heater for the garage, and a rotary buffer for waxing the boats, trucks. |
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 tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:5
·Fairpoint Commun..
 ·Hollis Hosting
| reply to chmod
My son bought me a chop saw a year ago. Great tool. Before that I did everything with a table saw or skill saw.
Web clamp. Initially bought it to do picture frames but the ability to put pressure on odd shapes is incredibly useful.
Come-along. We live on 12 acre and harvest our own fire wood. It is amazing what you can do with a come-along.
Battery operated drill. Picked one up at a flea market several years ago. Had held off buying on for years. Keeping the battery charged is a nuance but having two electric drills with on being untethered is a great addition to my toolbox.
/tom |
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macsierraBaby NewfoundlandPremium
join:2003-11-30
Minden, NV Reviews:
·Charter
| reply to ArthurS
Good call, I forgot about that. Until someone sees one in action they can't appreciate what it will do. My carpenter used it once and he was sold, I never got it back so I picked another one up on Amazon when they were on sale..
I replaced a roof on a shop with 4 big skylights. The flashing pans were galvanized with the corners soldered but still in good shape except they were covered in old hard tar from the first sealing job.
The wide putty knife on the Fein peeled the tar off faster than the roofer could believe. He said, they usually used a torch and a putty knife to do that. I almost lost my second Fein Multimaster to him. 
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Jimmy Hoffa’s dad was the last shovel-ready job..
Will Rodgers never met Harry Reid..
Why was I Anti-Obama before it was cool?
Saul Alinsky was also a community organizer & Marxist..
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 jester121Premium
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL
 ·voip.ms
| reply to shdesigns
said by shdesigns:Air compressor and air tools: die grinder, impact wrench, air hammer.
My answer.
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I love the Green Bay Packers.
/facepalm |
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 whizkid3Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-21
Queens, NY
kudos:8 | A robot.
(To do my work for me.) |
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| reply to chmod
multiple multimeters
outlet tester
4" diamond blade for angle grinder. works fine for everything cept wood, and lasts way longer than carborundum blades.
homemade 4" saw blade for angle grinder
srong magnetic stud finder
homemade drop weight on string, for fishing wires through walls by gravity.
aluminum duct tape, for all sorts of assorted metal repairs, using multiple layers if necessary.
6-in-one multi screwdriver, $5., for first looks at unknowbn jobs. then 1/4" nutdriver is needed often. also good impressive for gifts.and for folks who have nothing.
morror on a telescoping rod,
strong magnet on a rod
grab claws in the hollow flex rod
big battery operated light. they dont last long, say 20 minutes, but help a lot up under sinks or under mobile homes or in dark storerooms or when the power is out. under $15.
assorted sizes and lengths heat shrink tubing, for covering bad wire insulation.
rzzor blades, rigid top, in 100 packs, under $10. fastest way to clean long uncleaned windows.
dremel tool with 1/4" x 3/8" cylindrical carbide bit. the bits wear out quickly, at $7., but work well especially for lock bolt holes, including the metal trims or metal frames.
old sharp hand saw with wide kerf, often works faster than finding the circular saw and extension cord
old wood planes, large and small. makes quick easy neat job of stuck doors, windows, etc. cheap at flea market. |
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chmodPremium
join:2000-12-12
Lockport, IL | reply to ArthurS
+1 on this. I use it when I only have a few door jambs to undercut instead of lugging in the crane. Used it many times to replace single ceramic tiles. The original and the best.
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Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs. |
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