Tools that changed everything for you

[UncleJoe]

I worked my way through college 40 years ago as a carpenter. In the past few years I took up the hobby of woodworking. As I worked to improve my skills I began to purchase better tools. Then I discovered Festool. When I first saw it I was impressed but the price pushed me away. Then one day the Boss told me she needed a new washer and dryer and I did my research and we went shopping. I ended up buying her a real nice and very expensive washer and dryer set. I made sure she talked to an appliance repair buddy of mine who told her all the "secrets" of working with the new High efficiency machines. Well now every time she does laundry she tells me how much she likes those machines. Then she needed a new vacuum and I researched here and other places and bought her an expensive Dyson and she loves it.

So I was sitting in the shop thinking about buying the Festool tracksaw and paying $500 plus for a circular saw and it hit me. I had just spent way more than that for her "tools" so why worry about spending that type of money for my tools. After all the quality is there and the pros use these every day for years so they should last a hobbyist for a decade or more.

When I got my track saw and made my first project with it I could not believe how well everything came together. Square and true boards make for good end products. I have since bought the sanders, a Domino, the MFT and several other products.

Festool and to a lesser extent the Kreg Jig have turned my projects from "oh honey that is nice" to "Damn that is beautiful".

So I was wondering, what tools changed the way you work?

 

[chris142]

Ir 231. Before that it was all done by hand

 

[NC-Shaun]

After over 20 years of changing tires the old fashioned way, I ponied up for this tire changer....No Mar Tire Changer...

 

[UncleJoe]

I had the HF tire changer and I "tweeked" it a bit to make it work better. I place anchors in the floor and that made a big difference. I would remove it from the anchors when not in use but it was so much better than doing it by hand the old fashioned way. I really like the No Mar stuff.

 

[LordPsychon]

I worked my way through college 40 years ago as a carpenter. In the past few years I took up the hobby of woodworking. As I worked to improve my skills I began to purchase better tools. Then I discovered Festool. When I first saw it I was impressed but the price pushed me away. Then one day the Boss told me she needed a new washer and dryer and I did my research and we went shopping. I ended up buying her a real nice and very expensive washer and dryer set. I made sure she talked to an appliance repair buddy of mine who told her all the "secrets" of working with the new High efficiency machines. Well now every time she does laundry she tells me how much she likes those machines. Then she needed a new vacuum and I researched here and other places and bought her an expensive Dyson and she loves it.

So I was sitting in the shop thinking about buying the Festool tracksaw and paying $500 plus for a circular saw and it hit me. I had just spent way more than that for her "tools" so why worry about spending that type of money for my tools. After all the quality is there and the pros use these every day for years so they should last a hobbyist for a decade or more.

When I got my track saw and made my first project with it I could not believe how well everything came together. Square and true boards make for good end products. I have since bought the sanders, a Domino, the MFT and several other products.

Festool and to a lesser extent the Kreg Jig have turned my projects from "oh honey that is nice" to "Damn that is beautiful".

So I was wondering, what tools changed the way you work?

The problem I have with Festool is the price. They're the Snap-On of woodworking tools - extremely good overall but you can get something nearly as good for a fraction of the cost from other makers. Festool also has a habit of using odd measurements for some of its tools - its drill has a 5/16" chuck option headscrat).

The tool that changed my life was my Bosch 12v Impactor. I have a 18v PC system that works great but is a little bulky for my needs. When I had the chance to buy this with a drill for $129 I pulled the trigger. Now my 18v tools sit gathering dust while my Bosch keeps getting used at least twice a week.

 

[ADSR]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=288039

This^^

I bought one three weeks ago and would never wrench without one again!!!

It's pure awesome!

 

[UncleJoe]

I balked at the price too, there are very few people on this planet as cheap as me. Having said that, after using the track saw with the attached vacuum I felt the price was more than justified for that tool. I had read a lot about the health dangers of dust in the workshop and the Festool system really helps. The other day I was making cabinets. I had to cut up 3 pieces of 4x8 birch ply into all the various cabinet parts. When I was done I swept the floor and had half a dust pan full of sawdust the festool system keeps my shop very clean for all the work that is done in there.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Believe it or not, it probably was the 1/4" and 3/8" socket set I got for Christmas when I was 15. Dad had a 1/2" set, but it was always too bulky for many things. I took several years but I kept adding to that first set. Universal, a 6" and 9" extension. I also found that the 1/4" spinner handle and sockets made a great set of nut drivers.

Over a longer period of time, I added more extensions, deep socket, metric standard and deep socket (the original was SAE only; the only foreign cars around back then were VWs) and a flex head ratchet.


I still have that same set and it is still my "go to" tool today.

 

[zkling]

There's been a number of these threads, but for me power tool wise, I would have to say the horizontal bandsaw.

 

[Wrenchinfool]

Makita cordless 3/8 drive impact first one I bought was 9.6volt now I have 20v dewalt at work and at home for side jobs

 

[ADSR]

There's been a number of these threads, but for me power tool wise, I would have to say the horizontal bandsaw.

