Tool whores unite!

[atchcraft]

So, I haven't really started a "build" thread yet. But, I've been busy in the garage, digging out tools that haven't been used in a while. I'm building my own stuff for my runner that I'll post eventually, but man I love tools! Anyone have any cool, regular guy garage tools to share? I could really find an existing thread for this, so...

"Hello, my name is Matt... and I'm a tool whore. It all started out innocently enough, but it escalated quickly. Next thing you know, I was suckin D behind a 7-11 to pay for a plasma cutter". ok, that last part never actually happened.

My bender. This is a pretty cool contraption. I finally got to try out my 1.75" dies on my rock slider project.

Here's my press break, makin me a jerry can holder.

 

[Spenny]

A buddy just rigged up his garge with 220 and went balls out on tool purchases, welder, pipe bender, press, etc. Already built the rack for his tundra, but now he is looking at doing sliders, new bumpers, new rack.

Wish I had the space.

Looking forward to seeing what you build!

 

[philsey]

"Hello, my name is Matt... and I'm a tool whore.

You're single aren't you?

Well that, or you have a great job and mama has a new Lexus and a Big Diamond Ring.

Paging [MENTION=118321]Jetboy[/MENTION]

 

[atchcraft]

A buddy just rigged up his garge with 220 and went balls out on tool purchases, welder, pipe bender, press, etc. Already built the rack for his tundra, but now he is looking at doing sliders, new bumpers, new rack.

Wish I had the space.

Looking forward to seeing what you build!

Thanks! I have a very small, old, detached garage with 220 in the house. Everything rolls and I have massive extension cords. Not ideal, but I'm making do happy to be back a

You're single aren't you?

Well that, or you have a great job and mama has a new Lexus and a Big Diamond Ring.

Paging [MENTION=118321]Jetboy[/MENTION]

The later is pretty close. I used to do this sort of thing for a living, now it's just a hobby. I've been collecting this stuff for a while. The way I look at it, I can pay someone big $ for a cool what ever, or use that $ to buy the tools to make it myself. Every once in a while, I make a few extras to recoup cost of the material as well. Like I said, it's a fun hobby.

 

[ran]

guys could not understand why I bought a new portable tool and a new 14 ga cord. Miss the Monterey Bay.
________________
2007 SE V6 Titanium

 

[BlackWorksInc]

PIFF! I don't see "Snap-On" in 24 karat gold letters on any of your tools! FOR SHAME!

j/k That's a nice set-up you got there! Just need a vertical mill, lathe, and welder and you're all set!

 

[atchcraft]

PIFF! I don't see "Snap-On" in 24 karat gold letters on any of your tools! FOR SHAME!

j/k That's a nice set-up you got there! Just need a vertical mill, lathe, and welder and you're all set!

Ha! Most of my power tools are "vintage", harbor freight or hand made. I said "whore", not "escort".

A mill and a lathe would be nice, but I have welding covered for sure.

 

[mccand]

Where'd you get the press-brake? I'd been trying to find a box and pan brake that I liked, but . . . meh.

Can we start a tool-whore club? I'm in!

My favorite garage tool is the 3D printer, but it's not really in the same category as metalworking which IwantIwantIwant. Before I moved out here to Hawaii, work had a full machine shop, and I lived 7 minutes away from a Techshop, so I really miss having a mill, lathe, woodshop, etc.

 

[atchcraft]

Where'd you get the press-brake? I'd been trying to find a box and pan brake that I liked, but . . . meh.

Can we start a tool-whore club? I'm in!

My favorite garage tool is the 3D printer, but it's not really in the same category as metalworking which IwantIwantIwant. Before I moved out here to Hawaii, work had a full machine shop, and I lived 7 minutes away from a Techshop, so I really miss having a mill, lathe, woodshop, etc.

Check out SWAG off road. They make some pretty neat stuff and most of it is designed to work with HF tools. That break works with a 20 ton press that I converted to air/hydraulic. It's pretty slick!

A 3D printer would be very cool. I usually don't get that high-tech, but I do dabble with bending software. It's save a lot of time of large, compound bend pieces.

 

[1engineer]

I have a BFH, Channel Locks, two screwdrivers and some duct tape. I carry a swiss army knife.
I win.

