Rate your Tools

[Redoverfarm]

I thought this might be an interesting subject to pass to each other.  Call it a sort of " Consumer Guide to Tools" if you will.  There is a good bit of discussion during the build of various tools used by members at different stages of their construction.  It might be something to the effect of who's car is better 'Chevrolet or Ford" but that wasn't my intentions.  I have several tools with some age on them and they have proved to be very reliable.  I wanted to share that reliability to other members who were in the market for various tools.  You know you have some favorites that have "took a licking and kept on tick'n".  I am sure that quality within the manufacturers has probably dropped in recent years and a newer product of the same general make, model and type may not even be available now but these tools should have a proven track record and maybe the manufactuer still produces them to the same general quality.

With all that said here is what I approve of.

Makita Model N1900B 3" portable Electric planer

Ryobi 3"X21" Varible speed belt sander.

This may also help others that might own similar pieces of equipment find replacement parts that other members have had to obtain. 

[MountainDon]

Makita Model N1900B 3" portable Electric planer

I have one that must be a quarter century old. Older. Bullet proof as long as your don't run over nails.    Then you need new blades. I converted mine to use the thin double edged carbide blades instead of the original high speed steel blades.

Ryobi power miter saw. Again older than the hills. No slide. cast iron heavy thing. I don't like to move it much but it cuts nice with a Freud 80 tooth blade.

Porter Cable D handle router. Very hand. Also an oldie.

[NM_Shooter]

Yup, my Dewalt 705 compound miter is the #1 tool I can't build without.  Next is my Paslode framing nailer.  Capable of shooting a 3" framing nail through your finger at a distance of 18" !!!

[Redoverfarm]

Where did you get your blades for your planer.  I am going to be due a set before long.  Already turned mine over once.  Both of my perferred are at least 15-20 years old.  I had to get a new "platin"(sp?) for the sander once but no big deal.

[MountainDon]

I found the kit online a number of years ago. I don't recollect where/who.   

But here's a link to the part....

http://www.tools-plus.com/makita-d-17239.html



Replacement tungsten carbide blades can be found at Lowe's, probably HD and others. I've bought both genuine Makita and Bosch, they interchange.

[rwanders]

Most bullet proof tool I have ever owned is my 25 year old Skil Model 77 worm drive saw. I believe the same model is readily available still. It's a little on the heavy side but it has been absolutely trouble free.

[glenn kangiser]

I have the same 77 I bought at a yard sale - changed the frayed cord and it's still going.

All of the Makita 18v xlt tools I have seem to be superior to other battery tools so I would rate them Commercial quality and my 18v Ryobi Lithiums I would rate as heavy homeowner duty to lighter Commercial duty.

[muldoon]

dewalt 18v cordless drill is flawless.  I was building out a datacenter back in 2001 and saw one being used, it ran all day long without a new battery needed - thats assembling cabinets, racking pdus, serversm guide arms, overhead bus tray.  the green one I had didnt make it to lunch.  I bought one for the house in 2002, still have the same two batteries it came with, still works well. the batteries are weaker then when I bought it, but nothing that slows me down. 

1970s black and decker skillsaw or just circular saw.  its all metal, even the top slide.  works like a champ.  I dont think you can such a beast anymore.  I got it from my dad when I said I didnt have one; he went and bought himself a spiffy sears special with the laser.  his sears died two years later - I think he regrets giving me that one. 

sears crafstman 90 degree right angle grinder.  I dont do alot of metal work but damned if I dont find myself using it for this and that quite a bit, no trouble with it at all. 

dewalt 90degree cordered drill for doing punchouts in studs for electrical wiring. got this at a garage sale, replaced the cord that was in bad shape.  fantastic tool. 

not happy with black and decker handheld sander.  the pads are too soft and they wear out and rip causing an uneven sanding job.  the "filter" is a joke. 

not happy with the sears overhead drop light with the electrical outlets.  it has a internal fuse that cannot be replaced.  while its nice to have a light and an electrical outlet where your working, you cant use the thing without tripping its breaker in the handheld needing to be reset.  even a circular or saber saw will do it, useless because then you not only have no tool, but you have no light either. 

[MountainDon]

The entire range of 18V Ryobi tools are very good. I'd say they are great value for the homeowner. Some, like the circular saw are a tad light duty for commercial work or the homeowner who is less than careful in handling the tools. The 'green' ones that are packed in the li-ion kits are better than the others.  All in all I am pleased with mine. I have the li-ion batteries (3) and a couple Nicads. Li-ions are better.

[peternap]

I have the same 77 I bought at a yard sale - changed the frayed cord and it's still going.

All of the Makita 18v xlt tools I have seem to be superior to other battery tools so I would rate them Commercial quality and my 18v Ryobi Lithiums I would rate as heavy homeowner duty to lighter Commercial duty.

