Register Now!

**Bob** · 05-02-2007, 08:02 PM

Thought it would be fun to take a little survey of our most used shop tool.

I was doing a quick honey do project today and at the same time thinking how rare it was that I worked in the shop without reaching for my most used tool which happens to be my DW 18v drill driver.

What is your most used tool?

**bobj3** · 05-02-2007, 08:09 PM

Hi Bob

I would say my Vac.,I'm always picking up something with it,chips,saw dust,cleaning the floor,etc..

I guess I need to add one, Corey got me thinking, I have a small screw driver in my shirt pocket all the time, it has a magnet on the top and a shaft that is phil. and for slotted screws,(flip type) I use all the time and I would be lost without, it's the 1st.thing I put in my shirt ever day just like my pen.
If it's not turning a screw or picking one up with the magnet it's cleaning my finger nails or being used as a small pry bar

I use all the time..

Bj

**challagan** · 05-02-2007, 08:21 PM

Yeah... I think Bj is kind of is right... it get's to clean up after every tool I use. As for Machinery....

1. Table Saw
2. Router Table
3. Lathe
4. DP

As far as your most used tool Bob... I had to think about that but in the end...it is one of my least used if truth be known. I tend to use a hand screw driver over a power driver unless I need the power and torque .... like when hanging my cabinets due to needing to get a screw in quickly... I still ended up putting screws in by hand... with my long handled phillips... you get more torque that way

Corey

**Kevin** · 05-02-2007, 09:47 PM

I don't have my own shop but when I do woodworking i borrow my grandfathers. It's pretty hard to say i would use any other tool more than the router. I have been taught ever since I was young that if theres a job to be done it's most likely that a router is the tool for the job.

**challagan** · 05-02-2007, 09:59 PM

Well that's the message to be delivered isn't it Kevin....damn straight! Since joining this site I use my router 3 times what i used too. Got a new mini router table in the works

using a palm router. Can't wait to get started on it!

Corey

lrr · 05-02-2007, 10:59 PM

For "major" power tools (i.e. not the cordless drill):

1. Radial Arm Saw
2. Table Saw
3. Router (table mounted)
4. Drill Press
5. Compund Miter Saw

I've had my RAS for 30 years, and my table saw for 3 -- so I just keep going back to the RAS. I seldom use the TS for crosscuts, the RAS is perfect for this, especially when working with long pieces of wood. And similarly, I never use my RAS anymore for ripping. Finally the CMS is used for all miter work (and hardly ever for crosscuts -- a good RAS is just to perfect for crosscutting).

If you don't have a RAS, you don't know what you're missing ...

But it has to be an old, well-made unit, or a new very expensive unit, like an Original Saw, or I guess maybe the high-end Delta. I wouldn't trust the newer Craftsman models.

curiousgeorge · 05-03-2007, 12:12 AM

I use all my power tools a lot but the handiest tool I own is a 4-in-hand file.

**harrysin** · 05-03-2007, 12:49 AM

Other than item #3 which I would change for Plunge router it's as if Lee wrote a post for me. I had to smile when I saw Bob's pics. under "radial arm router" because his RAS appears to be the same as mine, but Bob listed dust collection as his number one tool whereas Lee and me don't mention it at all, here is a pic. of my RAS.

Tony Ward · 05-03-2007, 01:00 AM

The floor vacuum, to sweep/vacuum the sanding dust.

If only I could find a use for bucket loads of sawdust I'd make a fortune!

rmaxa · 05-03-2007, 10:09 PM

I would have to say it's my table saw, miter saw, and router, in that order.

05-02-2007, 08:02 PM	#1
Bob Forum Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Metro Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,320 View Bob's Gallery	Report This Post! What is your most used tool in the shop? Thought it would be fun to take a little survey of our most used shop tool. I was doing a quick honey do project today and at the same time thinking how rare it was that I worked in the shop without reaching for my most used tool which happens to be my DW 18v drill driver. What is your most used tool? __________________ Cheers, Bob Pictures from the shop http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/bnoles616/
	Top - Reply with Quote

05-02-2007, 08:09 PM	#2
bobj3 Forum Contributer Supreme Forum King Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Littleton,Colorado U.S.A. Posts: 7,502 View bobj3's Gallery	Report This Post! Hi Bob I would say my Vac.,I'm always picking up something with it,chips,saw dust,cleaning the floor,etc.. I guess I need to add one, Corey got me thinking, I have a small screw driver in my shirt pocket all the time, it has a magnet on the top and a shaft that is phil. and for slotted screws,(flip type) I use all the time and I would be lost without, it's the 1st.thing I put in my shirt ever day just like my pen. If it's not turning a screw or picking one up with the magnet it's cleaning my finger nails or being used as a small pry bar I use all the time.. Bj __________________ Bj Last edited by bobj3; 05-02-2007 at 09:00 PM.
	Top - Reply with Quote

