I have to control myself when in the big box store or on amazon or I will buy things (tools) chances are I may or may not use, lol. I ordered a pair of crown stops for my Dewalt mitre saw last night and don't really have any plans to do any crown. Is this a common problem? or just me?
Buying tools because they are handy but you will seldom use?
Mike Milam
41 - 60 of 79 Posts
Some tools you just gotta have,
even if you don't use them very often.
E.g., my 3 1/4 HP Porter Cable router.
I don't need it very often, but when you gotta hog
through hard, thick material, it's the only tool for the job.
Concerning crown, I do a fair amount of it.
All my saws (and probably yours too) have built-in presets for cutting
crown flat on the table, which to me is the right way to do it, however
those only work on crown which has a 38° spring angle, which most does,
so I couldn't justify buying a tool designed to do the job wrong.
Joined
·
1,911 Posts
i have most tools i need by now, i don't buy for the "fun of it", if i need a tool i buy it,
most recent purchase was a table saw back in Feb that i needed to finish some window framing and moldings,
since then i have used it for a few other projects as well
most recent purchase was a table saw back in Feb that i needed to finish some window framing and moldings,
since then i have used it for a few other projects as well
Joined
·
5,624 Posts
Yeah, but that validates getting a dust collection system!!
Joined
·
15,832 Posts
You boys better figure out where al this stuff is going when the time comes beforehand! My brother had at least 150K-200K worth of toys and tools. New Kabota tractor, couple of antique cars several garages full of tools ect ect.
When his health went south quickly and trusting his wife to thoughtfully dispose of his things was a HUGE mistake. I dont think she got 10c on the dollar. And my nephew didnt even get the cars he was verbally promised by his father. Complete $hitstorm. Make a will and put it in writing.
When his health went south quickly and trusting his wife to thoughtfully dispose of his things was a HUGE mistake. I dont think she got 10c on the dollar. And my nephew didnt even get the cars he was verbally promised by his father. Complete $hitstorm. Make a will and put it in writing.
Joined
·
11,241 Posts
About 10 years ago I decided that my woodworking would become full time when I retired. I had made furniture and other stuff for years. So I spent $1500. for a table saw. (same one is around $2500. today) Now that we moved, I don't really have enough room to use it. And wood is too expensive to make much. So it just sits. It has a piece of cardboard on it and I use it as an assembly table when I do something for the grand kids.
Joined
·
7,120 Posts
I have learned a way to prevent unnecessary purchases. Especially tools. Sometimes it works....lol.
I have stopped ordering on the spot. I try and wait at least 24 hours. If I still want it, then I pull the trigger. Sometimes I even forget about it.
I have stopped ordering on the spot. I try and wait at least 24 hours. If I still want it, then I pull the trigger. Sometimes I even forget about it.
Joined
·
17,192 Posts
Aside from wood working tools, I do my own mechanic work. I was a mechanic back in the 60s, everything is totally different now days. When rebuilding the engine in our Nissan, I had to buy a ton of special tools I probably will never use again. I am way too old to be crawling under a dern car.
Joined
·
15,832 Posts
I gave that up 20 years ago. Find a good honest mechanic and dont look back.
Joined
·
2,594 Posts
My problem is more on the materials side, rather than the tools.
Doing just homeowner projects, I don't need huge quantities of materials, but can't find them in small quantities for just the project needs. So I end up with a lot of extra.
Then I need to find a new project to use the materials.
Then I need more tools to do that project.
I don't think I've ever bought a tool I didn't need, though.
But I did put a lot into buying tools the past 5 years that I didn't need at the time.
The plan was to retire last summer, which I did, but have most all tools I might need to get me prepared for projects in retirement.
And so far, all good there.
And I do want to do crown molding. So if you want to offload that setup, let me know.
But I'm guessing I'd need to then also buy a Dewalt mitre to make use of it?
Oh what a tangled web we weave...
Doing just homeowner projects, I don't need huge quantities of materials, but can't find them in small quantities for just the project needs. So I end up with a lot of extra.
Then I need to find a new project to use the materials.
Then I need more tools to do that project.
I don't think I've ever bought a tool I didn't need, though.
But I did put a lot into buying tools the past 5 years that I didn't need at the time.
The plan was to retire last summer, which I did, but have most all tools I might need to get me prepared for projects in retirement.