Got one of the 77's too. I found it used and it just keeps going. I also have the 18 V Ryobi drill and saw. I use the drill constantly.

[curlewdave]

 My Hilti drywall screwdriver (it's nice to load up 50 screws at a time)..Don't use it too often, but great when needed... My old Makita worm drive, the 18V Dewalt srill/driver, and a rotating laser level....Oh, yeah, and an OLD hammer my Dad built his house with, I built mine with, and now my son is using the same.. I'm sure it's heard plenty of cuss words and bloodied many fingers in the last 65 years..

[curlewdave]

 ???Then I get to thinking...   My Milwaukee hole hog and sawzalls, the Dewalt 706 compound miter, the Bosch jigsaw, and my Stihl 021,026, and 044.  Tough to single out just a few--like asking which of your kids do you like best. They're all good for various reasons.

[OlJarhead]

Makita Miter Saw   This thing takes a beating and keeps on ticking

When I was in the industry EVERYONE had Makita skill saws.  Except me   I couldn't afford them and ran around the butt of many jokes with my Black&Decker....funny thing?  It is still working but finally after some 25 years the bearing seems to be going so I switched to an equally old Craftsman

While I'd love to have all Makita saws I'll settle for an old Craftsman or B&D -- which seem to work fine.

On a side not I have a 50 year old (at least) Skill drill and jig saw from my grandfather -- both work, both are made of steel!  The bodies are steel -- amazing.  These things will NEVER quit!  And if by chance they do?  They'd be repairable

[Redoverfarm]

Alright good responses.  Just take this one step further.  Out of all the tools that you have which one would you single out as being the most valuable . For me it would have to be my cordless drill.  Glenn probably wouldn't have to respond as we know what his weapon of choice would be.

[curlewdave]

Yeah, the cordless drill always goes with me, so probably most valuable, but the most FUN would be my Woodmizer sawmill.

[dug]

Guess I  better get me a cordless drill. The last one I had was a Milwaulkee and it seemed I could only drive 4 or 5 screws before recharging, that was 15 years ago. Reverted to my corded drill and never looked back.

Right now I would have a hard time dealing without my 12 in. DeWalt compound miter saw and stand. Does about everything except make my coffee.

[curlewdave]

Yeah, I've got the model 706 (I think that's it)  and it has been a great saw.  The only thing that has ever gone wrong with it was fraying of the power cord where it enters the back.

[dug]

Yeah, I've got the model 706 (I think that's it)  and it has been a great saw.  The only thing that has ever gone wrong with it was fraying of the power cord where it enters the back.

Same with mine! Been meaning to fix that for 2 years now but haven't got around to it.

[MountainDon]

 Out of all the tools that you have which one would you single out as being the most valuable .

Yep. Cordless drill

[glenn kangiser]

Alright good responses.  Just take this one step further.  Out of all the tools that you have which one would you single out as being the most valuable . For me it would have to be my cordless drill.  Glenn probably wouldn't have to respond as we know what his weapon of choice would be.

Hold on a minute there, John.....

Yup - I love my chainsaws alright ... Stihl Electric, 026, 044, 046 x 32" and Husky midsize, but none of them are worth anything without my pencil to mark out a line so I can whack out a curve around a log with one of them.

So looking at it a different way.... most valuable... maybe my Hino Truck with remote controlled crane so I can bring logs to the Wood Wizard sawmill and make a living doing structural steel.  The trailer was loaded in place - hooked up - and we pulled 100' trees up to 30" dia. up a 40% grade through the bushes to limb and cut them near the road.

[curlewdave]

Nice looking logs!!

[glenn kangiser]

Just like another sawmiller to be lusting after logs, eh? Dave?

We got 2 1/2 loads like that - very nice good milling Sugar Pine.  Bug kills but not dead yet so great stuff.

The rest except the one 30" dia or so that went over the edge to be picked up wirh the forklift when dry.





Come to think of it, my forklift is a pretty important tool too.  It will push the entire load off in about 30 seconds.  It is so hard to choose a single valuable tool as many are not as valuable without the help of the others.

Most valuable tool... hmm.... how about the pile of meat between my ears...

[curlewdave]

Good sized, not much taper, and straight, and I'm sure they're pretty tight-grained.  My woodlots are mostly Doug fir, with some Ponderosa pine, larch,  red cedar and red alder, with occasional Oregon ash. My son laughed after we got the mill, saying he's never looked at trees the same way anymore...Just go Hmmmm.... How many 2x's in that one??

[peternap]

If I understand the question, it's the one tool I couldn't do without...

Not to sound low tech...Framing square

[MountainDon]

I take back my selection of the cordless drill as being my choice.

The tool I could least do without is my wallet/check book.