OT. Your favorite woodworking tool?

[Tony]

One of my favorite tools I use often is this Japanese file. Its made from hacksaw blades riveted together. One side is coarse, the other fine. The design prevents clogging.
I use it for shaping wood but it can also be used for aluminum and steel. It works great as a precision planer, and any Rambo style removal of almost any material quickly. Its a great tool!
http://www.japanwoodworker.com/Product/153777/Shinto-Saw-Rasp-11.aspx

[Dale Alan]

Now that is cool,I had no idea they existed. I have ordered hammers,etc. from them,that one is going in the cart. My favorite woodworking tool would be a Japanese Chisel. Take and hold an edge,and a work of art at the same time.

[54ny77]

bookmarked that page. nice stuff. thanks!

[Black Dog]

This:

http://www.leevalley.com/en/images/item/Woodworking/Planes/05P2230s5.jpg

[jmoore]

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/b3/b34ce185-f604-4e9e-84c2-d0d146720d95_300.jpg

[54ny77]

Will Rapha introduce a line of woodworking aprons and knickers?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bZ2hq5dVN5Y/T6ERGGJsXvI/AAAAAAAAD_A/P18r3AqutNs/s1600/wood-working.jpg

[professerr]

My low-angle jack. Bevel up, so grind a couple Ron Hock blades (Lie Neilsen ones are a pain) at different angles and you could be pretty much set for nearly any wood and any work. Wish I'd started with one of these -- it's the one I grab first most of the time. I have a LN, but I think Veritas makes one too, and like a lot of their stuff it is probably a better design, but uglier to hold and behold.

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/low-angle-bench-planes/low-angle-jack-plane/

[Jaq]

This.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Fireplace_Burning.jpg/639px-Fireplace_Burning.jpg

[bluesea]

Not sure why I keep it, other than its long years of service (in my custody). Probably manufactured a little before or after the turn of the century. Knife is a Hock, of course.

http://i.imgur.com/UZGgxFFl.jpg

[bicycletricycle]

I use my lie Nielsen block plane a lot. It's probably my favorite hand tool

[Lewis Moon]

This:

http://www.leevalley.com/en/images/item/Woodworking/Planes/05P2230s5.jpg

Seconded. The next would be my set of good chisels.

[ColonelJLloyd]

http://assets.thecreatorsproject.com/blog_article_images/images/000/024/067/Man_plays_saw_original.jpg

[nrs5000]

My set of Nepalese carving chisels made from ... pounded bicycle spokes.

[sokyroadie]

Table saw, planer, router etc. - you get the point, ALL POWER- no wimpy hand tools ;)

Jeff

[wildboar]

The bike/woodworking tool double curse! I thought I was the only one!


The Starrett C330-300 ruler works great for woodworking / bike set up measuring.

[pbarry]

With this and a good plane, you can build almost anything.

[thunderworks]

Now that is cool,I had no idea they existed. I have ordered hammers,etc. from them,that one is going in the cart. My favorite woodworking tool would be a Japanese Chisel. Take and hold an edge,and a work of art at the same time.

+1

Most, if not all, of the modern day chisel, plane, and saw makers in Japan are descendants of the Samurai sword makers. There is a very cool history, and direct lineage to the culture of Japan that is reflected in modern Japanese tools. They do work incredibly well, are beautiful to look at, and represent something of historical significance - at least to me. I've been a professional furniture maker for 20 years and use many Japanese tools - as well as Western tools - but the chisels and small joinery saws from Japan are exceptional.

[metalheart]

I love this tool ... makes lots of jobs faster. Festool Dominio makes loose tenons of various sizes.
https://www.finewoodworking.com/uploadedImages/Fine_Woodworking_Network/Image_Resources/Web_Only/99928038_05_md.jpg

[guyintense]

This:

[metalheart]

Nice piece of metal you have there!

This:

[2StrokeRacer]

Yeah, any heavy chunk of cast iron with some horsepower attached is joy. Although I do love using my Japanese chisels.

[guyintense]

Of course you have to have one of these too but that Powermatic planer is close to magic.

[Louis]

http://sullivanfiles.net/fargo/woodchipper2.jpg

[jh_on_the_cape]

Chainsaw. I wish I had a chipper. I rent a log splitter once a year.

[oliver1850]

Stihl + Oliver + Woodmizer = lumber. I really enjoy turning logs that would otherwise lie and rot into something useful.

[Tandem Rider]

Spiers smoother. Well tuned you can see through the shavings. On curly Cherry. Father's day gift. Not the most useful, could do just as much work just as well without it, but you said favorite.

[paredown]

I'm going to have to go with this--it made a whole lot of stupid jobs renovating so much easier--trimming floor boards that are in place, door trim, cutting plaster/new electrical boxes etc. $20 at your local Harbor Freight--buy good blades in bulk on Amazon. Noisy, stiff cord--but it is unkillable.

