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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: itlnstln on Wed, 13 May 2009, 13:30:15

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 13 May 2009, 13:30:15

Seconded.  I have never found a more useful power tool than a cordless drill.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: lowpoly on Mon, 18 May 2009, 09:18:47

Next power tool I'll buy will be a Makita:

(http://www.makita.com/en-us/Assets/Images/Company/Events/MissMakita/Gallery/SenoritaMakita/Cordless/BHP454_BTW450_BOTH-029752.jpg)

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: lam47 on Mon, 18 May 2009, 09:53:22

Mine would be my Dewalt router. I have it mounted under the table :)

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: dougy on Mon, 18 May 2009, 20:53:56

The DeWalt is just a cheap imitation of the old Elu. Black & Decker absorbed that brand into DeWalt and made the tool "more affordable" by using lower quality materials in a looser machine. Sigh, it probably sells 100x what the Elu did.

A chainsaw is far more useful than a cordless drill. Put on a long bar with lots of power and you can DO things. Even more useful is half a stick and a 100lbs of nitrate, but those days are long past.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: lam47 on Tue, 19 May 2009, 04:10:37

Ooo I disagree there. I have been using DeWalt stuff for years and it has always been very reliable and of a high quality. I don't doubt Elu were better but don't dis my tools man. Its like telling me my penis is sub standard.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: vils on Fri, 22 May 2009, 21:40:33

These would be my favourite "power tools", cordless and never gives up cutting.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/3159713195_253e75b496.jpg)

Japanese steel on a US made butchers block.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: vils on Fri, 22 May 2009, 22:27:01

Quote from: ripster;92200

Stretching the power tools definition a bit though...


This IS a power tool.  I use this to sharpen the knives - more important than the RC rating is maintenance:

Show Image

(http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/woodworking/sharpening/68z7501s1.jpg) (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43072&p=44884)

Yeah, I know, not really a power tool, but damn powerful ;D

I should have posted a pic of cordless Bosch GSR...something screwdriver instead, but my knives are way cooler.

I hope you don't let your knives get warm on that thing, could easily ruin the tempering and render HRC to below 50.
I only uses water stones and a leather stop, but I'm most defintly a knife geek.

BTW that Kai Shun is rather good, perfect wedding gift. I have one of their 8" chefs knives but I left it at my fathers place since his knives were made out of garbage cans lids.

The knives on my pic are:
Suisin Gin Momiji 210mm
Hiromoto AS 270mm Wa Gyuto

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: vils on Fri, 22 May 2009, 22:52:13

Found it:

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PS20-2A-12-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Batteries/dp/B000PI5EBW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1243050400&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PS20-2A-12-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Batteries/dp/B000PI5EBW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1243050400&sr=8-1)

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: vils on Fri, 22 May 2009, 23:25:35

Lee's book is really a classic on the subject. I read Chad wards book. (http://www.amazon.com/Edge-Kitchen-Ultimate-Guide-Knives/dp/0061188484/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243051432&sr=8-1)

And watched some sharpening DVDs, the best was Dave Martells. (http://www.japaneseknifesharpeningstore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DVD1)

The reason for getting a US made butcher block was that I could get it custom made (Mahogny 2"x16"x22", end-grain) cheaper and with better quality than I could over here. If you want a high-end board go here The Boardsmith. (http://theboardsmith.com/)

And no, I'm not a cook, I just love to do it. The knife didn't cost much more than what most of us here are willing to pay for a keyboard. And not all of us write for a living.

It took some time to write this, but now I've managed to hide the URLs and give them more readable names.

Sorry for this thread hijacking.....

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: vils on Fri, 22 May 2009, 23:52:44

Knives can really give you bad cuts... especially when using them for some thing they are not intended to. I hate those clamshell packages, I really get an urge to bring out the biggest and sharpest tool available when trying to open them up.
My tolerance of blood is not the best either, I have to lie down when taking a blood sample, and stay horizontal for a while afterwards. I fully understand you fainting.
My experience is that the duller the knife, the higher risk of cutting yourself. The knifes behaviour gets less predictable, and you have to use more force and with that less control.
Thanks for the kind words on the photos.
Work finishs in 10 minutes, turn of computer walk home and sleep. If some of what I have written is un-understandable I defend myself with saying that it's 7 in the morning over here, my head has pretty much stopped to work.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: vils on Fri, 22 May 2009, 23:54:44

Quote from: ripster;92215

LOL - as the original poster I enjoyed this discussion on knifes and the sharpening books.  I'll check out that knife forum too - I thought they only discussed those survival knifes, not cooking stuff.

The "in the kitchen" section is really good.
I hope you enjoy it.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: didjamatic on Tue, 29 December 2009, 13:13:00

I went with Makita because I wanted to standardize on something with well priced 18v Lith-Ion batteries and have never regretted my decision once.  Amazing tools and the shelf life of a charged battery is phenomenal.  I can buy quite a few Makita batteries for the price of 1 Dewalt lithium battery.  The mini-impact driver has enough torque to sheer a 1/2" bolt off and the drill is the best I've used.
Makita LXT (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DNNT9W?ie=UTF8&tag=scsiscsi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001DNNT9W)
(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/th/content_26/Q2_2009/makita-lxt-lineup.jpg)

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: TheSoulhunter on Tue, 29 December 2009, 15:08:24

This trio gets 90% of all jobs done... ^^

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6791&stc=1&d=1262120616)

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6790&stc=1&d=1262120484)

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=6789&stc=1&d=1262120382)

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: TheSoulhunter on Tue, 29 December 2009, 20:18:57

A screwdriver? Well, yes... at least it's cheaper than the Makita!

