What was your very first GOOD tool?

My 17” Grizzly bandsaw. The ability to resaw and cut curves accurately opened up a whole new area of woodworking to me. Or maybe it was my jointer and planer that allowed me to build things starting with rough cut lumber.

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

The first GREAT tool I owned was my Incra Jig. It allowed me to have high precision with my cuts on the router table.

Last latest GREAT tool I purchased would be (like gfadvm) my 17” Grizzly bandsaw. The increased resaw capacity and smoothness of cut is much better than my old 12 inch Craftsman.

-- "I love it when a plan comes together" John "Hannibal" Smith

Technically it was my Ridgid R4512 tablesaw, (pretty good tool for something that came from the BORG) but given that I attach no romance to machines and see them more as a means to get to the joinery stage faster, I’d say my first good tool was my Lie Nielsen rabbet block plane. I already had some old Stanley planes, but this was my first “high-end” piece. I bought it to help with a project where I had a lot of tenon cheeks to trim and it performed beautifully. Now it’s my go-to for so many little shop tasks. Just yesterday, I got a Veritas router plane to do that tenon trimming job much more precisely.

The Shopsmith with it’s band saw and belt sander, followed by a Skil 77 worm drive.
With just those tools and some nail guns, we’ve built and/or remodeled several homes and built and installed dozens of kitchens.

-- Gene 'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

I’ve had a lot of tools, most were cheap, many were ‘so-so’. When I got a job where I could afford better quality and actually had a place to use it, I bought a Unisaw. Everything before that was done with an 8” Craftsman ‘contractor’ table saw (my Dad’s) from the 1960’s. This was a small saw with a small table. The fence needed to be aligned front and back before locking down.
It was a huge change in what I would attempt to cut (think large boards), but mores it was a change in precision. Things just came out ‘better’....

My Stanley #4C. Got it in 1967 and it was old then.
Bill

-- [email protected]

My craftsman Router. This brings an interesting twist to this discussion though. I understand there is a significant variation in what constitutes a “good” tool. I am not a professional woodworker and have been financially constrained most of my life. The 1/4”router was awesome and enabled many projects at the time. Now 40 years later it seems very inadequate. It was pretty special though when I got it. The best tool I have is a lathe made in 1875 or so that came out of my Grandfather’s shop. The bearings are still good and it stills turns fine. I haven’t gotten power to it yet, it was designed for an overhead belt system.

-- Haming it up in the 'bash.

Bedrock #2, circa 1910. Hand-me-down from Grandpa. Helped me take a surface finish on small projects to a new level.

-- Paul Mayer, http://youtube.com/c/toolmetrix

I have 2 major tools/machines that I wouldn’t want to be without running my business.
42 Bit Double Row Line Boring machine for drilling adjustable shelf holes.
SCMI Edgebanding machine.
Both machines have saved me so much labor over the years, I couldn’t afford Not to have them.
The line boring machine allows for better precision, drills both sides at the same time so holes are always even
and the Edgebander has opened up the ability to build European cabinetry without face frames. (Quick and Easy).

-- -

Delta 52” Unisaw Tablesaw

It allowed me to make straight, square cuts

-- Roger M, Aiken, SC

Ridgid granite top table saw and then Unisaw

-- Bert

Ridgid Miter Saw

-- look Ma! I still got all eleven of my fingers! - http://www.lepelstatcrafts.etsy.com - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCppWfrYGXCr5lm9uW-Fpqqw

My Hitachi Mv12 v2 Router. I love that thing. I find every excuse to use it

-- Just trying to build something beautiful

Lie Nielsen #4 1/2.

-- Everything is a prototype thats why its one of a kind!!

Tough question….

I would have to go with my PC Router.
Then my DW735 thickness planer.
Or is it my Grizzly G0458 thickness sander, Jet 1442 lathe or perhaps my RIKON 10-325 BS???

-- Randy-- I may not be good...but I am slow! If good things come to those who wait.... Why is procrastination a bad thing?