(I've been doing so much real grunt work on our house and for work, I'm not sure that I'm even a woodworker anymore.)

[Lewis Moon]

http://assets.thecreatorsproject.com/blog_article_images/images/000/024/067/Man_plays_saw_original.jpg

FYI: That's an actual photo of the good Colonel.

[guyintense]

Spiers smoother. Well tuned you can see through the shavings. On curly Cherry. Father's day gift. Not the most useful, could do just as much work just as well without it, but you said favorite.

I have a Spiers too but I use this Norris more.

[Tandem Rider]

I have a Spiers too but I use this Norris more.

Mine's a coffinbody too, just without the Norris adjuster. I just keep it set and only use it for specific jobs. Yours is a real beauty.

[Birddog]

I'm going to have to go with this--it made a whole lot of stupid jobs renovating so much easier--trimming floor boards that are in place, door trim, cutting plaster/new electrical boxes etc. $20 at your local Harbor Freight--buy good blades in bulk on Amazon. Noisy, stiff cord--but it is unkillable.

(I've been doing so much real grunt work on our house and for work, I'm not sure that I'm even a woodworker anymore.)

I'm a remodeling contractor and I must say the multi tool is one of the best innovations in electric tools of late. I had the el cheapo Harbor Freight unit until I lost it somewhere and I replaced it with the Bosch for about $100. The Bosch is about 90% of the Fein at about 30% the price. I'm always amazed at the things I find to do with it.

[Ozz]

With this and a good plane, you can build almost anything.
A buddy of mine who does cabinet work are really, really (really) high end homes uses a saw like that....I remember he just bought the blade, and then built a handle for it.

He also builds furniture from the wood scraps from his day job.....his wedding present to me and my wife was to build us a fireplace mantle. He was able to salvage some old growth fir for it. It was pretty cool. I was sorry we could not take it with us when we moved last year.

[bluesea]

I'm a remodeling contractor and I must say the multi tool is one of the best innovations in electric tools of late. I had the el cheapo Harbor Freight unit until I lost it somewhere and I replaced it with the Bosch for about $100. The Bosch is about 90% of the Fein at about 30% the price. I'm always amazed at the things I find to do with it.


I had the Fein *before* it became the multi tool or whatever they call it now. It was marketed as a detail sander, but came with a few accessories. Had the original Lamello as well.

[russ46]

1. Compound Miter Saw
2, Cabinet Table Saw
3, ShopSmith

[sworcester]

I don't do much flat work, I am a hardcore woodturner. I rely on a Stihl to get it down to size where I can cut it up on my Laguna 24x24 bandsaw (yep, spoiled). From there I can turn in on my Robust American Beauty. I am also a Robust dealer, yep, spoiled. But in all honesy, I have payed the dues and I have earned it. Almost 18 years a turner.

[unterhausen]

I bought a Lee Valley dovetail saw recently and it made all the difference in my dovetails. There are probably better saws, and there are definitely saws that provide a better presentation, but going cheaper is unlikely to yield good results

[pbarry]

I don't do much flat work, I am a hardcore woodturner. I rely on a Stihl to get it down to size where I can cut it up on my Laguna 24x24 bandsaw (yep, spoiled). From there I can turn in on my Robust American Beauty. I am also a Robust dealer, yep, spoiled. But in all honesy, I have payed the dues and I have earned it. Almost 18 years a turner.

You, Sir, are a hard man. :beer:

[pbarry]

A buddy of mine who does cabinet work are really, really (really) high end homes uses a saw like that....I remember he just bought the blade, and then built a handle for it.

He also builds furniture from the wood scraps from his day job.....his wedding present to me and my wife was to build us a fireplace mantle. He was able to salvage some old growth fir for it. It was pretty cool. I was sorry we could not take it with us when we moved last year.

That's a good friend. Definitely a keeper.

[Anarchist]

Japanese block planes, like these ....


http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/28/y6ymuva6.jpg

[professerr]

I love this tool ... makes lots of jobs faster. Festool Dominio makes loose tenons of various sizes.
https://www.finewoodworking.com/uploadedImages/Fine_Woodworking_Network/Image_Resources/Web_Only/99928038_05_md.jpg

Generally I like hand work, but sometimes doing a properly fit mortise and tenon by hand can be a chore. Dominos work great, and for non-visible, routine (e.g. no through or double tenons) joinery, the minimum amount of power tool bad juju is worth it to me.

[professerr]

Japanese block planes, like these ....


http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/28/y6ymuva6.jpg

Pretty sure those aren't Japanese, though they are lovely and generally I like wood plans of all sorts.

[jonk]

No particular order....
Lie Nielsen block plane
Veritas twin screw vise
Hammer a331 with helical head
Matsumura 1" paring chisel
Estwing drilling hammer
boggs shokeshave
Auriou rasp
Lancelot woodcarver
Iwata gun
Card scraper

[Louis]

Lie Nielsen block plane

The Lie Nielsen factory is on Rte 1, about five miles from my sister's house in Maine and her neighbor used to be the accountant there. A few years ago when he still worked there we visited the shop on a weekend - it was pretty cool.