05-02-2007, 08:21 PM	#3
challagan Retired Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,981 View challagan's Gallery	Report This Post! Yeah... I think Bj is kind of is right... it get's to clean up after every tool I use. As for Machinery.... 1. Table Saw 2. Router Table 3. Lathe 4. DP As far as your most used tool Bob... I had to think about that but in the end...it is one of my least used if truth be known. I tend to use a hand screw driver over a power driver unless I need the power and torque .... like when hanging my cabinets due to needing to get a screw in quickly... I still ended up putting screws in by hand... with my long handled phillips... you get more torque that way Corey __________________ My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver http://iowacarver.tripod.com/ My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503 http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/ Last edited by challagan; 05-02-2007 at 08:24 PM.
	Top - Reply with Quote

05-02-2007, 09:47 PM	#4
Kevin Forum Administrator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 132 View Kevin's Gallery	Report This Post! I don't have my own shop but when I do woodworking i borrow my grandfathers. It's pretty hard to say i would use any other tool more than the router. I have been taught ever since I was young that if theres a job to be done it's most likely that a router is the tool for the job.
	Top - Reply with Quote

05-02-2007, 09:59 PM	#5
challagan Retired Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,981 View challagan's Gallery	Report This Post! Well that's the message to be delivered isn't it Kevin....damn straight! Since joining this site I use my router 3 times what i used too. Got a new mini router table in the works using a palm router. Can't wait to get started on it! Corey __________________ My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver http://iowacarver.tripod.com/ My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503 http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/
	Top - Reply with Quote

05-02-2007, 10:59 PM	#6
lrr Registered User Sr. Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Posts: 50 View lrr's Gallery	Report This Post! For "major" power tools (i.e. not the cordless drill): 1. Radial Arm Saw 2. Table Saw 3. Router (table mounted) 4. Drill Press 5. Compund Miter Saw I've had my RAS for 30 years, and my table saw for 3 -- so I just keep going back to the RAS. I seldom use the TS for crosscuts, the RAS is perfect for this, especially when working with long pieces of wood. And similarly, I never use my RAS anymore for ripping. Finally the CMS is used for all miter work (and hardly ever for crosscuts -- a good RAS is just to perfect for crosscutting). If you don't have a RAS, you don't know what you're missing ... But it has to be an old, well-made unit, or a new very expensive unit, like an Original Saw, or I guess maybe the high-end Delta. I wouldn't trust the newer Craftsman models. __________________ Lee
	Top - Reply with Quote

05-03-2007, 12:12 AM	#7
curiousgeorge Registered User Supreme Forum King Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fort Worth,Texas USA Posts: 1,401 View curiousgeorge's Gallery	Report This Post! I use all my power tools a lot but the handiest tool I own is a 4-in-hand file. __________________ George If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem...
	Top - Reply with Quote

05-03-2007, 12:49 AM	#8
harrysin Forum Contributer Supreme Forum King Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Australia Posts: 2,992 View harrysin's Gallery	Report This Post! Other than item #3 which I would change for Plunge router it's as if Lee wrote a post for me. I had to smile when I saw Bob's pics. under "radial arm router" because his RAS appears to be the same as mine, but Bob listed dust collection as his number one tool whereas Lee and me don't mention it at all, here is a pic. of my RAS. Attached Thumbnails __________________ *Harry*
	Top - Reply with Quote

05-03-2007, 01:00 AM	#9
Tony Ward Registered User Jr. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Blue Mountains, Australia Posts: 19 View Tony Ward's Gallery	Report This Post! The floor vacuum, to sweep/vacuum the sanding dust. If only I could find a use for bucket loads of sawdust I'd make a fortune! __________________ Tony Ward Bandsawn Box Plans
	Top - Reply with Quote

05-03-2007, 10:09 PM	#10
rmaxa Registered User Forum King Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 542 View rmaxa's Gallery	Report This Post! I would have to say it's my table saw, miter saw, and router, in that order. __________________ Rolf "I love it when a plan comes together" Hannibal Smith
	Top - Reply with Quote

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
"Free" tool from Amazon; help me select one	Ladd	Table-mounted Routing	8	12-12-2007 09:54 AM
A Little Tour of my Little Shop!....	challagan	Tools and Woodworking	23	08-26-2007 01:07 PM
best shop saftey tool	delroy33	Shop Safety	7	10-29-2006 06:28 AM
Most hated power tool in the shop.	Router is still my name	Lobby	5	09-16-2006 07:04 AM
Tool Review Guidelines ~ READ BEFORE POSTING	Mark	Tool Reviews	0	04-18-2005 11:31 AM