Unexpectedly handy tools

An electric pencil sharpener, because my pencils go where missing socks live.

Lee Valley's Veritas Saddle Square.

I use it on almost every project, even on the lathe sometimes.

There are tools for under $20?

Next thing you know someone will have found a piece of wood for less than twenty bucks.

When someone says there's a car that gets 25 or more miles per gallon I'll be 7 feet tall from all the leg pulling.

A useful tool for under twenty dollars - yeah right.

charlie b

Crepe sandpaper cleaning block. Big one for $7-8 at a woodworking show about ten years ago.

At the risk of "me-too-ing" I have to agree on saddle square. About 10 bucks, IIRC, and except for a pencil and a tape measure, it's probably the most-used tool I own. Don't know how I ever got along without it.

To reply by e-mail, use jcarlson631 at yahoo dot com

John

Reminds me of a story.......

I had just started woodturning and we were very VERY poor at the time. I drove over to Woodworkers Source in Phoenix to look at their wood for turning. I found a real good looking block and wondered if I could afford to pay the $7.95 that the price tag showed. I thought I would look around for something less expensive. Well picking through the pile all I found were $40.00 to $90.00 pieces. I looked again closely at the tag on my original piece and saw the faded 6 in front of the 7.95, so it was really $67.95! I went home and picked through my own wood pile.

Handy tools under $20.00? My stainless steel rulers.

Take care,

Craig

1. Good pair of sawhorses, sturdy and the right height -- free from scrap.

1. Straight grained wood frame for use as a sheet goods cutting base -- free panel/frame door from the scrap pile

2. 14" L-brackets, useful in many occasions (idea from John Carroll, Working Alone) -- free from scrap plywood

1. Old brass hinge of the right type (tight hinge, square on the edges) for use as a saddle square -- free from scrap

2. 5 gal. buckets to haul tools in -- free

1. Freud 7-1/4 or 8" thin-kerf blades for use in the TS -- ea.

2. HF clamps -- dollars (what, about 10?)

That hits $20 for me, H

Andy wrote: [snip]

My 6" stainless vernier caliper. It's my depth gauge, thickness gauge and inside dimension gauge...all in my pocket. Maybe not $ 20,00....but not much more than $ 30.00 for a decent piece. Don't bother with the dial-equipped ones...learn how to read a normal one. It will give

Those three tools are always where I know they are.... and of course, my FatMax tapemeasure.

Me too, me too.

I have the LV Saddle Square also, and although I use it quite a bit and it is definitely handy, it just hasn't made my list of "stuff I use all the time". Maybe I'm still getting used to it... One thing I forgot to mention earlier is a Craftsman 6oz "Plastic Tip Hammer". I got it to adjust my Knight wood planes, and it's perfect for that, but I've also found a variety of other uses for it, when I don't want to mar what I'm hammering, but my dead-blow mallet is too much.

"Andy" wrote in news:1151970423.035249.249640 @j8g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

I bought a coping saw last Christmas and have been using it on quite a few small projects. Not only does it cut corners (pun intended) but it cuts straight across boards too.

Puckdropper

However did you cope before buying it?

;-)

"Not Just For Woodworking" but one of the handiest things I've purchased in the last few years was an inexpensive ratcheting screwdriver, the type that takes regular 1/4" hex bits. LOTS easier for my aging wrists and hands to use, lots less to carry around for household repairs, and when the business end gets worn out, just throw it away and pop in a new one.

I'm not as sharp as i used to be, please explain how the pencil sharpener helps keep you from losing pencils. Am I missing the point?

Damn, I saw that one coming.

Are you talking about a "Yankee" screwdriver, or something different? If different, do you have a link to an example? TIA

How about a 6" steel ruler, graduated in 1/32. Also a mechanical pencil, like a pentel 7mm or 5mm HD lead; clipps in your shirt pocket. Always reasonably sharp for most purposes, handy as the shirt pocket itself. Now sharpener needed

Bobby Lee Chandler, AZ, USA

"Andy" wrote in news:1151970423.035249.249640 @j8g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Kreg Mini pocket hole kit

Heart be still! When I opened the link to see what you are talking about, I was looking at a picture of my "most useful hammer". Mine is identical, purchased from Sears as a Christmas gift to me in 1973.

Bob