Edit: They have some samples of their stuff on display at the entrance, among them some of the longest planes I've ever seen in my life - easily as long as your arm.

[guyintense]

Pretty sure those aren't Japanese, though they are lovely and generally I like wood plans of all sorts.

Based on a Japanese design but probably not made there. All the Japanese planes I've seen are made out of white Oak.

[professerr]

Based on a Japanese design but probably not made there. All the Japanese planes I've seen are made out of white Oak.

I bet there's also some reason Japanese planes are always square blocks too and not a more curved ergonomic design like the ones in your first pics. I knew a guy who built temples in Japan and he'd explain details to me about the craft that made it apparent that there was never anything accidental about even the simplest aspects of the tools he used.

[witcombusa]

I tend to favor the tools from the final heydays of hand tools.

Just a few pics

[Louis]

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/

[bluesea]

I tend to favor the tools from the final heydays of hand tools.

Just a few pics


Believe I see some Brazilian Rosewood totes and knobs on some of those Stanley's. At least that's what the guy told me what they were, when he sold me an unrestored pre-1910 English no. 7.

I loved that thing so. My buddy was so stoked when I sold him it and a bunch of other stuff after he opened his own shop -- all for basically nothing

[Tony]

I tend to favor the tools from the final heydays of hand tools.


WOW, very nice! Wood working hand tools is what i had in mind then i posted.
Thanks

[professerr]

I tend to favor the tools from the final heydays of hand tools.

Just a few pics

I logged it just to look at those. Very nice, and very interesting. Now stick to the topic and pic a favorite, won't you? :-)

[pbarry]

I logged it just to look at those. Very nice, and very interesting. Now stick to the topic and pic a favorite, won't you? :-)

+1

All the planes and drill presses are nice, but, the logging implements have the best stories.

[Tandem Rider]

Witcombusa FTW. I love playing er I mean using old hand tools. I have some of my dad's and my grandfather's and will pass the on to my son. It seems sort of special when I get to use them. Unfortunately, most of my work right now is house finishing and built-ins, meaning power tools and git-er done.

[witcombusa]

+1

All the planes and drill presses are nice, but, the logging implements have the best stories.

My grandfather was a lumberjack in Quebec, some of that stuff originated from him. We would buck firewood with a two-man saw when he was in his late 80's. I later became interested in post and beam construction which lead to the beam boring machines, broad axes, adzes, etc.

Wood is good :banana:

[pbarry]

see below:

[pbarry]

That's a great introduction for an epic story. Thanks for that. :hello:

[nighthawk]

I haven't built anything of note recently, but a few of my favorite woodworking tools are a Ryoba saw (very versatile hand saw with a flexible double-sided blade)... and Barr chisels.

http://wnwoodworkingschool.com/shop/images/RyobaSaw.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-j78glBhOQ/TwB1tuRkijI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/GJ5oYv8DhDw/s1600/_3JB3844.jpg

[victoryfactory]

Late to this thread, but I love great tools. As an apprentice carpenter more
than 40 years ago I wanted a great 20oz hammer.
This Estwing has lasted my whole career and more (since I don't swing a hammer
much any more). Quality.

VF

[unterhausen]

Late to this thread, but I love great tools. As an apprentice carpenter more
than 40 years ago I wanted a great 20oz hammer.
This Estwing has lasted my whole career and more (since I don't swing a hammer
much any more). Quality.

VF

I have my dad's Estwing leather handled hammer. It's the tool I most identify him by. They still sell that hammer. I bought the rubber handled version, it's a nice hammer. I'm a bit of a hack when it comes to carpentry, I have some heavy framing hammers that seem a lot more useful to me.

[cnighbor1]

It is the Square with it you laid out all kinds of items Like stairs, etc. even add, substrate etc. with it. A wood working tool is not much use unless you have a layout of what you trying to accomplish! Or in other words is you don't were your going it doesn't whom or what your going with1
an architect speaking.
PS The Japanese woodworking tools have it all over European designed tools

[greengage]

For me, nothing beats a sharp chisel to make any woodworking project better. I dig my other tools, think my festool bits and bobs are fantastic to get myself out of any corners I've painted myself into, but sharp well balanced chisels (and planes) are where it's at.http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/19/evasuzyq.jpg

[William]

My grandfather was a lumberjack in Quebec, some of that stuff originated from him. We would buck firewood with a two-man saw when he was in his late 80's. I later became interested in post and beam construction which lead to the beam boring machines, broad axes, adzes, etc.

Wood is good :banana:


Would you take some Gu packs, stroopwafels, and vintage DA hubs in barter to do some work on our 1780 Gambrel? ;)






William