What is your all-time best tool?
By Chris Melton on Aug 28, 2007 in best tools, commentary / opinion
Do you have a favorite tool? You know. The one that you can always count on. The one that just feels “right” in your hands.
Someone asked me this question the other day and at first I thought that I knew the answer, but it wasn’t that simple. I am involved in a number of different projects and crafts and I’ve come to realize that my favorite tool is dependent on what I am doing.
Right now, I am using this computer as a tool to publish this article/post. I could be writing it in the text editor provided by WordPress, but I’m not. I am using a blogging text editor named BlogJet. It’s great and I like it. I don’t use it all the time, but most of the time.
Back in the day (about 20 years ago) I had a mobile touch-up business that involved quite a bit of minor paint and body work. For that kind of work, my favorite tools were a turbine HVLP painting system. It:
- provided excellent service
- was economical
- was compact and could easily fit in my van
I was also very partial to a Makita variable speed buffer. In fact, I backed over it with my van one time and it kept right on going. One of my all-time best buys.
Around the same time, I was also doing a bit of custom paint work and I wanted the best spray gun available. I purchased a Mateson HVLP spray gun at a cost of $600.00. Costly, but worth every penny. I’ve still got it by the way. I just don’t paint anymore.
Woodworking is my great passion now and there are some really great tools out there. It all depends on what you can afford.
I really like the Japanese hand saws (not the custom made ones – much too high for me) and the Japanese chisels. They are a pleasure to use and stay sharp for a long time.
I also am quite fond of my Veritas low angle, bevel up plane. It is outstanding.
I also have a few tools and jigs that I have made over the years that I am quite fond of.
But my all-time favorites are two Bedrock hand planes that I found – cheap. I found a #603 in an antique store that cost me $12.00. I cleaned it up and it works like a dream. I also found a #605 at a flea market for $15.00 – another steal and again, a great tool.
What is your best tool? Click on the comments and let us know. We want to hear from you craftsmen and women.
Tim | Sep 3, 2007 | Reply
Chris,
Thanks for checking out my site and especially for linking to it!
As for my favorite tool, it varies depending on task much like you said. But if I had to pick just one in an I-Have-A-Fetish-For-This-Tool kind of way, it’d be my perforated steel 18″ Incra marking rule. I also like a good Starret straight edge and just about any of the Lie-Nielsen planes.
Best,
Tim
the MY-TOOL guys | Sep 4, 2007 | Reply
Tim,
Thanks for your comments. I’ve been coveting a Lie-Nielsen plane for some time, but just cannot seem to have the funds at the right time. I’m a woodworking nut and really enjoy using quality hand tools (I’ve even made a couple of planes that I am quite proud of - maybe I’ll post some pictures). Anyway, keep on telling the world about your work. True craftsmen need are a rare commodity.
Chris Melton
Slugs 007 | Mar 3, 2008 | Reply
Some of the ROEBUCK tools are pretty good.
I got a couple of hand tools from http://www.buckandhickman.com and they have a lifetime warranty.
A couple of the guys in our workshop buy their tools from there. I think they also do power tools.
the MY-TOOL guys | Mar 4, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for stopping by Slugs. I haven’t heard of buckandhickman.com, but I will stop by and check them out. Thanks for the heads up.
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