 

[Jetboy]

You're single aren't you?

Well that, or you have a great job and mama has a new Lexus and a Big Diamond Ring.

Paging [MENTION=118321]Jetboy[/MENTION]

LOL. I'm not a tool whore... okay maybe a little.

In my defense I suffer from relative deprivation: "the experience of being deprived of something to which one believes to be entitled. It refers to the discontent people feel when they compare their positions to others and realize that they have less of what they believe themselves to be entitled than those around them." Having grown up with parents who have a metal fab shop you get used to using big industrial tools. It's hard to go back to hobby shop stuff. Alas living 400 miles away means I have to make do with what I can cram in my little garage.

Many of my tools are harbor freight stuff modified to make them more useful. Like my band saw. The HF band saw isn't terrible, but it's a whole lot better on a $100 folding stand, and with a custom mitering base. OTOH, when you're used to using a Marvel vertical band saw - the best band saw that exists IMO - it's frustrating to use a small saw. The precision, speed, and capacity are just soo much better with an industrial tool. But of course I don't even have room to leave a tiny HF band saw setup so I have to have it on a folding stand just to have room to store it.

The only really cool tool I have is a big CNC table. I love it. It's the best tool I've ever owned. It does everything. Plasma burn table. CNC router. Aluminum milling. I'd like to add a 4th axis to do CNC lathing. And believe it or not it actually cost less than a cabinet table saw. I built it for around $700. It just takes time and some creativity, plus electronics experience. If you look closely you'll see purple wheels - they're 2nd hand roller skates from the salvation army store. For what it cost to build, I don't think a more useful tool exists. Mine has to fold because I have a 2 car garage and space is at a premium.

 

[atchcraft]

LOL. I'm not a tool whore... okay maybe a little.

In my defense I suffer from relative deprivation: "the experience of being deprived of something to which one believes to be entitled. It refers to the discontent people feel when they compare their positions to others and realize that they have less of what they believe themselves to be entitled than those around them." Having grown up with parents who have a metal fab shop you get used to using big industrial tools. It's hard to go back to hobby shop stuff. Alas living 400 miles away means I have to make do with what I can cram in my little garage.

Many of my tools are harbor freight stuff modified to make them more useful. Like my band saw. The HF band saw isn't terrible, but it's a whole lot better on a $100 folding stand, and with a custom mitering base. OTOH, when you're used to using a Marvel vertical band saw - the best band saw that exists IMO - it's frustrating to use a small saw. The precision, speed, and capacity are just soo much better with an industrial tool. But of course I don't even have room to leave a tiny HF band saw setup so I have to have it on a folding stand just to have room to store it.

The only really cool tool I have is a big CNC table. I love it. It's the best tool I've ever owned. It does everything. Plasma burn table. CNC router. Aluminum milling. I'd like to add a 4th axis to do CNC lathing. And believe it or not it actually cost less than a cabinet table saw. I built it for around $700. It just takes time and some creativity, plus electronics experience. If you look closely you'll see purple wheels - they're 2nd hand roller skates from the salvation army store. For what it cost to build, I don't think a more useful tool exists. Mine has to fold because I have a 2 car garage and space is at a premium.

I hear you. It's hard to go from a shop with deep pockets, to a home garage. That's why I perfer building my own or go vintage. I looked into the CNC route at one time as well and I'm a bit jealous of your set up!

I found this pic. It's a garage sale find and it still happens to have the price tag on it. As I remember, I had just smoked a big Milwaukee drill on these frame fish plates and remembered that I had this drill. It's now my go-to, wrist snapping beast.

 

[TK-422]

It's now my go-to, wrist snapping beast.

I have an old Craftsman like that, maybe older since it doesn't even reverse.

My newest toy/tool is a 3D printer. I bought a small 1 color one and think it's great but realized pretty quickly I needed MORE POWER. actually a larger printing base. Now I'm putting together a dual extruder printer with a larger base and using the little one to print out upgraded parts for the new one.

Once I have it up and running I plan to use it to build some of the parts to make my own CNC machine like Jetboy.

A CNC and 3D Printers are very similar in parts, motors and software. If you are going to use one you need a digital caliper and need to get use to the metric system.