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: ricercar on Wed, 30 December 2009, 16:16:13

> what MacGyver would need

Always have a spoon nearby.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: 1uckyNumb3r7 on Mon, 09 January 2012, 15:14:01

My favorite tool (also most necessary tool for work) is my Husqvarna 576xp chainsaw. **So clean looking because this is right after I bought it**

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/Jason_Russell/48fc7d5d.jpg)

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: alaricljs on Mon, 09 January 2012, 15:22:55

I've had the Makita 18v Hammer Drill for longer than I had my DeWalt and used it for more nasty things.  It's just as strong as day 1.  The DeWalt batteries died (yeah, NiCad... but they really should have lasted longer) and the chuck decided it would no longer stay tightened.

My fav. tool is probably my Makita 10" compound miter saw on my PortaMate PM-7000 portable work stand.  It's that or a blow torch.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: alaricljs on Mon, 09 January 2012, 15:27:47

Mmmm chainsaws are cool too.  I have a pre-EPA 268XP modded to a 272XP w/ 24" bar.  Having 5 acres of trees was never so much fun.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: theOwlol on Tue, 17 January 2012, 11:56:49

I must say I enjoy using the grinder, both bosch and metabo makes good ones.
But  in my opinion, stay away from the cheaper ones, unless of course you wont use it a lot.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: AKIMbO on Tue, 17 January 2012, 12:18:56

Does a leaf blower count?  I got one for xmas and have found a ton of uses for it.  It's an awesome "bachelor's broom" if you know what I mean.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: alaricljs on Tue, 17 January 2012, 12:37:32

God I hope you party on the lawn, because I'd never light up my leaf blower in the house.  No matter how 'clean' it runs it's still stank poison.


Not that you can do this in sunny Florida but once a decade:  I use my leaf blower to clear up to 4" of snow off my driveway.  Helps if it's pretty dry...

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: isp on Tue, 17 January 2012, 12:49:28

the dx460

[video=youtube;DxBGzUhT-TM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?DxBGzUhT-TM[/video]

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: alaricljs on Tue, 17 January 2012, 13:23:21

Quote from: harrison;492614

they make both electric and battery operated ones now.  mind you, they're still pretty damn loud

Electric leaf blower... that's funny.  Electric dust broom perhaps.  My RedMax has a 75cc engine, I can move rocks with this thing and I wouldn't have it any other way.  I own a leaf blower because I have 5 acres of trees trying to bury my house.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: AKIMbO on Wed, 18 January 2012, 14:35:37

Quote from: alaricljs;492609

God I hope you party on the lawn, because I'd never light up my leaf blower in the house.  No matter how 'clean' it runs it's still stank poison.


Not that you can do this in sunny Florida but once a decade:  I use my leaf blower to clear up to 4" of snow off my driveway.  Helps if it's pretty dry...

Lol it's electric.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: alaricljs on Wed, 18 January 2012, 15:17:14

Quote from: AKIMbO;493502

Lol it's electric.

Yeah, someone else reminded me that they exist.  Mine is 4+ HP and I need to be able to use it at least 1000ft from an outlet, so electric wouldn't work out so well.

I have used the output on my shop vac to blow crap out of my house, so I get where you're going :)

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: Malphas on Thu, 19 January 2012, 11:12:11

I like coil nailers, purely because you can pull the safety mechanism back and spray nails all over the place like some 1920's bootlegger.

(http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00CMWazrPnnhoy/Coil-Nail-Gun-HCN65-.jpg)

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: weenis on Thu, 19 January 2012, 11:32:52

Quote from: 1uckyNumb3r7;486786

My favorite tool (also most necessary tool for work) is my Husqvarna 576xp chainsaw. **So clean looking because this is right after I bought it**

Show Image

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/Jason_Russell/48fc7d5d.jpg)

That's a really nice chainsaw.

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: Surly73 on Wed, 25 January 2012, 09:40:50

Quote from: ripster;498565

****ing Li-ion batteries.  I started getting the dreaded green/red flashing on my battery charger for the OP driver unit and had to go order another for $40.

Expect a 2 year life on these.

When I last bought cordless tools, Li batteries were just coming into popularity but I avoided them on purpose to be battery-compatible with other tools already in the family so that we could share/pool when needed for projects.  I ended up getting a 5-piece Ridgid set when it went onsale at HD.  They have NiMH batteries, which cause me no grief at all, and everything (including the batteries) are covered by a lifetime service plan.  After 6 years one battery didn't hold a charge well and it was replaced with no grief.  The shop doing the replacement offered to replace both of mine since they were the same age even though the second one wasn't having any issues.

My favourite power tools probably all run on air, though...

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 25 January 2012, 12:21:16

Quote from: ripster;498617

I've got NIMH 9.6s on my Makita.

I guess they discovered the secret of NiMH...

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/84/The_Secret_of_NIMH.jpg)

Title: My Favorite Power Tool
Post by: Wildcard on Thu, 26 January 2012, 00:12:11

My favorite power drill for small projects.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]38607[/ATTACH]

It's small and powerful, has low and high torque settings. And looks like a combination between an old NES system and Tron.

Sadly, Black and Decker discontinued the VPX line.

Here's another model below.