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Forum topic by Cricket | posted 11-03-2015 02:44 PM | 2064 views | 0 times favorited | 45 replies | ![]() |
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11-03-2015 02:44 PM |
What was your very first GOOD tool? What did it allow you to make you couldn’t make before? -- LumberJocks.com Community Manager |
45 replies so far
#1 posted 11-03-2015 02:55 PM |
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 |
#2 posted 11-03-2015 03:05 PM |
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 |
#3 posted 11-03-2015 03:22 PM |
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. |
#4 posted 11-03-2015 03:30 PM |
The Shopsmith with it’s band saw and belt sander, followed by a Skil 77 worm drive. -- 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 |
#5 posted 11-03-2015 03:32 PM |
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. |
#6 posted 11-03-2015 03:33 PM |
My Stanley #4C. Got it in 1967 and it was old then. |
#7 posted 11-03-2015 03:34 PM |
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. |
#8 posted 11-03-2015 03:41 PM |
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 |
#9 posted 11-03-2015 03:51 PM |
I have 2 major tools/machines that I wouldn’t want to be without running my business. -- - |
#10 posted 11-03-2015 04:23 PM |
Delta 52” Unisaw Tablesaw It allowed me to make straight, square cuts -- Roger M, Aiken, SC |
#11 posted 11-03-2015 04:26 PM |
Ridgid granite top table saw and then Unisaw -- Bert |
#12 posted 11-03-2015 04:52 PM |
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 |
#13 posted 11-03-2015 05:00 PM |
My Hitachi Mv12 v2 Router. I love that thing. I find every excuse to use it -- Just trying to build something beautiful |
#14 posted 11-03-2015 05:01 PM |
Lie Nielsen #4 1/2. -- Everything is a prototype thats why its one of a kind!! |
#15 posted 11-03-2015 05:07 PM |
Tough question…. I would have to go with my PC Router. -- Randy-- I may not be good...but I am slow! If good things come to those who wait.... Why is procrastination a bad thing? |
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