That's a big plus in my book as well.

 

[Smokeshow69]

A few years ago it was gear wrench ratcheting wrenches. Last year I bought the rigid impact driver/drill combo from home depot. I did not understand the "hype" about impact drivers but now I do ! Rarely is a home improvement or car repair performed without the impact driver in hand.

 

[deafcon]

Impact drivers were an absolute revelation to me. No more stripping fasteners!

 

[BJ42LX]

Perfect timing. I was cutting some square tube in the garage this evening with my Milwaukee band saw thinking to myself: This Thing Is Awesome.

It makes working with metal so easy.

 

[jakemac]

The one tool that changed how I work ?

The keychain bottle opener in my pocket.
My work hasn't been the same since I got it.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Impact guns. Used to think that they were only for lugnuts.

Now I use it for everything I can.

 

[jvitez]

1. Shopsmith 510. Before I only had hand-held woodworking tools. All of a sudden I could use a drill press, table saw, disc sander and band saw.

2. Air compressor. What a world of capabilities air tools brought me instead of the purely hand tools I'd been using. Awesome!

 

[Jlarson]

Gearwrenches
Fluke 789 process meter

 

[Jarhead0408]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=288039

This^^

I bought one three weeks ago and would never wrench without one again!!!

It's pure awesome!

I was thinking along those lines as well.

I picked up a used IR 2015 Max the other day. Freaking awesome piece of gear.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Off hand, I would say the ball peen hammer.

 

[aaronrkelly]

My Bone Creeper

Yeah it was $120 for a creeper.....but after years of junk creepers that wouldnt hold up this thing impressed me.

....and PROUDLY made in the USA.

 

[bloomingtonmike]

Building a 4X4 CNC router changed how I worked and how I made money as a hobby. It's led to some crazy paths in and out of the shop.

 

[whitetrash1]

Electric impacts. Have almost completely replaced using ratchets.

 

[jar944]

Impact driver -> my dad got me a set (drill & driver) when I bought my house. I thought the concept was stupid, then I used it. Mind blown.

Track Saw.

Oscillating multi tool.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

The Dual 80 ratchet has changed my view on hand tools. Expensive, even when purchased used, but I've yet to regret it.

 

[woody 73]

Cordless impact/screwdriver oh man that tool has saved me 10,000 times over, from back in the days when I did it by hand.

 

[bcradio]

The problem I have with Festool is the price. They're the Snap-On of woodworking tools - extremely good overall but you can get something nearly as good for a fraction of the cost from other makers. Festool also has a habit of using odd measurements for some of its tools - its drill has a 5/16" chuck option headscrat).

I wouldn't say they are the Snap-On of woodworking tools at all. When you buy into Festool, you buy into their entire system. Snap-On is not a system at all... A Snap-On socket works with a Proto ratchet just fine.

The key with Festool is having their tools work together with each other. Their dust collection is also unparalleled, which is a huge reason many professionals use their tools. Sure you can buy a pretty much all of their tools by other manufactures as stand alone tools, but if you want many pieces of the tools to work together with different tools then your are out of luck. Also if dust collection is important to you (which to most who have not experienced it, it's not) then they are certainly worth it. Once you have used their tools with the dust collection capabilities, you will never go back.

 

[Raven GT]

Recently, Cordless impact, Snapper riding mower.

Not having a shed or garage yet, i love not having to pull the compressor outside, get an airhose, unroll an extension cord, just to swap a flat on the trailer, or remove the blade from the mower, etc

The little gump mobile cut my yard mowing time from between 5 to 6,5 hours with a tiny pushmower (and beeing exhausted at the end of it ),
To an hour while sitting on my be-hind.

Before that IFA M25 Multicar, with trailer, makes hauling ANYTHING so much more enjoyable then trying to do it with a kei-car, esspecially building supplies.

Yes, i view this as a valuable tool, since delivery prices here are ridiculous.
The garden center down the road wanted to charge me 100 euro for a 16km delivery of 15 kerbstones, which seems to be the going rate for any delivery here.
It actually cost me less in delivery costs for 12 yards of concrete, 3 times the distance...
Delivery costs would regularly be more then the materials i ordered

Last year i made about 18 building / garden supply runs with the M25, pulled down 3 trees, and hauled about 50 yards of topsoil, and used it to collect some free pavers, some free steel, wood and a free compressor.
It doesn't get used every week, but when i use it, it saves me money, hassle, and wear and tear on my normal car.

Plus all the girls think its super cute

 

[joel63]

Two tools changed everything for me:

1. air compressor along with the associated air tools.

2. good quality scan tool.

 

[Sal Bandini]

Headlamp

No more trouble light for me and both hands free.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Two tools changed everything for me:

1. air compressor along with the associated air tools.

2. good quality scan tool.

Which one ?

 

[Jere]

I am going to have to get an impact driver now, this thread is going to get me in trouble...