And so far, all good there.
And I do want to do crown molding. So if you want to offload that setup, let me know.
But I'm guessing I'd need to then also buy a Dewalt mitre to make use of it?
Oh what a tangled web we weave...
Joined
·
15,832 Posts
Construction companies around here throw EVERYTHING thats left over from the job out. If the workers dont want it, it goes in the dumpster. Brand new or not. Lumber ,whole pallets of concrete blocks. stacks of foam insulation. I m sure they keep the tools but all else goes.
Joined
·
52,622 Posts
There's particulate collection and dust collection. I have a good particulate system connected to my table saw and radial arm saw, but never have seen the need for a "dust" collector. Norm Abrams may have needed one, but I never remember seeing sawdust on his tools nor his tables/floors
Joined
·
796 Posts
I am a firm believer in "the right tool for the right job". I also have exceptionally high standards for the quality of tools I purchase.
That said, as I've grown older, I am no longer tempted to buy things either because "they might be useful one day" or because "I could have used that in the past". Moving a workshop is intensive, and I'm now working to reduce duplicates, worn outs, and lower quality tools no longer needed. I do, though, continue to make annual or semi-annual slow walks through the big box stores to survey what new fangled contraptions have come on the market, but only as a mental reference point in case I discover a true need in the future.
I have one exception... old hand planes. Even there, though, I restrict my purchases in antique stores to only a size or type which I know for a fact I can and will use. I've run across some gorgeous antique, Swedish hand-made long planes, but since I truly have no need for them, I can't justify the $$ to just hang them up on display or for the sake of knowing I own them.
At the same time, my wife has seen my altered approach to tool purchases, and now is no longer a challenger on a purchase, but rather encourages me to get the things I say I either want or need because she knows it will have genuine value for us. Along those lines, her only remaining challenge to my pending $$$ purchase of a Powermatic Model 72 table saw is waiting until I truly have the room for that monster.
That said, as I've grown older, I am no longer tempted to buy things either because "they might be useful one day" or because "I could have used that in the past". Moving a workshop is intensive, and I'm now working to reduce duplicates, worn outs, and lower quality tools no longer needed. I do, though, continue to make annual or semi-annual slow walks through the big box stores to survey what new fangled contraptions have come on the market, but only as a mental reference point in case I discover a true need in the future.
I have one exception... old hand planes. Even there, though, I restrict my purchases in antique stores to only a size or type which I know for a fact I can and will use. I've run across some gorgeous antique, Swedish hand-made long planes, but since I truly have no need for them, I can't justify the $$ to just hang them up on display or for the sake of knowing I own them.
At the same time, my wife has seen my altered approach to tool purchases, and now is no longer a challenger on a purchase, but rather encourages me to get the things I say I either want or need because she knows it will have genuine value for us. Along those lines, her only remaining challenge to my pending $$$ purchase of a Powermatic Model 72 table saw is waiting until I truly have the room for that monster.
Joined
·
2,681 Posts
I had to buy a duct crimper when my wife wanted to change our dryer vent from rear to side. Figured I would never use it again.
Hung on the peg board for ten years until my son was replacing a bathroom vent in his home. Came in handy and my son was amazed I had such a tool.
Who knows, maybe in the next ten years I will use it again.
Hung on the peg board for ten years until my son was replacing a bathroom vent in his home. Came in handy and my son was amazed I had such a tool.
Who knows, maybe in the next ten years I will use it again.
Joined
·
4,631 Posts
That's funny, I am just the opposite. I do probably 90% of my own mechanic work and then only pay when I don't have the equipment I would need like a welder or somesuch. There is real $ to be saved there, better chance of getting the job done right, and a lot of satisfaction. And luckily (or unluckily) I never really got seriously into fine woodworking like building furniture or whatever. No room here for all those tools. But I have plenty of other tool categories... auto, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, networking, bicycle/e-bike, RC aircraft and drones, etc.
Joined
·
4,400 Posts
I almost bought a pair of those a few weeks back. But I saw a fellow do a duct with needle nose pliers so I tried that and it worked. Wasn't as neat as the crimpers but it was pretty good. Plus, I tape every joint with alum duct tape.
Joined
·
16,835 Posts
thats how i do them
Joined
·
52,622 Posts
Joined
·
13,619 Posts
41 - 60 of 79 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
