Help me pick a Birthday gift

[Nermal43]

Ok, here is the deal. My wife's family has a tradition. When a family member turns 50, everyone kicks in $$ for one big give for the birthday person. It is my turn and I am informed there will be about $500 (this is a large family). So, I have to pick. I just built my metal/welding shop and have a good Mig/Tig welder (MillerMatic 211), a Plasma cutter (Lotos), a drill press, and pretty much all the 18 volt hand tools I can use. This is what I is already on my "possible" list:

Metal cutting band saw (can I get a decent new one for $500?)

metal lathe (same question)

Gas Forge

Any other options I should be considering?

Thanks for the ideas!

Ken

 

[toolchaser]

How about a nice auto-darkening helmet & gloves?

 

[potato]

500 gets you a snap on socket set.

 

[paulsomlo]

A metal lathe is very handy - it really opens up the realm of what is possible. But you won't find anything for $500 new. Used, maybe, but you'll need to do some shopping. 9" South Bend is fairly common, large old lathes can sometimes be had for scrap value, because they're not in demand in industry and the home shop guys can't put them in their trunk and take them home.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Things come and go. If I were you, I would opt for a nice weekend getaway with the wife.

 

[mudflap]

Things come and go. If I were you, I would opt for a nice weekend getaway with the wife.

................................X2

 

[Nermal43]

I do love going places with my wife, but the family has set the parameters of the gift. Leaning towards a metal band saw as unromantic as that might be. It is rare I have the option of buying a $500 tool so I was just looking for a few ideas.

 

[gtabasso]

Ok, here is the deal. My wife's family has a tradition. When a family member turns 50, everyone kicks in $$ for one big give for the birthday person. It is my turn and I am informed there will be about $500 (this is a large family). So, I have to pick. I just built my metal/welding shop and have a good Mig/Tig welder (MillerMatic 211), a Plasma cutter (Lotos), a drill press, and pretty much all the 18 volt hand tools I can use. This is what I is already on my "possible" list:

Metal cutting band saw (can I get a decent new one for $500?)

metal lathe (same question)

Gas Forge

Any other options I should be considering?


Thanks for the ideas!

Ken

A gift card so you can put it toward a more expensive piece of equipment that you really want and need.