For oxy/ace sheet metal welding the meco midget and flex hose from tinmantech. A foot and a half long couple of pound brass torch to couple of inches long less than a pound torch are worlds apart. There is way more control, I can get into tighter spaces, and don't get cramped up muscles after long uses.

Some that others mentioned are the shopsmith, the 4x6 horizontal saw, gear wrenches, air compressor (with self winding hose reel), power planer ,not a tool but a music in the garage. They get taken for granted now but made a big difference in personal sanity.

A few others, a heavy us bench vise, railroad anvil (turned end up), 72 tooth 1/2" ratchet, a good assortment of sockets.

And on the note of the festool, I have gotten away with using some thick angle iron and some c clamps at either end. Then just running the circular saw against that. It's not as cool as the festool but doing as much has much improve the cuts I have been getting. With the above set up and a diablo blade I have been ripping my own 2x4 2x2s from larger scrap wood, and don't need to be tethered to the table saw.

 

[jobo1004]

Headlamp

No more trouble light for me and both hands free.

I'll second this one. I've only had one for about 6 months and I wonder how I ever got anything done without it.

 

[njric71]

There have been many tools along the way that were game changers at the time. In my late teens early 20's when I got my first Sawzall.. man that thing was the cat's ***.. You could cut a car in 1/2 with one of them, cut down a whole house if you wanted to. There wasn't too much damage I couldn't cause with one of them..

Then as I got a little older and found myself needing to purchase a basin wrench. Well surely I had made it in life. One can't even call themselves a man until they own their first basin wrench. LOL..

The latest "how did I ever get by before this?" has probably been ratcheting wrenches. In fact it wasn't but a couple of months ago the my dad who's in his 70's and doesn't do a whole lot of wrenching any more was helping my do something on my car and I handed him a ratcheting wrench. Boy was he impressed with that. He didn't say it but you could see the almost sad look on his face that they didn't have them when he was working on the old family truckster.

The Dual 80 ratchet has changed my view on hand tools. Expensive, even when purchased used, but I've yet to regret it.

As for the dual 80 ratchet I can't really call that a game changer. Although there was that one time a lady friend asked me to stop over and assemble an exercise bike she had purchased on Amazon. She already had it unboxed, instructions open and parts spread out all over. Bless her heart in an effort to help she handed me the stamped piece of potmetal that came with it that was supposed to be used as a wrench. I broke out a couple of real wrenches, my dual 80 and some sockets. She said, and hand on a stack of bibles I'm not making this up "what is that?!?! That thing is ****!!" I thought my fly was open for a second but she was referring to my dual 80. I kinda laughed thinking she was joking.. She got all serious" I wasn't joking, that thing is so sleek and elegant" so I had to explain to her my theory of how a woman might open a jewelry box and admire all the shiny glittery gold and silver and jewels and things where as a man has a tool box full of shiny chrome that he ooohs and aaaahs over in much the same way.

If anything the dual 80 probably slows me down slows me down because it's too nice. Instead of just casually dropping it like I'd do with and old Craftsman ratchet is gets placed down gently on a rag when I'm using it and wiped down carefully when I'm done. I will say that ever since putting a dual 80 in my hands the craftsman ratchets I grew up with feel kind of like rocks in a pepper grinder and haven't been used much since.

 

[joel63]

Which one ?

I've had the Snap-On MT 2500, the first model they came with.

Next, the Solus followed by a Modis.

Looking at the Verus next.

It's just my opinion when I said "good quality."

 

[jvitez]

.....Before that IFA M25 Multicar, with trailer.............

I had to google that, never heard of it before, but........damn, it's awesome!

East German technology at it's finest, which is actually a bizarre mixture of German design and precision with Soviet manufacturing. It looks like my dump trailer with cab attached, but I want one!

Off topic, but speaking of East German technology, I spent a day riding in a Trabant when I was a kid. I love the fact it was a 2 stroke, and you had to use a dip stick to check the fuel level.

Thanks Raven GT for posting. It's always interesting to see what's available in Europe.

 

[WJD]

All air tools, Little LED lights mounted to my head freeing my hands, ratcheting wrenches, swivel sockets.

Also the sacrificial tools one picks up at yard sales, bargin bins, pawn shops for engineering 'specialty' tools.

 

[Modern Jess]

Track saw for me as well. And oddly, the Festool CT26 vacuum changed my world for the better. It made sanding a pleasant, relaxing job, and I use it constantly.

 

[00S4Boy]

These

http://www.nuplacorp.com/product.php?id=182

I have the blue point branded(old red handle) 6 pound variant, screw everyone and their crappy puny standard 4 pound sledges, i really want to get the 10lb variant.

I like to hit things.

 

[Jim C.]

For me it was old woodworking machinery. I couldn't really afford new machinery, and discovered that I could get better stuff from the 1940s and 1950s for a fraction of the cost. With just a little elbow grease and some parts (occasionally), one can have a top quality machine at an affordable price. Those old machines can also become addicting.

Jim C.